In 1845 the C.M.S. Speaking at morning Mass in Rome, the Pope praised Christians who had given up everything to share their faith. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12), Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you. However, with time, they brought some crops, which they cultivated and which sustained them. The couple later transferred to Lagos to become co-principals of the Christian Missionary Society (CMS) from 1871 till 1872. How did Christianity come to Nigeria? In Nigeria, one of the lasting works of the C.M.S. The birth of the Christian Church in the Northern Nigeria. The following year, its female arm, Methodist Girls High School, Lagos, came on the scene. Nigeria 213.53. They relied very much on their home churches for their funds. Prepared by Doug Nichols, Action International Ministries, (and a few other well-known historical and church figures and events), Bible Translation, founded boarding schools with Carey(India), A missionary leader with the British Baptist mission(India), Jamaica One of first American missionaries, Pastored first black church in America and becamemissionary to Sierra Leone, With Rev. He shares some of his family's experiences visiting missionaries. The Portuguese were the first to introduce the Christian faith into West Africa but following their departure from the West Coast in the mid-seventeenth century, the Christian religion survived only in Upper Guinea where a bishop was maintained in the Cape Verde Islands serving also a part of the mainland. Being ignorant of the significance of certain institutions and practices of the people of West Africa, and occasionally being misled by their over-zealous followings into wrongly interpreting the peoples heritage, the missionaries compelled pupils in their schools and docile adult converts to shun their own ancestral practices. For instance, on 2nd October 1792, the Baptist Missionary Society was formed followed by the interdenominational London Missionary Society which was established in 1795. Both of these missionaries are working to share the Gospel with the Nigerian people. The Surprising Countries Most Missionaries Are Sent From a | News They also prescribed many taboos which, in the light of modern medical science, had no relation whatever with the illness being treated. It was only after the Second World War that the colonial governments started to show a real interest in the promotion of formal education in West Africa. However, by the turn of the Nineteenth Century there was systematic efforts by churches of Christian Europe, namely: Anglicans, Methodists, and Baptists who were active in Sierra Leone and, with Presbyterians, in Nigeria, while Methodists also set up missions in Ghana, Gambia, and Dahomey. 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. Great were the thoughts that went into establishing Mission Schools. The youngest of the 'Studd Brothers', who were known for their cricket skills at Eton and Cambridge, Charles played in the first Test match between England vs Australia where the Ashes were named. By the end of the Victorian Age, (1832-1900), missionary work had started already in other parts of the world, such as China, Japan, Korea, India, South Africa and other parts of the world, except the Sudan (Central Nigeria). They were closed down in 1852 in favour of schools opened in Lagos which, in 1851, had one time British control. Timeline of Great Missionaries - Eternal Perspective Ministries Mary Slessor was the first women missionary in Nigeria, Africa, during the early 1900s. 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. And for our independence and banished ignorance, for broadening minds so we could recognize liberty and freedom. He worked zealously as an evangelist and schoolmaster in the Castle School until his death in 1816. Furthermore, during this same period, the anti-Islamic sentiment was quite high in Europe and North America within Christian circles. The Hope Waddell Institute is named after him. The greatest problem faced by the early European Christian missionaries was, the tropical climate and health Hazards. When the women of Israel sang the praise of David for killing Goliath, this made King Saul angry and envious. . Also, the traditional doctors more often than not could not diagnose illness accurately. If you are interested in learning more about it, then read on. In 1859, the first newspaper in Yoruba. They helped them by establishing better medicine. Soon after the start of elementary schools, the missionaries started opening higher institutions also. Christianity in northern Nigeria. BBC. They were martyrs who offered up their lives for the Gospel. 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. Henry Townsend who went from Sierra Leone to Badagry in 1842 in his company was the Rev Ajayi Crowther. (Gen. 8:22) May this indeed be the season of harvest for us all. Therefore the period for the rise of Christianizing Missions in the late Nineteenth Century has been considered as reprise. ", Comparing them to the apostle Paul, Francis added: "I think it is only right that we give thanks to the Lord for their testimony. *Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, 1895; 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. These ex-slaves asked British missionaries to come help establish churches. They were of much interest to different scientists and religious activists from all over the world. *Edo College, Benin, 1937. 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. Depending on the year of the survey conducted as well as the organization that conducted it, the numbers differ as well as the ratio of Muslims to Christians. Missionaries provide humanitarian aid and preach the Christian faith (sometimes through sacraments). But despite the work of Portuguese missionaries based on the island of Sao Tome and later of Spanish missionaries in Benin, it was not until the nineteenth century that the Christian religion was firmly established in Nigeria. In 1827 it grew into Fourah Bay College. The CSGC reports that "of the ten countries sending the most missionaries in 2010, three were in the global South: Brazil, South Korea, and India." Other notable missionary senders included. Among the early Protestant evangelical societies founded in Great Britain were the Baptist Missionary Society, the Church Missionary Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Wesleyan Missionary Society and what became known as the Presbyterian Missionary Society of the Church of Scotland. Randy was interviewed by his local church, Good Shepherd, for their annual Global Outreach weekend. The churches opened primary schools both in the capital and in the rural communities. The people in Nigeria had their traditions which they believed and worship God. He was a missionary that participated in missionary work in Ibesikpo under the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod during the mid-1940s. In honor of David Livingstone's life, she dedicated her life to spreading the Gospel in Africa. Kalu, Ogbu. This single problem made the missionary work very difficult. The people received the message with indifference. *St. Theresa College, Ibadan, 1932; In the field of education, however, the missionaries had to adjust their programmes to fit in with the policy of assimilation. Public money was spent only on the small number of government schools, totaling nineteen when Governor Guggisberg assumed office in 1919. opened, in Freetown, the first boys secondary school in the country and another for girls in 1849, later renamed the Annie Walsh Memorial School. This article will answer your questions. In . This was where the Efik people lived; a community that believed in traditional West African religions and had particular superstition of twins, who were often killed or abandoned. Ajayi Crowther in writing hymns in the Yoruba language as well as publishing a Yoruba newspaper in 1859. Thus, first Christians appeared on the West Coast of Africa, Yorubaland, Niger, and Cross River, state that Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology. 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). During the same period, the Student Missionary Movement was beginning to have a strong influence on the need of global evangelization in North America and Europe. 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. opened was the Christian Institute, established in 1814 for the training of teachers, catechists and priests. As an institution introduced by agents with radically different values, the Christian religion damaged the culture and traditional beliefs of the people of West Africa. The next stop was Ibadan, St. Annes School, Molete, Ibadan. Before the missionaries came to Nigeria, there were no Christians in the country. The lead was followed by other missionaries, notably the Roman Catholic, whose first higher institution was St Edwards Secondary School in Freetown. These new movements considered such ventures to be their contribution to Europes reparation for centuries of exploitation of Africans, reparation for the centuries of exploitation which the Trans Atlantic slave trade had caused to African society. Privacy Policy. By the 1800's, various parts of Nigeria had a rooted Catholic Mission presence. Tinubu said in his administration workers will find a dependable. Thus as early as 1823, the Roman Catholic Sisters started a clinic for the sick and for children in Banjul. In the beginning of the 19th century, Christian missionaries were launched with unprecedented vigor to Africa. It was not until 1909 that the government opened a teacher training college and a technical school in Accra. Stay up to date with the latest Christian news! That God called me to China and I went in spite of utmost opposition from all my loved ones. For instance, in Nigeria, one of the first groups of missionaries to introduce organised medical services were the Roman Catholics. Library Catalog He is also reputed to have helped Rev. A Scottish missionary with the Scottish Presbyterian Church. *Igbobi College, Lagos, (Anglican) 1932; *Olivet Heights, Oyo, 1945; Unfortunately, a lot of conflicts, sometimes even military ones took place here and in between the tribes. The first secondary school in the East was Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, now Cross River State capital. Lack of transport from the coast to the interior parts of West Africa was one of the major difficulties encountered by the missionaries. Legit Nigeria. Category:Christian missionaries in Nigeria - Wikipedia Before they came, Nigerians were uneducated. *Methodist Boys High School, Oron, 1903; This happened after He resurrected and showed up to the disciples. For instance, in Ghana, it was in 1858 that Rev. 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. *Government College Umuahia, 1927; "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. Henry Townsend. Pope Francis has said that missionaries are the "heroes of evangelism". These missionary societies laid the foundations of the Roman Catholic Church in West Africa, which lasted through to the independence period when African clergy replaced the white pastors. A new attempt to spread Christianity was made when the Church Missionary Society (CMS) arrived from Britain in 1821.
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