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Top 10 oldest churches in Nigeria (2023)
A church, church building, or church house serves as a place for Christian worship and various Christian religious activities. Nigeria is one of Africa’s oldest churches. In this article, we’ll journey through time to discover the ten oldest churches in Nigeria. These places of worship have withstood the test of time, holding great importance in the nation’s religious and historical context. These top ten churches in Nigeria serve as living evidence of the enduring faith and rich Christian history in the country.
Top 10 oldest churches in Nigeria (2023)
Table Of Contents
| RANK | NAME OF CHURCHES | YEAR FOUNDED |
| 1 | Church of Nigeria | 1842 |
| 2 | Methodist Church Nigeria | 1842 |
| 3 | The African Church | 1901 |
| 4 | Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) | 1914 |
| 5 | The Apostolic Church Nigeria | 1918 |
| 6 | Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) | 1925 |
| 7 | Church of the Lord (Aladura) | 1930 |
| 8 | Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) | 1931 |
| 9 | Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) | 1947 |
| 10 | Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) | 1952 |
10. REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD (RCCG)
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a large Pentecostal church in Lagos, Nigeria, led by Enoch Adeboye since 1981. It was founded in 1952 by Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi, who later chose Enoch Adejare Adeboye as the next leader. The church has local and international branches, with 25 regions in Nigeria.
They hold special spiritual events like the Holy Ghost Service every first Friday of the month in Nigeria, along with the Holy Ghost Convention in August and the Holy Ghost Congress in December. The RCCG’s official website outlines their beliefs in the Bible, the Holy Trinity, the existence of the Devil, man made in God’s image, repentance, cleansing from sins through God’s grace, sanctification, water baptism, Holy Spirit baptism, restitution, and divine healing through prayer.
9. CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST (CCC)
The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) was founded in Africa by Samuel Oshoffa in September 1947 in Porto-Novo, Benin. Oshoffa, a former carpenter born in Dahomey in 1909, started the church.
The CCC gained recognition from the Republic of Dahomey in 1965 and began an evangelistic campaign in the country from 1976. In recent decades, the CCC has used the internet for evangelization, connecting its branches in the African diaspora, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France, and the United States, with Nigeria, where the CCC is most popular.
The church follows twelve key recommendations with various prohibitions, including dietary restrictions similar to other monotheistic religions. Tobacco, alcohol, and pork consumption are not allowed. Worshippers must remove their shoes when wearing their church garments inside the main church. Genders are segregated during services. Menstruating women and new mothers are considered unclean for seven days before becoming “sanctified” and rejoining the church. CCC members are prohibited from participating in idolatry, fetish ceremonies, black magic, or using charms. Only anointed men have access to the altar.
8. CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH (CAC)
Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) is the first Aladura Pentecostal church in Nigeria and other countries. It started in the early 20th century during the British Empire. In 1941, it officially formed after separating from the Apostolic Church, which was invited to Nigeria by the original Aladura organization, Faith Tabernacle. Joseph Ayo Babalola, a former road construction driver, led its growth as the first General Evangelist. His revival led to many people abandoning traditional practices and accepting Christianity, which alarmed colonial authorities and led to his arrest.
CAC runs secondary schools and Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State, Nigeria. It has a presence in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Austria, Australia, South Africa, the Ivory Coast, Togo, Armenia, and Chad. Its missionary headquarters is in Ibadan, Nigeria. CAC follows Pentecostal traditions and has over a million members, particularly among the Yoruba population. They do not practice infant baptism, support monogamy, and emphasize healing. Pastor Samuel Olusegun Oladele became the 8th president of Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide on March 20, 2021.
7. CHURCH OF THE LORD (ALADURA)
Josiah Olunowo Ositelu founded the Church of the Lord (Aladura) in 1925 and launched it in 1930 in Ogere Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. “Aladura” in Yoruba means “owners of prayer” or “The Praying People,” and they always wear white. These churches believe in the power of prayer, faith healing, and aspects of Pentecostalism. Most founders had Anglican ties and opposed traditional African religion, polygamy, and witchcraft. They steer clear of politics and focus on the holiness movement. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu is the current Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Nigerian Archdiocese and the Primate of The Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide, known for its prophetic gift rooted in constant prayer.
6. CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM (C&S)
Moses Orimolade Tunolase founded C&S Church in 1925. He gained attention for allegedly healing Christina Abiodun Akinsowon from a long trance where she couldn’t speak or hear. They joined forces to heal and pray for people. The Cherubim and Seraphim groups claim to have dreams and visions connecting God and humanity. In 1925, Jesus directed them to name their sect “Seraphim.” In 1927, they added “Cherubim” to their church name, becoming Cherubim and Seraphim.
Following their tradition, new denominations formed, like the Church of Aladura in 1930 under Josiah Oshitelu. By the 1940s, the Aladura movement spread worldwide, including Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
5. THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH NIGERIA
The Apostolic Church Nigeria is a Pentecostal Christian denomination based in Nigeria, with its main office in Lagos, Nigeria, and its global headquarters in Penygroes, UK. It started as a prayer group called “Precious Stone” in Ijebu Ode, founded by Joseph Shadare in 1918. By 1922, it separated from the Anglican Church and joined the Apostolic Church in 1931. In 1938, it had 120 churches in Nigeria.
In 2011, the church opened a 10,000-seat National Temple in Lagos. As of 2018, it had 4.5 million members in Nigeria.
4. NIGERIAN BAPTIST CONVENTION(NBC)
Rev. Thomas Jefferson Bowen started the Nigerian Baptist Convention in 1849 when he became the first missionary. He reached Lagos in 1850. The convention was officially formed in 1914 and subsequently created Baptist conventions in Ghana and Sierra Leone. As of 2023, it comprises 14,523 churches and 8,925,000 members. It affiliates with the Baptist World Alliance and has its headquarters in Ibadan, Nigeria, with Rev. Dr. Israel Adélaní Àkànjí MFA serving as the president.
3. THE AFRICAN CHURCH
The African Church began in 1901 in British colonial areas that later became Nigeria due to disputes between European and African leaders in the Anglican Church. Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a prominent African leader and Bible translator, became the head of the Church of Nigeria. Despite African clerics receiving education, they were not promoted in church leadership, causing divisions and leading to the creation of the African Church.
2. METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA
Thomas Birch Freeman, born in England on December 6, 1809, served as a gospel herald in Nigeria. His father was an African gardener, and his mother was English. In 1842, a Wesleyan Methodist Church missionary arrived in Nigeria in response to requests from former slaves who had returned from Sierra Leone. The Methodist Church Nigeria, currently led by Prelate Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, JP, has a membership of over 2 million full members.
1. CHURCH OF NIGERIA
The Church of England’s first mission was established in 1842 by Henry Townsend in Badagry. In 1864, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a Yoruba former slave, became the first black Bishop of the Anglican Communion. Lagos became its own diocese in 1919.
Leslie Gordon Vining became the Bishop of Lagos in 1940 and the first archbishop of the Province of West Africa in 1951. The Church of Nigeria is the Anglican church in Nigeria and is the second-largest province in the Anglican Communion by baptized membership, with over 18 million members as of 2016, out of a total Nigerian population of 190 million. It is also the largest Anglican province in Africa, accounting for 41.7% of Anglicans in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Since 2002, the Church of Nigeria has had 14 ecclesiastical provinces and has increased its dioceses and bishops from 91 in 2002 to 161 in January 2013. Its administrative headquarters are in Abuja, and its primate is Archbishop Henry Ndukuba.