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A short History of St Luke's Anglican Church Ibolo Oraifite in the Diocese on Nnewi, Anglican Community of Nigeria.
The C.M.S or CMS (Church Missionary Society) Missionaries came to Onitsha through Bonny led by Bishop Ajai Crowther, a Yoruba man in 1857,
July 27th. They were welcomed by Akanzua 11, the Obi of Onitsha.
In 1882 some of the missionaries went to Obosi. It will be a a farce writing the history of Saint Luke's Anglican Church, Ibolo - Oraifite
without first giving a little biography of its founder: Mr Analuo Odukwe alias (Agu-enwe-oyi) Odiaka's cousin.
In 1882 Analuo Odukwe left Ibolo with his mother to Obosi the home town of his grand mother Eliwuaku on the instruction of his
father Ukatu Odukwe. His grand mother's relatives at Obosi arranged and he was educated and trained by expartriate C.M.S. Missionaries at
Ozall Onitsha, the CMS Headquarters. He was baptised in the year 1884 and given the name James and was confirmed in 1885. He was placed under
the direct supervision of one Mr. W.C Blackett who not only helped to educate him but also trainedhim as a Craftsman in carpentry,
cookery, baking and sawing big trees into planks etc. (known as that time as Sawyers).
When he freed from apprenticeship, he was fully engaged by the CMS Mission as a general service man and a teacher on their pay-roll. In 1898 he got
married to Miss Sarah Otobo the daughter of an Obosi Christian. Miss Sarah was also trained by expartriate female missionaries at
Saint Monica's Girls institute then based at Ozalla-Onitsha.
As church had already been established at Obosi and as James Analuo Odukwe had started working under CMS Mission, he worried his masters to help him
take the gospel to his home town Ibolo where many evils existed. His plea was supported by his in-laws at Obosi including Abel Ekpunobi,
the Enelis, Iwenofus, Nwankwos, Nwokeabias, Anenes etc.
In 1899, the expartriate missionary master and some Obosichristian led by James himself went on their frst missionary journey to Ibolo Oraifite through
Oba-Akwukwu to Ibolo. The journey was a dangerous one because of high-way robbers along the bush path travelling that area but they succeeded in getting to Ibolo.
On arrival to Ibolo, they called first on he Obi Oraifite Chief Ogbuefi Udoji. They told him of their mission to Ibolo. James Analuo Odukwe being by lineage the Obi's cousin was welcomed with his entourage and received warmly. They explained their mission to ChiefUdoji in details, giving him the
benefits his domain will receive through christianity.
Chief Ogbuefi Udoji heartily agreed and decreed that the first church building and school will be in his palace compound and that his children will
be admitted to the church and school when built. James Analuo Odukwe and the missionaries went back to Obosi/Onitsha to prepare for the second
journey to Ibolo.
In 1901, James Analuo Odukwe led his group of expartriate missionaries and some Obosi christians on the second missionary journey to Ibolo-Oraifite. They avoided the Oba path because of the risks involved and journed through Uruagu Nnewi. They stopped first at market near the present site
of Saint Mary's Uruagu where they bought a few local provisions like bannana etc. and marked the area as a spot where they will evangelise after
Ibolo-Oraifite.
They trekked from there to Ibolo, by the time they arrived Ibolo, Chief Udoji had already built a make-shift church building for them in his palace.
A ceremony for founding the church was done and that was the birth of Saint Luke's Anglican Church Ibolo-Oraifite.
Chief Udoji hosted all the missionaries in his palace for the time they stayed in Ibolo. From his house James Analuo Odukwe and his group went through the whole Oraifite town evangelising. They taught children at the school during the week days and preached in the town on Sundays.
Chief Udoji begged the missionaries to allow James Analuo Odukwe to stay in his town and they obliged.
In 1903, he brought his family Mrs Sarah - wife, Mr Herbert Chukwukadibia and Thomas his sons to Ibolo Oraifite. The gospel continued spreading through
the whole length and breath of Oraifite from Saint Luke's CMS Church. Converts grew so much that the small church building could not contain the
crowd again.
Chief Udoji relocated the school to Ekulo hills where the present burial ground is to enable the Oraifite converted citizens have access to the
school. It is note worthy to mention that the land on which St. Mary's Catholic Church was built was the main one given to the Roman Catholic
Church by Saint Luke's CMS Church christians under Analuo Odukwe who led the christians that cleared Agbo Achi where the present Grammar School is sited.
Mr. James Analuo Odukwe told his fellow St Luke's Christians that the reason why the Roman Catholic Church should be accommodated was because christianity brings in education and development. The converts grew so fast in number that Saint Luke's needed a bigger space because the hilly site could not contain them any longer.
It was from that site that it relocated to its present site with its school still attached. It was from Saint Luke's CMS Church Ibolo Oraifite that christianity was propagated to other parts of Oraifite, Nnewi, Ozubulu, Ihembosi, Okija, Ihiala etc.
The first person baptised at the Saint Luke's CMS Church Ibolo-Oraifite was Miss Enuice Udoji, and the first person wedded there was Mr and Mrs Obed Ubaka. In 1904,Saint Jude's CMS Church was established for christians in Umuezopi, Irefi, Ifite Awor and Ezumeri Oraifite under a church teacher by name Timothy Anuebunwa from Ojoto whose wife haled from Ezumeri Oraifite.
Saint Luke's church had early church workers from Obosi - Late Ikebuaku, Louis Okafor etc. James Analuo Odukwe retired voluntarily from missionary work in 1906. In 1907CMS Church Headquarters in Onitsha sent one Mr Gideon to Ibolo who took over from Mr James Analuo Odukwe.
Mr Blakett predicted that Mr Peter Igwilo will be a carpenter by profession. In the year 1913 Mr Peter Igwilo was sent to Onitsha Industrail Mission (O.I.M) as apprentice and he learnt carpentry work. His colleagues were Abel Ugbaja, Obed Unaka, Emmanuel Okoye, Robert Ukadike, James Onwuagbaizu, George Amobi, Josiah Onedibe,John Onumuo, Johnson Egbochukwu, Joseph Adibe, Azubugwu.
Some of them became Sawyers, Carpenters,Tailors, Masons etc. Some of them took part in setting the church building with mud block and zink of Saint Luke's Anglican Church at the present site. The church was dedicated on 24th December 1960 by Bishop C. J. Patterson - Bishop of the Niger.
Priests who serve at Saint Luke's Anglican Church are Rev. M.A.C. Imagoi, Rev. A.B.C. Okoli, Rev. J.A.C. Emesi, Rev. Eric Udeze,Rev. S.N.C Nzekwe,
Rev. Canon Umeoranefo and present Rev. J.C Maduka
Saint Luke's Church Ibolo - Oraifite produced the follwoing as church workers:- Late Rev. R.A Ukadike,Rev. A.E. Ibeadua, Rev. Barrister Accountant Anene Nzelu and Late Catechist Stephen Okeke. Saint Luke's Church Ibolo - Oraifite produced the following as Knights:- Sir Jonathan Oguejiofor, Sir Joel Onwutalu,Sir Prof. Benjamin Igwilo and Sir Daniel Okeke.
Also Saint Luke's church produced the following as Lay Readers: Ther are Late Herbert Odukwe, Mr. Daniel O. Nwazota,Late John Nduaguba, Mr. Simon Mgbeojikwe and Mr. Edwin Okwuosa
Mr James Analuo Odukwe (Agu-enwe-oyi) the founder of Saint Luke's Anglican Church died at Ibolo Oraifite in 1945.
In 1975 members of Saint Luke's CMS Church started working round to set another bigger and modern church which will accomodate many people hence the present building took off.
In conclusion,Saint Luke's Anglican Church Ibolo was the Pioneer Anglican Church in the present Nnewi Diocese.
[source: Taken from the DIOCESE OF NNEWI, CHURCH OF NIGERIA (Anglican Communion) Province II
ORDER OF SERVICE and Programme of Events for the Laying Of Foundation Stone and Fund Raising Ceremony of ST. LUKE'S CHURCH,
IBOLO - ORAIFITE On Sunday 17th Oct, 1999. ]
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