T. Nelson. Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican missionaries were all trying to convert the native African people, often coming into conflict with one another. It started first among the Yoruba recaptives who had embraced the Christian faith while in Sierra Leone (freed from slave trading ships by the British Royal Naval Squadron), and who returned home between 1839 and 1845. One of the most prominent people that were largely responsible for the Christianisation of Nigeria is Samuel Ajiya Crowther, a former slave of Yoruba origin. When the missionaries arrived, some of these evils practiced stopped. CUP Archive, 1979. Renewed evangelisation started when the Basel (later known as Presbyterian) missionaries started work at Osu (Accra). They lived in China for 10 years, but moved back to the UK due to ill health, before serving in India at a church in Ootacamund. Meanwhile, the research by the Pew Research Center that same year showed at least 52% Muslims, 46% Christians, and 1% non-religious individuals. The others included the Christian responsibility for the regeneration of African peoples. The Presbyterians, also, opened hospitals in several parts of the country, including the one at Agogo in Asante-Akyem. The next stop was Ibadan, St. Annes School, Molete, Ibadan. *Government Secondary School, Ilorin, 1914; That I deliberately at the call of God, when alone on the Bibby liner in 1910, gave up my life for this work, which was to be henceforth not for the Sudan only, but for the whole unevangelized World. *Methodist Girls High School, Lagos, 1879; It was not until the nineteenth century, that the new religion was really established in West Africa. It would be wrong, however, to blame all these ills on the Christian missionaries alone. You are already subscribed to our newsletter! That part of Africa was then known as the White Man's Grave. Bamgboye & Company Press, 1976. Ekechi, Felix K. Colonialism and Christianity in West Africa: The Igbo Case, 19001915. The Journal of African History 12, no. Other difficulties the early Christians faced were the problems of the many languages and dialects and their ignorance of the true meaning of the various cultures, beliefs, values and ways of life of the people whom they set out to convert to Christianity. Slessor suffered from serious bouts of malaria and other tropical diseases, and was forced on more than one occasion to return to Scotland to recover. Modern Catholic missions were established by priests from the Society of African . He saw no conversions for seven years, his son Peter died of dysentery and his wife's mental health deteriorated rapidly. The glory of our Church!". Two other training colleges opened by the missionaries, in the early days, were the Wesley College in Kumasi (1922) and the Roman Catholic Training College at Amisano, near Elmina (1931) which in 1936 moved to the campus of the newly founded secondary school, St Augustines College at Cape Coast. However, with time, they brought some crops, which they cultivated and which sustained them. The education provided in schools in early days also tended to place great emphasis on the superiority of western culture. The Christian religion teaches the doctrine of one supreme God and is opposed to the worship of any other forms of deity. Nigeria 213.53. When the women of Israel sang the praise of David for killing Goliath, this made King Saul angry and envious. Missionaries today have brought education, medical care, and Holistic Development Centers into Nigeria. This special relationship continued until 1960 when Fourah Bay became a college of the newly reconstituted University of Sierra Leone; the other constituent college located at Njala developed from a training college founded in 1920. Accessibility Statement. He is also reputed to have helped Rev. *Government College, Katsina-Ala, 1914; In 1925 the Governor introduced measures which helped the efforts of the missionaries. The greatest problem faced by the early European Christian missionaries was, the tropical climate and health Hazards. They believed in juju, magic and witchcraft. The story goes that in 1787, he suggested that all Christians had a duty to share the gospel around the world, after which he was told: "Young man, sit down. Evans Brothers, Ltd. London. Later, Prisilla and the couple's four daughter stayed in England, while Charles worked in Central Africa until his death in 1931. 3:03 am. A history of Christianity in Ghana. *St. Gregorys College, Obalende, Lagos, 1928; Christians who came to Africa to help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ tried to do several things which would demonstrate the love of Christ to people living here. "Missionaries and other white Christians were alarmed by the idea that the equality of all people before God means they should be equal in public life. Arrived in Nigeria between 1944 and 1948 as part of the missionary staff stationed in Ibesikpo by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. He was followed, three years afterwards, by the Rev. Christian missionaries believed that their dedication to Christianity would be enough for conversion. And yet this was what earlier missionaries in pagan Europe had done when, for example, they had changed the Sabbath to suit the pagan Sun Day (hence Sunday), and had also adopted the dates of the pagan festivals to celebrate Christmas Day and the Easter festival. It was not until 1841 that the British Government sponsored Niger Expedition, of which missionaries from the Church Missionary Society of the Church of England were part of, did progress in missionary works begin to thrive. You can learn more about it, as many historians found this subject matter interesting too. Lewis, Donald M., ed. After earlier unsuccessful attempts by the missionaries Chretien Proten, Henrick Huckuff and Jacobus Capitein, the Anglican, Rev. Ex-policeman who claims to be reincarnation of Jesus Christ finally arrested (photos). He later transferred to the Congo, and explored the Congo river with Thomas Comber, finding locations for mission stations. West Africa, 1919-1925. Until his last day on this Earth, he worked hard to bring God to Nigerians". Europeans were not only curious to explore the lands but also the native people. The brief history of Christianity in Nigeria. A Anglican missionaries in Nigeria (8 P) M Mormon missionaries in Nigeria (7 P) P Protestant missionaries in Nigeria (5 C, 8 P) R Roman Catholic missionaries in Nigeria (20 P) He furthermore continued his missionary expeditions, moving to Badagry and later to Abeokuta, whereafter he returned to the United States due to failing health. Elliot and his fellow missionaries initiated contact with the tribe after being taught some of their language; first by dropping gifts down from a plane and later establishing a camp not far from the Waodani settlement. Thus, the first missions came to this area around the same time the trade and colonialists came here too. Clarke, Peter Bernard. Also, Christian missionaries in Ghana were as zealous as their counterparts in Nigeria in pioneering medical services. Here is the list of the early schools, mission, private or government owned. Almost all the missions in West Africa faced financial problems in the early stages of their missionary work. Other missionaries opened mission stations in the country. Predominantly Muslim territory, the North received western education later than the South. She was a British missionary with the Christian Missionary Society. The American Episcopal Evangelical (A.M.E.) Zion Church owes its foundation in Ghana to Bishop J. Bryan Small, who started work first at Keta in 1898. He worked zealously as an evangelist and schoolmaster in the Castle School until his death in 1816. The vast majority of the people of The Gambia are Moslems; but a sizeable percentage of the population, especially in and around the capital Banjul, are Christians. If youve been impacted by our resources, we invite you to make a year-end gift before December 31. The achievement of the purpose of these Christian Missions came with some costs. Missionaries -- Nigeria Cecil F. and Marie Roberson were Southern Baptist missionaries in Nigeria between the 1950s and 1970s. Thus, for instance, in 2008, the survey by one organization showed that there are at least 53% Muslims, and 45% Christians, while the other study demonstrated other numbers which were 50% Christians and 49% Muslims. The birth of the Christian Church in the Northern Nigeria. In many missions, doctrines like the Doctrine of Love (p.L. Wm. William Winter was a missionary with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod that participated in missionary work in Ibesikpo between 1944 and 1948. West Africa and Christianity. As a result of such unstable situation, the Christian missions only got here in the 1840s. Again, in West-Africa, the efforts to go beyond the coast to reach those inland with the gospel coincided with the southwards expansion of Islam which posed some threat to the expansion of the work of Christian evangelizing missions. Their converts, for many years, were confined to the people of southern Nigerian extraction resident in the north, and to the-large non-Muslim population of the north. Thus, as early as 1823, the Roman Catholic sisters started a clinic for the sick and for children in Banjul. He is considered to have laid the foundation for Christian witness in tropical Africa. As a predominantly Roman Catholic country, France encouraged Roman Catholic missionaries right from the start of her colonial activities in West Africa. The Sudan United Mission (SUM) was a conglomeration or umbrella of different mission societies whose missionaries came from all the Caucasian- dominated nations of the Commonwealth as well as the USA. Hope Waddell of the Church of Scotland had opened a school at Duke Town, Calabar. Burns & Oates, 1979. The late Eighteenth Century witnessed the rise of Christian groups in Europe that resorted to the evangelization of Africa. Early missions conducted by Roman Catholics were short-lived. Unfortunately, a lot of conflicts, sometimes even military ones took place here and in between the tribes. Christian missions also took a leading role in the campaign to end the slave trade and to suppress slavery. Two missionaries serving in Nigeria currently are Katie Morrison with Mission Africa & Youth with a Mission (YWAM). Henry Townsend. In such asituation, provisions and other things had to be sent into the country not in large quantities as would have been desired by the missionaries. In the Gambia, as happened in other territories, the Christian missionaries did not confine their work to the spread of the Gospel alone. Abstract. The work of the missionaries also had little success initially. He shares some of his family's experiences visiting missionaries. Those who were once enslaved and got their freedom back were more likely to support Christianity, come back to their own home and help share the religion there. We recognize sophistry and cant. Both in England and North America, the theme, "The Sudan, the worst manned mission field in the whole world" was beginning to ring louder and louder in many missionary conferences, especially the Keswick conventions in England and later Canada. They often attributed natural ailments to supernatural causes and resorted to mystic cults to appease the unknown spirit, before applying medicine to the sick person. The blessings which Christianity has brought to West Africa are many. In 1859, the first newspaper in Yoruba, called the Iwe-Irohim, was published by the missionaries. For the West Africans, the acceptance of Christianity meant the total rejection of most of the cherished institutions upon which their society rested. Nigerians back US, UK over ban on election riggers, say it should be extended to their family members. A.G. Frazer, did much to encourage the promotion of indigenous culture, but by and large the colonial authorities contributed to dwindling a good deal of our cultural heritage. Great were the thoughts that went into establishing Mission Schools. British Prime Minister. Ex-slave missionary to Nigeria. Charles Thomas Studd was a famous English cricketer who went on to be a missionary to China, Africa and India. https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/index_section8.shtml, https://bethanygu.edu/missions/missionary-involvement-in-nigeria/. 2 (1983): 116-143. Other Roman Catholic hospitals were built in all the nine regions of the country; including those at Asikuma and Foso (Central Region), Akyem Swedru (Eastern Region), Berekum (BrongAhafo), Maase (Asante Region) and Anfoega (Volta Region). Their luggage and other necessities had to be carried on heads and took a long time before reaching the missionaries. Finally, they established new missions to keep up the good work. But they were unable to convert the kings and traditional rulers as these leaders were only interested in the guns and mirrors the Europeans offered them. However, the discovery of quinine and other curative medicines in the late 19th century made the history of the missionary work in West Africa a different thing altogether. Before they came, Nigerians were uneducated. William Gladstone. She was a wife to Thomas Birch Freeman and was part of the missionary expedition to Nigeria. With collaborations with other missionaries like William De Graft, he built a Mission house and Chapel, which was completed in November 1842. Its the generous support of our ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work. Wife of Rev. Wm. In the days of Portuguese contacts with Nigeria, Catholic priests had established missionary stations in Benin and the neighbourhood. The anti-slavery issue and the humanitarian conscience also played a vital role in stimulating European interest in Africa and gave an impetus to mission work. Kaffraria (South Africa), 1885-1908. Establishment of Christian Churches In The Gambia. * St. Thomas College, Ibusa; (CMS) 1928; Meanwhile, the Scottish missionary, Mary Slessor, had established a reputation in the Cross River area as a nurse. Europeans were seen as ruling Africans both in political and ecclesiastical matters'' (Falae). Another valuable contribution of the Christian missionaries in West Africa was the development of literature in the local vernaculars, this included the translation of the Bible into some of the important local languages. *Methodist College, Uzuakoli, 1923; *Kings College, Lagos, 1909; Major World Religions ISLAM. They had their own particular system of laws, administrative organization, and the strong influence of the traditionalists power. "I'm thinking of them in their last moment on earth, far from their homeland, their families and their loves ones, who said: 'What I did was worth it! Called the Iwe-Irohim, was published by the missionaries. The first secondary school in the East was Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, now Cross River State capital. It included the opening up of Africa to forces of change namely commerce (legitimate commerce, i.e. He was a missionary of the Christian Missionary Society of the Church of England that arrived in Nigeria in 1843. In 1950 Albert Academy was founded in Freetown; for-a long lime it was the secondary school in the Colony serving largely children from the provinces, among them were the future heads of state, Sir Milton Margai and Dr. Siaka Stevens. Privacy Statement This fact only proves what God said about those who will persecute those loving Jesus. Development of Education in Sierra Leone. It is doubtful that many of the early missionaries were well, if at all, prepared for this aspect of their mission. *St. Johns School, Bida, 1904; Speaking at morning Mass in Rome, the Pope praised Christians who had given up everything to share their faith. Christianity in West Africa: The Nigerian Story. However, despite all the efforts of the Portuguese missionaries, there was not much fruit from this. Originally a freed African slave from Freetown, Sierra Leone of Yoruba ancestry, was instrumental in the establishment of Christian missions in Nigeria. Among these were the Congregation of the Holy Ghost (commonly known as the Holy Ghost Father), the Society of African Missions (SMA), the Society of Missionaries of Africa, popularly known as the White Fathers because of the white Muslim-like clothing which the Fathers wore, and the society of the Divine Word (SVD, abbreviated from its Latin name). In such situations, the message sometimes appealed to the local people depending on the efficiency of the interpreter. *Wesley College, Elekuro, Ibadan, 1905; The first context was that of the Islamic raids which got so popular that people not always could escape from it and choose what they wanted to believe in. Among the first missionaries was the Rev. By 1914 there were barely thirty schools in that vast area. 26. Introduction, spread and effects, 6: Christian Missionary Activities in West Africa, 7: Scramble for and Partition of West Africa, 9: Problems of Independent West African States, 10: West Africa and International Organizations, 11: Women and Authority in West African History, 12: The Environment in West African History. opened, in Freetown, the first boys secondary school in the country and another for girls in 1849, later renamed the Annie Walsh Memorial School. The CMS began to work in the freed slave villages in Sierra Leone in 1804 and the Methodist in 1811. It was however in the coastal territories filled with mulattos and other European trading communities that Christianity won some of its early success. They believed in sacrifice to make money and do many other things like killing of twins. Thus, first Christians appeared on the West Coast of Africa, Yorubaland, Niger, and Cross River, state that Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology. By the 1800's, various parts of Nigeria had a rooted Catholic Mission presence. Lack of transport from the coast to the interior parts of West Africa was one of the major difficulties encountered by the missionaries. A notable example was the Asafo Company, a purely military and social organisation of the peoples of Ghana, which was condemned by the early missionaries because of its presumed connection with fetish practices. Henry Townsend, were co-principals of the C.M.S Female Institution of Lagos from 1871 until 1872. African people did not have to give up their cultural identity in order to follow something Western and foreign. The real success of Christian conversion came when freed Christian slaves began to return to Nigeria towards the end of the 20th century. The next year, he travelled to India with his family, but his struggles continued. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. While it has brought undoubted benefits, it has also harmed the traditional way of life. Christian family to appeal after court dismisses school Pride parade complaint, British public don't want a secular coronation, poll finds, Relic of crucifixion cross to be used in King Charles' coronation, Challenged by the faith of those who suffer. The Methodists, known as the Wesleyan Missionaries (after their founder), arrived in Freetown in 1811. 2 Longman Group Ltd. London 1974, Ampadu B.K Notes on History of Ghana for Senior High Schools. He was part of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Another important fact about this region is that to the West of the territory Nigeria has today, people were often enslaved or involved in slavery which came to this land in the seventeenth century. William Carey William Carey is regarded as the "father of modern missions". Of the moment he met God for the first time, he said: "right then and there joy and peace came into my soul. Several missionaries died at a youthful age due to the unfriendly tropical climate. The good news for the Christianity is that Islam did not come to this region until in the 1970s the civil war broke out. Europe in those days looked upon Africa as the Dark Continent with very primitive civilizations, and most Europeans refused to adapt their religion to suit the local situation. Africa and the Winder World 3. Grammar School for Boys in 1859, St Gregorys College opened by the Catholics in 1876, Methodist Boys High School 1878 and Methodist Girls High School 1879. The first attempts to bring Christianity to the area where the modern country is today date back to the 1470s and 1620s. Many missionaries died because of the climate and tropical disease. Up until the 19th century, European missionaries were not especially successful. AMVERIFIED: Africas indigenous social network community. Here, the history of Christianity turns its new page in the 1840s. Amazingly, Elisabeth and the sister of another of the missionaries, Rachel, were introduced to the Waodani just two years after their murder, and were invited to live among the tribe. Soon after, in 1835 they moved up to Akropon on the hills in Akuapem, where the pioneer missionary the Rev. BBC. The oldest secondary school in Nigeria, it was founded on 06 June, 1859. In the 19th century more stable missions were sent into Nigeria as European nations gained tighter control over their African colonies. These pioneer mission schools met with a discouraging response. But in 1800, he baptised his first convert to Christianity, and over more than 20 years went on to translate the Bible into dozens of major Indian languages and dialects. 1813-1873. J. C. Taylor, in these parts of southern Nigeria can still be seen today. The high temperatures coupled with high rainfall patterns in some parts of the country experienced during the daytime, made the missionaries stay indoors, which slowed down their activities. These included the Basel Missionary Society, founded in Switzerland, and the Breman Mission formed in Germany. *Offa Grammar School, Offa, 1943; Besides education, they cared for the sick. His missionary expeditions took him to Egba, Abeokuta, and Dahomey(a Kingdom that existed in present-day Benin from 1600 until 1904). Oates, Joan. * St. Charles College, Onitsha, 1929; *United Memorial Grammar School, Ibadan, 1928; Nevertheless, when Christianity came here around the same time it did to the Western part, it met no obstacles in spreading.It It is important to realize that the religions in Nigeria were all influenced by the common traditionalists beliefs and superstitions. *Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, 1923; He facilitated several social reforms such as the abolition of human sacrifices in aristocratic funerals, in collaboration with Rev. The government gave grants according to the strength of the staff and the efficiency of the school judged by inspection reports and the results of public examinations. David . To provide the clear understanding of how this religion came to Nigeria, we have to mention that the state we know today was divided into several regions which had their own social and economic conditions which either stimulate the spread of it or prevented it from it. Legit Nigeria. Ben Ayade came late. BREAKING: Edo 2020: Oshiomhole finally breaks silence, reveals why he was moved to tears on election day. They were to spread the message of the Gospel, render social services to the people and to assist in the suppression of slavery and the slave trade. The History of Christianity in West Africa. Badagry was so receptive to missionaries at that time, so he moved to Abeokuta before finally settling in Ibadan in 1853, where he carried on preaching engagements and educating young children with the aid of his wife, Anna Hinderer. The first school in Nigeria was started by the Methodist missionaries at Badagry in 1842. Baker Pub Group, 1996. A new attempt to spread Christianity was made when the Church Missionary Society (CMS) arrived from Britain in 1821. Amazingly, Elisabeth and the sister of another of the missionaries, Rachel, were introduced to the Waodani just two years after their murder, and were invited to live among the tribe. South Africa, 1919-1928. Missionaries were used by the colonial power as an avant garde, to expand into new regions, a fact keenly . Christian converts were indoctrinated to frown upon the use of indigenous first names in favour of Christian ones. Thanks to their faith and hard labor here, around 45% of all the population in the area became Christians. A new era began with the settlements of Black Christians from Nova Scotia in Sierra Leone in 1787 and the missionary advance inland from Cape Town beginning with the arrival there of J. T. van der Kemp in 1799. 2. Church history, history of Christianity, religious history: some reflections on British missionary enterprise since the late eighteenth century. Church History 71, no. Textbooks were heavily biased towards western ideas and values. People accepted Jesus Christ but still had the mentality impacted by the indigenous religions. Following agitation by the people in 1934, the government opened the old Yaba Higher College and Medical School, which awarded diplomas acceptable only locally. https://bebegolf.com/history/. REPORT: How COVID-19 increased child labour in Lagos state (parents, children share experiences), READ ALSO: Meet Footballers Who Converted To Christianity From Islam. The Church Missionary Society established churches in several towns like Abeokuta, Lagos, Idaban, Oyo, and Benin. Baptist Academy, Lagos, followed in 1885. However, the first fruit became possible, as the Americans and British decided to free the slaves. The Glasgow Missionary Society pamphlet of 1796, "Report on the Character of a Missionary, etc." lays considerable stress upon "piety, prudence and aptitude to teach" but not once mentions the need for craft skills (Williams 1959 . Perhaps the greatest service of the missionaries was the promotion of western education and the development of vernacular literature. They also prescribed many taboos which, in the light of modern medical science, had no relation whatever with the illness being treated.