Advent Of Anglican Church In Umueri

The Advent of Anglican Church In Umueri

The advent of Christian missions to Umueri was the effort of the 18th century evangelical and revival movements which went through the length and breadth of Europe. The revival hnreached America and West coast of Africa through the activities of liberated slaves. Having embraced the Christian faith while in the Americas, those ex-slaves became the light bearers for the evangelization of

the West coast and the interio.

In Nigeria, it was the ex-slaves and returnees from Sierra Leone that pioneered the evangelization of the country especially the Igbo country, Umueri inclusive. The first Christian mission to make a successful inroad to Umueri was the Anglican Church which came under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society (CMS). This was an evangelical wing of the Anglican Church founded in 1799 and commissioned to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ‘heathem’ lands especially Asia and Africa.

The Church Missionary Society (CMS) first came to Umueri in 1900 and later in 1904 through the effort of Mr. Omatan Adintu, who was an ex-slave from Umueri. It was said that Omatan Adintu was captured and sold into slavery. He was later resold to Portuguese slave dealers and put onboard a slave ship for transportation across the Atlantic to the New World. Fortunately, the slave ship was captured by the British war ship traversing international territorial sea waters in search of slave merchants who were bent on carrying on with the trade despite the fact that slave trade had been legally abolished. They were taken to Sierra Leone as liberated persons.

In Freetown, they became Christians and were taught the Bible and mission work. Omatan Adintu got baptized and took the name Charles Adintu. Thereafter, his vision was how to undertake a mission to his country home, Umueri to evangelize to his people.

In 1900, the first set of CMS missionaries arrived Umueri with great zeal and zest. But then, the general mood of the people was that of resentment. The resentment stemmed from the fact that the Catholic mission under Rev. Father Joseph Shanahan had earlier established a mission at neighbouring Aguleri. From there, several incursions were made into Umueri. However, these incursions were stoutly rebuffed by the natives who felt that their traditional religion should not be abolished or modified on the pretence of an ‘exotic culture’. The endeavour of the first set of CMS missionaries ended in an unmitigated disaster. The natives drove them away and destroyed their property. Aware of the enormous task ahead, the missionary workers receded, signaling the end of their first endeavour.
In 1904, the Church Missionary Society came back to Umueri. This second endeavour was better organized and more spiritually formidable. This party comprised mostly of freed slaves who could no longer trace their ancestral homestead as well as white missionary workers who were prepared to go to the most remote parts of African continent in the bid to spread the gospel.10 The party was headed by church teacher, Charles Adintu and for this reason, the natives did not drive away the missionaries.

They preached the gospel from one village square to another and distributed gift items to the natives. Consequently, Umuatuolu village Umueri provided the Church Missionary Society with a parcel of land wherein the first Anglican Church in Umueri was established in June, 1904. the society also established a small school and encouraged little children to attend. At the early beginning, the first church was given the name ‘Immanuel Anglican Church, Umueri’ – a name it bears up till date.

 Early History of the First Parish

When in 1904, the church missionary society CMS (Anglican) made an inroad to Umueri, it was just as expected of a new born baby to grow and develop into maturity. This is not different from the expectations of the missionaries who through the effort of Pa Charles Adintu, brought the Anglican Church to Umueri. Having settled in 1904, the Anglican Church began to embark on some activities to enhance its growth.

The first church planted was named Immanuel CMS Church Umueri. The coming of Christianity/ Anglican Church battled with and succeeded in banishing certain practices. The missionaries and the early converts preached against cannibalism, human sacrifice and other evil practices like banishing of twins and their mothers into the evil forest. There were other classes of people that were driven into the evil forest also for life. Among these were people who suffered from diseases considered abominable like leprosy, swollen stomach and elephantiasis. Also people who has one form of birth defect or another were deemed to have come into the world on their own and not sent by the goddess to live among human beings. They are children who at birth came out using their legs instead of the head, children whose upper set of teeth first appeared, any woman who tied her wrapper the way men were known to tie or if a woman was seen climbing a palm tree. These things were taboos and whoever committed any of these offences was promptly driven into the evil forest and expected to die there. The missionaries frequently went to the evil forest to rescue the afore mentioned, placed them into the fold of the ever growing congregation.

Also, members of the Osu Caste system found solace in the preaching that all men were equal before God. They therefore wasted no time in joining the Christian brethren wherein they were not discriminated against but assuredly assimilated with oneness.Indeed, the missionaries were not only responsible for mission activities but humanitarian and work at different levels. They also engaged in social services like clearing of bush paths and free medical care etc.
Among the early converts was Mrs. Adintu, Dumaka, Ebeneze Dumaka, Theo Akwaeze, Nnalue onyivi Mathies Nwambu Johnson Akwuma, Mr. and Mrs. Shedrack Obeche Ububu, Chigbata Ezeyim, Christopher Areh, Jarius Udealor amongst others.

OLD IMMANUEL CHURCH BUILDING

With the Church fully established, Adintu and other missionary workers carried the mission work to other neighboring communities like Umunya, Awkwuzu, Nando Aguleri etc. thus, missionary work in these communities were very successful. Prominent figures from these communities began to agitate for the establishment of a mission in their various communities. Much later, the efforts of Chief Menakoya led to the establishment of a mission at Umunya. Pa Isaac Ndu also actualized the establishment of a mission and Awkwuzu. The efforts of Aaron Ifekwunigwe saw the establishment of a mission at Nando. Jacob Nwobia and Elijah Obi made it possible for a mission to be built at Agaleri. At the same time, St Gabriel’s Anglican Church (now Cathedral) came into being in 1912. At the establishment of St Gabriel’s Church Umueri, some members took to church (while) wedding. They include, Mr. and Mrs. Metchie, Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Agbata, Mr. and Mrs. Dom Igbukwe, Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Nwambu and others. In no distant time, Umueri rose to a District status and Pa Abraham Madubuonwu’s effort led to the establishment of a mission at Igbariam. Also, the efforts of Umueri early converts led to the establishment of a mission at Ogbunike and Nteje respectively.

Pa Charles Adintu died on the 24th of February 1930 having fulfilled his vision of establishing the Anglican Church in his home town, Umueri. Until his demise, he served vigorously as a Church Teacher at Nnobi Obosi, Umunya  amongst other places. It is vital to stress here that the death of Charles Adintu neither derailed nor stopped the progress match of the Church. As a matter of fact, the Church grew from strength to strength with church workers posted to the churches that had begun the enjoyment of a rising profile.

Over the years, the following Church workers have been posted to Immanuel Anglican Church Umueri, and they are Obed Agha, Esione Emesim, John Obi Nathan Okugo, Johnson Akwuba, Ifejika M.T Onyekwelu, Uzo Egwuenu, Onyekwelu Okafor, Ernest Okay, Ogbueti Peter Obiekezie. Each of these workers served either as a Catechist or a Church teacher and they made significant contributions to the progress of church.

The year 1954 was a remarkable year in the history of the Anglican Church in Umueri. That year witnessed the posting of the first resident priest, Rev. L.O Ezeani to Umueri as well as the establishment of St. John’s Church, Ugume Umueri. Yet, the year 1954 witnessed the successful hosting of the District Council of the Diocese on the Niger by Immanuel Anglican Church Umueri for the first time.

In 1957, Rev. E.A Offomah was posted to Immanuel Anglican Church to replace transferred Rev. L.O Ezeani.

In 1962, Umueri attained a full District status and Rev. D.N Unaeze became the Superintendent of the new District. All Anglican Churches in Umueri, Aguleri, Nando, Igbariam, Anam and Anyamelum communities were under the Umueri district.

Before the 1964 communal clash between Umueri and Aguleri communities, the entire Anglican community in the Otuocha metropolis all worshipped at St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church, Umueri. It was after the 1964 communal clash that the Anglican members of the Otuocha started to make moves to separate from the district. Peace was later  restored and the Aguleri people and other strangers within the Otuocha metropolis had a reunion with St. Gabriel’s Church, Otuocha Umueri.

In continuation of the progress of the Anglican Mission in Umueri, in 1967, Rev. Joseph P.C Okeke from Awka Etiti  was posted to Umueri. He was there till the outbreak of hostilities that gave rise to the Nigerian Civil war from 1967 to 1970.

 Establishment of St. Gabriel’s Parish Umueri

In 1910, Missionaries from Onitsha town sailed through the River Niger en route Anambra River to Otuocha. With the help of Pa Isaac Mebo, they started scouting for young men of school age to train in mission/western education. They settled at the present Ovu-Awka Primary School which was formerly called St. Gabriel’s Primary School, Umueri where many converts do assembly on daily bases to be tutored by the white missionary teachers. The people however, resisted being taught by the white people but a handful of adherents accepted Christianity having heard about the story of Pa Charles Adintu who was taken away as a slave to Freetown and the subsequent freedom granted to him.
As time went on, due to the benevolence of the white missionaries many people accepted Christianity and submitted themselves for baptism.
In the year 1912, the first foundation stone made of mud was laid in the compound and all the early converts within the Otuocha cosmopolitan converged there for the school and church services.
The first building of St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church was changed from mud to block and corrugated aluminum roof in the 1940s and that building was there till the late 1960s when it was destroyed during the Nigerian Civil war – this was precisely in 1969 when Otuocha fell in the hands of the hands of the Nigerian Army.
After the Civil war, the Late Rt. Rev. L.M Uzodike with the assistance of members of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Alor and members of the foreign mission reconstructed the Immanuel Church building. The building was completed in the late 1970s. it must be emphasized that St. Paul’s Anglican Church Alor continued to play the role of ‘Big Brother’ for a very long time.

In like manner, Umueri faithful like Late Benneth Nwabia, Matthew Udanoh, Sir Emma Edochie, Sir Victor Areh, Mr. Joe Ebenezer Dumaka amongst others started to rebuild the St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church in the cosmopolitan Otuocha area and by the year 1990, the construction was completed. Jonas O. Nebo was posted to Umueri in 1970. Thereafter, Aguleri churches began to pull out of Umueri district under the tag of ‘Aguleri Annex’.fIn late 1973, Late Rev. Godfrey C. Ubaka from Akwaeze was posted to Umueri as the District Superintendent.

In 1975, with the enthronement of the then Rt. Rev. J.O Onyemelukwe as the Bishop of the Diocese on the Niger, many priests were posted to St. Gabriel’s District, Umueri and church teachers were at the same time posted to Immanuel Anglican Church Umueri. In 1977, Rev. G.C Onyemuze from Ihiala became the District Superintendent of Umueri. He was succeeded by Rev. Theodore M. Okoli in 1982. In 1986, Rev. Rowland Ibeneme from Nando  succeeded Rev. Theodore Okoli and during his tenure, Nando churches pulled out of the District.

In 1990, Rev. Felix E.O Ezeonyuche from Uga was posted to the District. He had a glorious tenure and brought about certain reformations that endeared him to many. His name has since remained a household name in Umueri  till date.1n 1994, Rev. Patrick U. Okoye from Umulukwu Anam was posted to Umueri. In 1999, Rev, Canon Amugo  was posted to Umueri.

On 4th April, 1999, communal war erupted between Umueri and Aguleri/Umuoba Anam. The war lasted through 2000 to 2001 and had devastating effects on the growth of the Anglican Church in Umueri.

Attainment of Archdeaconry Status

After the fratricidal communal clash between Umueri and Aguleri/Umuoba Anam, statement crept into every segment of the people’s communal life thereby making the search for a very forward imperative. It was therefore clear that the church has a role to play in redirecting the people’s attitude to life and the imperative reconstruction of the churches.

Towards the end of the year 2001, the refugees began to return to their homes. Unfortunately, there were no homes for human habitation as the entire area was ruined. Also, St. Gabriel’s Church which was at that time, the headquarters of Umueri district was maliciously annihilated. The Parsonage was also not left out in fact the entire church compound was in a pitiable condition. However, the Anglican faithful who returned had no alternative choice than to worship in the parlour of the first floor of the Parsonage as the roof of the Parsonage was destroyed.

The returnees started to rebuild their houses so as to regroup as a community. The then Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Sandy Okeke encouraged the people to build a place of worship for the people to enable them “secure the total freedom in Christ and to sensitize them and re-energize them for greater exploits in the Lord’s vineyard”. To this end, in the year 2003, two great ambassadors of Christ were posted to Umueri; Rev. G.O Ekekwe and Rev. Oliver Ofoegbu to oversee St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church and Immanuel Anglican Church respectively.

The Bishop on the Niger – Rt. Rev. Sandy Okeke – on 14th February, 2004 laid the foundation stone of the new St. Gabriel’s Church building. According to A.C.B Ikechebelu, “the huge financial implications of the project almost gave members of St. Gabriel’s Church a nightmare and to the Anglican community of Umueri who were then recovering from the devastation of the communal war.

Succor was however granted to the Anglican Church in Umueri on April 30, 2006 when in a church service, Sir Ben Emeka announced his intention to take over the responsibility of the construction of the new St. Gabriel’s Church building. Sir Ben and his wife Chinwe took over the challenge of organizing both human and material resources at their disposal. Under six months, the couple set up a magnificent edifice which started serving as a major Christian centre of activities in Umueri.
Following the new development, on 15th November 2006, at the one-day Niger Diocesan Synod held at All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, His Lordship, Rt. Revd. Ken Sandy Okeke, Bishop on the Niger pronounced Umueri as a new Archdeaconry with St. Gabriel’s Church as the headquarters of the Archdeaconry and the elevation of Rev. Canon D.S.A Okoye as the pioneer Archdeacon. The pronouncement attracted wide jubilation from the Synod delegates. On 26th December 2006, history was made as all roads led to Umueri to attend the service of the inauguration of Umueri Archdeaconry.

THE OLD ST GABRIEL’S CHURCH BUILDING
 Challenges Facing the Anglican Church In Umueri

The Anglican Church in Umueri has since its inception faced several challenges that have made its progress match a slow and difficult one. The major challenges that face the Anglican Church in Umueri include amongst others, idolatry and syncretism, poverty and the Umueri and Aguleri/Umuoba Anam communal conflict.

The Challenge of Idolatry and Syncretism

Idolatry, as defined by the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, is the worship of a picture of an object as a god or an immoderate attachment or devotion to something while Syncretism is the combination of different forms of beliefs or practices or the fusion of two or more originally different inflectional forms.

Over the years, the Anglican Church in Umueri has faced the challenge of Idolatry and Syncretism and these have negatively affected the progress match of the church. The people of Umueri are very religious people with strong spiritual attachment to their traditional beliefs and practices. According to Rt. Rev. Nkwoka, “the fundamental challenge which confronts the Anglican Communion in Umueri is Idolatry”.their strong attachment to traditional practices and idolatry has resulted in syncretism. Most of the people are neither here nor there.

Perhaps, the prevalent problem of syncretism in Umueri and other parts of Igbo land is why Asogwa observed that “in spite of the progressive inroads of Christianity into Africa, one still finds it difficult to extricate its practical demands from the influence of traditional elements and idiosyncrasies…among professed Christians, one observes a number of customs and tradition that gives rise to tension and attitudes that are unacceptable to Christian principles.”

The greatest challenge facing the Anglican Church in Umueri borders on handling of the traditional carryovers and hangovers. A critical look at the attitude of not just Anglican faithful but also Christians of other denominations in Umueri reveals a heavy traditional hangover. They tend to pray to the Christian God in the manner they used to pray to their gods and deities of old.

Poverty and Lack of Sufficient Funds

The acute poverty is caused by the present day global economic system controlled by a corrupt transnational class, coupled with greed and misuse of power by the wealthy and political/spiritual/business elites.
The church in Umueri on the other side lacks sufficient funds that will enable it to wholly liberate the people of Umueri from the menace of poverty This poverty and insufficient funds has been a challenge militating against the progress growth of the Anglican Church in Umueri.

The Umueri and Aguleri/Umuoba Anam Communal Clash

Another challenge that has confronted the Anglican Church in Umueri is the Umueri and Aguleri communal crisis. The uneasy relations between the two communities have to a great extent hampered the growth of the Anglican Church in Umueri. This is because sustainable growth cannot be achieved amidst crises between two communities belonging to the same diocese – Anglican Diocese of the Niger West. Crises bring about retrogression and not progress.

Other challenges that have confronted the church in recent times include the lack of keen interest and participation in church activities by the youths. Many youths are not in church because they have been dedicated to idols and initiated into cults, hence one tends to find more women in church than men and youths. There is also the challenge of drug addiction and self-destruction. Drug addiction amongst the youths of Umueri became rampant after the 1999-2001 communal clash between Umueri and Aguleri. According to Rev. Akachukwu Ikadilo, the Anglican Church in Umueri faces the challenge of “lack of manpower for effective administrative control.” The various challenges of the Anglican Church in Umueri enumerated above have been the major factors militating against her effective

ATTAINMENT OF DIOCESAN STAUS AND IMPACT OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IN UMUERI

Effort has been made in the preceding chapter to showcase the growth of the Anglican Church in Umueri and also to display the challenges facing the Anglican Church in Umueri. Thus, this chapter deals with the subsequent attainment of Diocesan status and the various impacts which the church has made within and beyond Umueri.

 Emergence of Anglican Diocese of the Niger West

The Anglican Church in Umueri having attained the status of an Archdeaconry, Sir and Lady Ben Emeka were further inspired into making the new church complex a spectacular piece of architecture and a centre of excellence for the people of Anambra East Local Government Area. They equipped the church with the best possible furniture before its dedication. On November 2007, the church building was dedicated to the Lord by the Bishop on the Niger, the Rt. Rev’d Ken Sandy Okeke.

On 9th June 2008, St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church Umueri was made the Cathedral Church for the newly created Anglican Diocese of the Niger West. The new diocese was inaugurated as the one hundred and thirty-eighth (138th) diocese of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion by His Grace, Most Rev’d Peter Jasper Akinola CON, DD, Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria.

With St. Gabriel’s Church as the Cathedral church in Umueri, Immanuel church became the Archdeaconry headquarters in Umueri.

NEW ST GABRIEL CATHEDRAL CHURCH BUILDING

IMMANUEL ARCHDEACONRY.

 Impact of the Anglican Church In Umueri

Being in existence for over a century, the Anglican Church in Umueri has delivered a measure of impact in the life of the people which affected the political cum economic and social life of Umueri. This section will examine the social and economic impact which the Anglican Church in Umueri has effected since its inception. Also, the extent to which the Anglican Church has contributed to the growth of Umueri will not be overlooked.

Social and Economic Impact of the Anglican Church in Umueri

1. Western Education

The history of missionary enterprise in Nigeria has ever been synonymous with educational developments in this country. Education in the Anglican Communion was from the very beginning, an integral part of her Christian Evangelical work.Converts to Christianity are encouraged to be literate as to be able to read and understand the scripture and Christian teachings. Education which involved the establishment of primary schools and related institutions became necessary for obvious reasons. First and foremost, the missionaries considered it easier to achieve their aim of conversion using the schools when the children had not been fully involved in the traditional beliefs of their various cultures. The missionaries believed and rightly too, that if children who at their impressionable stages of development were exposed to the catechisms and Christian teachings would be greater assets than adults who were already ‘juju’ priests. Secondly, there was the language problem in the African countries. Thus, through the schools, they aimed at producing indigenes that would assist in propagating the gospel in the vernacular languages among their people.

Since its inception, the Anglican Church in Umueri laid strong emphasis on the literacy of members. The Anglican mission successfully participated in establishing primary schools in the areas it operated. That was because the establishment of a mission station was synonymous with the establishment of primary schools. Thus, whenever there was a St. John’s Anglican Church, there was a St. John’s Anglican Primary School. Thus, most converts (especially children) went through what came to be known as mission school. Both children and most adults had to go through Sunday school education. Every participant learnt to read from ABCD to B-A, BA, T-A, TA, M-A, MA and to ABA, EGO, THE, UBI, OCHA, OJI and so on. More advanced learners were helped to read the Bible and a book called ‘Azu Ndu’. The formal religious school was held between 8am and 11.30am.

On weekdays, the church teacher was to educate the little children and sustain their spiritual growth. Essentially, it was operation ‘catch them young’, train the child while he is young, when he grows up, he will not depart from it. The training programme was wholly dependent on ‘Azu Ndu’ and Bible Nsọ, religious hymns, Dr. Watts’ catechism and simple Bible history lessons.

The schools owned by the Anglican Church in Umueri include amongst others Immanuel International Anglican Primary School, St. Gabriel’s Primary School (Ovu-Akwu), Enu-Obodo Central Primary School etc.

The Anglican Church did not stop at primary school establishment. For the academic growth of her primary products, the Anglican Church embarked on the establishment of secondary schools within the area under review. They include Virgin Mary convent, St. Gabriel’s Secondary School etc.

It is vital to stress here that the Anglican Church in Umueri and other parts of Igbo land has through education, contributed to national development. This is because the Anglican Communion laid the foundation of Western education in Umueri and other parts of Igbo land. Thus, missionary education succeeded in providing the intellectual, political and skilled manpower of nation-building.

Impacting economically in the life of a people can be seen as the process of improving the quality of all human lives. The aspects of such improvement include: raising peoples’ living standard such as income, consumption, education, spirituality and medical services.

The Anglican Church in Umueri has impacted economically on the life of the people of Umueri through various means.

The Anglican Church in Umueri introduced mechanized farming which brought about increase in agricultural production. The church has also impacted in the life of the people economically by creating bonds of trust and shared commitments among small groups in the community. Through these, the church lends money to prospective traders who do not have enough money to start off.

Also, the location of the church attracted petty traders around the church premises. The Anglican Church in Umueri  created new opportunities for paid employment and opened up countless opportunities for people in civil service.

In the whole, the Anglican Church in Umueri has succeeded in increasing the peoples’ access to better life (improved welfare).

2. Medical Care

The Anglican Church in Umueri has obviously brought about improved healthcare system. Anglican Church in Umueri has succeeded in building the best hospital in the whole of Anambra East known as St. Raphael’s Anglican Hospital. St. Raphael’s Hospital serves all the communities within the Omabala area and even beyond. The church has through the establishment of St. Raphael’s Anglican Hospital soled and is still solving the health needs of Umueri and her environs. Thus, we see the Anglican Church in Umueri indirectly contributing to the process of national development.

Anglican Church in Umueri has also succeeded in abolishing in Umueri, certain obnoxious practices such as the killing of twins and banishing of their mothers into the evil forest, cannibalism and human sacrifice. The Anglican Church in Umueri has also been able to outlaw the Osu (social outcast) cast system which had hitherto existed in Umueri

Anglican Church in Umueri has provided job opportunities for the youths of Umueri. With the establishment of various institutions in Umueri, Anglican Church has been able to offer employment to the people of Umueri.

Anglican Church in Umueri has brought a great measure of good tidings to the growth and development process of Umueri. However, the Anglican Church also brought with it, certain negative impacts in the socio-economic life of the people.

“Although they introduced western education, they however substituted it with our own form of education”.Umueri and Igbo land in general had developed their own form of informal education which laid much emphasis on morals and respect for elders. This form of informal education centered on story-telling which was often done under the moonlight. Hence with the introduction of western education, this form of informal education was lost.

It has also been argued that the church has led to the loss of certain social values such as induction into adulthood which was substituted for ‘confirmation’. Thus, as soon as a child attains the age of 13, he/she is taken to the church for confirmation and not the hitherto usual ‘induction into adulthood’.

Also, before the advent of the Church Missionary Society to Umueri, the people developed their own form of technology. There were smithers who sculpted. The missionaries however discouraged the smithers in guise that they were producing ‘graven images’ This distorted the pace of traditional industrialization the people were undergoing. This is what Walter Rodney describes in his book, ‘How Europe underdeveloped Africa.’ The argument here is that the same Europeans whose agents – the missionaries – condemned the products of the smithers still took some of these products to equip their museum in London.

SUMMARY:
From this research work, “The Anglican Church in Umueri: 1970-2008”, the growth or development of the Anglican Church in Umueri has been extensively discussed, not leaving untouched the challenges and impact this church has made in Umueri especially within the period under review. Evidence from the study has proved that the emergence of Anglican Church in Umueri, social change sprouted from Umueri. The Anglican Church has also helped in easing of tensions between Umueri and her sister community, Aguleri.
This work has undoubtedly highlighted how the Anglican Church came and the role played in spreading the gospel. Today, the Anglican Church in Umueri has grown beyond the status of an Archdeaconry and has attained the status of diocesan.
The Anglican Church in Umueri has been able to contribute to the process of national development by establishing the “one of the best hospital in the whole of Anambra East in terms of facilities and infrastructure”. It should be noted that the establishment of this hospital (St. Raphael’s Anglican Hospital) is a plus to the impact of the Anglican Church in Umueri. The history of Anglicanism in Umueri is quite an intriguing one.
Finally, Anglicanism in Umueri has an interesting history. Its contributions to the rating of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as the fastest growing Anglican Church in the world ranges from economic empowerment to building of schools for western education, hospitals for good health and well-being of the people and the abolition of some obnoxious cultural practices like killing of twins and female genital mutilation.