•Anglican society presents book
On Sunday, a book on the history and activities of the St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Idimu, Lagos, will be unveiled. Written by a member of the church, the book is titled: The History of Christian Progressive Association of Nigeria (CPAN). WALE AJETUNMOBI writes.
For more than 70 years after it was founded in 1914, the St. Peter’s Anglican Church was the lone structure standing on the fringe of Idimu – a hitherto rustic suburb in Alimosho area of Lagos. People started flocking to the area in the late 1970s, changing the rural nature of Idimu community.
Three years ago, the Anglican Church marked the centenary of its Founder’s Day, but how many of the current members know the history of the church and its contributions to the socio-economic development of Idimu town?
Any current member of the church, who may want to know this historical background, does not need to conduct extensive research. The church’s involvement in social and evangelical transformation of Idimu has now been compiled in a book titled: The History of Christian Progressive Association of Nigeria (CPAN).
Authored by Pa Adedeji Komolafe, a retired mechanical engineer and former CPAN’s president, the 85-page book chronicles the association’s active contributions to the spiritual and physical development of the Idimu archdeaconry. It is also a compendium of accounts of stewardship of the CPAN members in the last three decades.
CPAN was founded in 1981 by nine members of the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, but it was formerly known by Egbe Itewasju Kristi. It had closed affinity with Idimu Social Elite, a social club founded about the same period. Six pioneer members of Egbe Itewasju Kristi were members of the social club and this obviously gave members of the spiritual group an opportunity to contribute to the social transformation of the Idimu town.
With the arrival of the first trained catechist, S.O. Okeowo, at the church in March 1982, the membership of the Idimu Anglican Church enlarged, paving the way for Egbe Itewasju Kristi to increase its members and activities. In 1991, the woman wing of the church floated Christian Progressive League (CPL), with the purpose to complement the effort of Egbe Itewasju Kristi in entrenching evangelism in the then sprawling town.
Merging the two spiritual groups in the St. Peter’s Anglican Church in the second half of 1990’s was necessitated by a meeting of societies under the purview of Lagos Diocese of the Anglican Communion. By 1998, Egbe Itewasju Kristi and CPL were merged, and this was followed by a transition period during which a common name – CPAN – was adopted based on the shared spiritual aspirations.
Since 1982, members of the church associated with CPAN have been playing key roles and championing progressive causes that help in the transformation of the St. Peter’s Anglican Church and its environs.
According to the author, majority of Egbe Itewasju Kristi were youths in their 30s when the group was founded in 1981.
Komolafe said: “The pioneer members were young, strong and adventurous. They were willing to spend their money and other cherished resources for the propagation of the Jesus Christ’s gospel. When the society was founded, the church could be likened to a typical African family with CPAN as its first son. CPAN members were involved in all decision-making processes of the church.”
CPAN members, Komolafe said, became the first elected wardens and church secretaries. The spiritual society extended its tentacles to every part of the church’s administration. Some of its members volunteered as layreaders before they were officially licensed to act as such.
In 1985, the St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Idimu embarked on vigorous evangelical expansion, instituting a Church Planting Committee with the objective to establish Anglican denominational churches in adjoining villages and town.
CPAN members played frontline role in this initiative, championing the formation of Idimu Area Group of Anglican Churches. The group, chaired by S.O. Ojo, established eight Anglican churches placed under the superintendence of Reverend J.I. Bangbaiye, who was the vicar.
The established churches include St. John’s Anglican Church in Ikotun, St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Ejigbo, Our Saviour’s Anglican Church in Oke- Afa, St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Ijegun, All Saints Anglican Church in Okerube, St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Egan, Christ The Saviour Anglican Church in Isheri-Oshun, and Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial Anglican Church in Egbeda.
In his appraisal of the book, Prof N.C. Nwaboku, a senior lecturer of Educational Technology at the Lagos State University, said CPAN members showed leadership in helping to transform the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Idimu, to a vibrant and progressive God’s vineyard.
He said: “Many of CPAN members are vibrant workers in God’s vineyard, playing multiple roles in the daily affairs of the church. The women are just as active in their own rights as lay readers, mothers and patronesses of other societies in the church.”
CPAN president, Chief Temitayo Faloju, described the book as “well-articulated”, saying it provides useful information for preachers, researchers and new comers to Idimu.
The book, which will be unveiled on Sunday at the church, is divided in seven chapters, which explain the history of the church, history of CPAN, collective contributions made by CPAN members, individual member’s contribution, and membership list, among others.
