Churches Of Oraifite Community Town

A short history of Churches of Oraifite community town of Nigeria or better say the coming of Christianity to Oraifite.

The history of the founding of Christianity in Oraifite must be traced back to the establishment of the Niger Mission atOnitsha on 27th July 1857, by Bishop Ajayi Crowther.

With Onitsha as its headquarters, the Mission stated to break fresh grounds by spreading the Gospel to the rest Igbo land, beginning with towns and villages around Onitsha.

Obosi was reached in 1882 and by 1900, the church there had taken root. From Obosi, the missionaries in their characteristic desire to keep the light of the gospel burning contemplated on sending the Word of God to Oraifite. The realization of this idea was influenced by Mr James Analuo Odukwe, a native of Ibolo-Oraifite resident at Obosi, where he had taken sanctuary in the home of his kinsmen.

No sooner was Analuo converted to Christianity then he started to show kneen interest in the prospect of establishing a Christian Mission in his home-town, Oraifite. It was primarily owing to his influence and initiative that between 1899 and 1900 some zealous members of St. Andrew's Church Obosi, notably Abel Ekpunobi, who later became Rev. Ekpunobi, Ben Ikenwa and John Ikebuaku carried open air preaching to Ibolo Oraifite on chosen Sundays.

On each occasion Analuo served as a guide to these evangeslists. In 1900, a team of missionaries comprising Mr T. Alvez (Alias Ude), a Catechist named Anyaegbunam with James Analuo Odukwe, their guide arried at Ibolo Oraifite to establish a C.M.S or CMS (Church Missionary Society) Mission in thetown. On arrival they were informed that the safety of strangers could not be guaranteed.

They had to return to Onitsha through Obosi. This first attempt to plant Christianity at Oraifite was thus futile but the Missionaries decision to withdraw was expedient. Had they acted contrary to the advice of the towns people and stayed, they would have undoutedly endangered their lives.

The second attempt to establish a mission station at Oraifite was made in 1901. As usual, the team was led by James Analuo Odukwe. This time they travelled through Uruagu-Nnewi to avoid the dangers and risks along the Oba-Akwukwu path. They stop first at a market called Ekeze near the present site of St. Mary's Uruagu and marked the spotas the next place to be evagenlized after Ibolo-Oraifite.


[source: Taken from History Of The Anglican Church in Oraifite 1st Edition: June 2000. ]

Churches

• St Luke's Anglican Church Saint Luke's Anglican Church Ibolo-Oraifite Community Of Nigeria.

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