The Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with thanksgiving for the numbers of transformed and regenerated lives across its parishes.
As part of the anniversary celebration, the diocese unveiled a new book, ‘The Church Is Marching On’, documenting the church’s journey of faith, growth, evangelism and institutional development. The book was presented at the anniversary gala and thanksgiving service.
Akinpelu Johnson, the bishop of Lagos Mainland Diocese, hosted the congregants to the anniversary celebration that also featured a documentary on the history of the diocese, musical performances, and spoken-word presentation.
‘We have every reason to give thanks to God for what He has done for us in the last 20 years. We have seen the hand of God in the growth and development of this diocese,’ Johnson stated, while thanking God for the growth recorded by the diocese over the past 20 years.
The bishop also used the occasion to solicit support for the completion of the diocese’s music school, stressing the importance of music to Anglican worship and Christian heritage. ‘Music is very important to us in the Anglican Church.
‘We need to train our musicians because the quality of worship is also influenced by the quality of music we offer,’ Johnson stated, as he recalled the Anglican Church’s historic contribution to Nigeria’s musical development.
Johnson said the church must sustain its contribution to music education by training a new generation of musicians. ‘It is not just about singing and entertainment. It is about training people, preserving our heritage and making sure that worship continues to be offered with excellence.’
Reuben Abati, book reviewer, described the publication as an important contribution to the documentation of the history and development of Anglicanism in Nigeria. He added that the book went beyond chronicling the history of the diocese to examining its organisational structure, governance, ministry, traditions and preparation for the future.
‘Another highlight of this work is also how the Anglican Church is organised through various departments to create a community that works with a sense of purpose, as well as the importance of traditions and training to sustain identity and prepare for the future,’ he stated.
He noted that the publication also explored the contributions of women, the place of young people and the role of Sunday school in nurturing children. According to Abati, the book demonstrated that the Anglican Church was sustained not merely by individual leaders but by established laws, structures and constitutional principles.
According to him, the publication also looked ahead, particularly in its chapter on the future of the diocese and the church. He described the issues raised as important to understanding and protecting an evolving Christian church in contemporary society.
Beyond the history of the diocese, Abati used the occasion to call for a broader conversation about the place and identity of Christianity in contemporary Nigeria. He urged the church to examine the challenges confronting Christians and the changing nature of Christian worship and evangelism.
‘There is also a need for an extended, robust discussion of the role of the Church in Nigerian society, and by extension, the fortunes of the Christian in Nigeria. What does it mean to be a Christian in Nigeria today? What is the true identity of a Christian?’