Christianity in Nigeria

Last updated

Assumpta Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church in Owerri Assumpta Cathedral Owerri.jpg
Assumpta Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church in Owerri
Street preacher STREET PREACHER.jpg
Street preacher

Christianity first arrived in Nigeria in the 15th century through Augustinian and Capuchin monks from Portugal.[ citation needed ] By 2020, it accounted for an estimated 46.18% of the Nigerian population; two-thirds of which are Protestant. [1] According to the Pew Research Center, in 2011, Nigeria had the largest Christian population of any country in Africa, with more than 80 million people in Nigeria belonging to various denominations. [2] Christianity is the majority religion in the southern and central regions in Nigeria. [3]

Contents

Denominations

Figures in the 2020 edition of The World Christian Encyclopedia (Johnson and Zurlo 2020) drew on figures assembled and updated as part of the World Christian Database (WCD); these put those who identify as Christians on 46.3%, and Muslims on 46.2 and ‘ethnic religions’ on 7.2%. [4] Statisticians estimate that there may be up to a hundred million Christians in Nigeria. [5]

Statistics

Major DenominationsMembers (millions)
Anglican22 [6]
Roman Catholic21
Church of Christ8
Baptist6.5
Evangelical Church6
Redeemed Christian5
Apostolic Church4.5
Presbyterian4
Assemblies of God3.6
Lutheran2.2
Methodist 2
QIC United Evangelical2
Evangelical Reformed1.5

Roman Catholicism in Nigeria

A Catholic church in Maryland, Lagos A church at Maryland.jpg
A Catholic church in Maryland, Lagos

The Catholic Church has an increase of followers in Nigeria. In 2020, there were an estimated 32 million baptised Catholics in Nigeria. [7] The Archdioceses of the Roman Catholic Church are Abuja, Benin City, Calabar, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, Lagos, Onitsha, and Owerri. [8] [9] Cardinal Francis Arinze is a Roman Catholic Cardinal from Nigeria. [10]

Anglican Church of Nigeria

The ecclesiastical provinces of the Church of Nigeria are Lagos, Ibadan, Ondo, Edo, The Niger, Niger Delta, Owerri, Abuja, Kaduna, and Jos. [11] Its primate is Henry Ndukuba. [11] The Church of Nigeria claimed about 18 million members in 2016, with an estimated 2 million members being active. [12]

The Apostolic Church Nigeria

The Apostolic Church Nigeria is a Pentecostal Christian denomination in Nigeria, affiliated with the Apostolic Church. Its headquarters is in Lagos. It had 4.5 million members in 2016. [13]

Assemblies of God

The General Council of the Assemblies of God Nigeria has its origins in the Nigerian Church of Jesus Christ and a partnership with the Assemblies of God USA in 1934. The council was founded in 1964. It had 16,300 churches and 3.6 million members as of 2019. [14] [15]

Church of Christ in Nigeria

The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), formerly Church of Christ in Nigeria, is a Christian denomination in Nigeria. It was founded in 1904. Its headquarters is in Jos, Plateau State. It used to have the name of Ekklesiyar Kristi A Nigeria. It is estimated to have over 8,000,000 members. [16]

Evangelical Church Winning All

The Evangelical Church Winning All has about 6000 congregations and 6 million members. [17] It was founded by SIM, a missions organization established in Nigeria in 1893. [17]

Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ

The Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ was formed in Nasarawa State on 8 July 1916. The church has approximately 1.5 million members. [18]

Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria

The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) is a major Lutheran denomination in Nigeria, a member of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). It was established as an independent church in 1913 from the Sudan United Mission, Danish Branch (SUMD), known today as Mission Afrika. The LCCN now has an estimated 2,200,000 members in over 2,400 congregations nationwide. [19]

Methodist Church Nigeria

The Methodist Church Nigeria is one of the largest Methodist denominations in the world and one of the largest Christian churches in Nigeria, with around two million members in 2000 congregations. It has seen exponential growth since the turn of the millennium. [20]

Nigerian Baptist Convention

The Nigerian Baptist Convention had about 6.5 million baptized members in 2008. [21] The Baptist Mission was started by Thomas Jefferson Bowen in 1850. It currently has thirty five conferences in different ecclesiastical in Nigeria. It has its headquarter in Dugbe, Ibadan, Oyo State. [21]

Presbyterian Church of Nigeria

The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has almost 4 million members in thousands of congregations mainly in Nigeria, but has regional Presbytery in Togo as well as in Benin. It was founded in the mid-1800s, by ministers of the Church of Scotland. It is a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. [22]

Redeemed Christian Church of God

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) is a Pentecostal mega church and denomination founded in Lagos, Nigeria. The General overseer (most senior pastor) is Enoch Adeboye, ordained in 1981. In 2008, it had 14,000 churches and 5 million members in Nigeria. [23]

QIC-United Evangelical Church

The QIC-United Evangelical Church (Founded as Qua Iboe Church) is a Christian denomination in Nigeria. It has existed since 1887.[1] It has more than 1,000 congregations and 2,000,000 members.[ citation needed ]

The Seventh-day Adventist Church

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria as of 2016 has close to 250,000 members throughout Nigeria divided into three different unions. [24]

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Aba Nigeria Temple (LDS) Abu Temple free use.jpg
Aba Nigeria Temple (LDS)

Within Nigeria, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has a growing presence. On January 1, 2012, the church claimed more than 100,000 members in the country [25] and had established 315 congregations. [25]

The church announced the creation of a new Owerri mission in Nigeria in 2016. [26]

Other

In 1970, 87,000 Jehovah's Witnesses were present in Nigeria, [27] which grew to more than 360,000 by 2014. [28]

The New Apostolic Church reported 300,000 members in 2016. [29] [30]

Aladura is a classification of churches that abide by a Christian religious denomination or trend inspired by activities of progressive church elements, J.B Sadare, D.O. Odubanjo, I.O Sanya and others in 1918. [31] The denomination has over 3 million adherents worldwide. The Aladura movement started at Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria in 1918. [31] This movement later metamorphosed to Living Faith Church Worldwide (whose headquarters is the Faith Tabernacle) and to the Christ Apostolic Church. The Church of the Lord (Aladura) is an African Initiated Church founded by Josiah Olunowo Ositelu in 1925, and inaugurated in 1930 in Ogere Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. Ositelu was born on 15 May 1900 at Ogere, ijebu-Remo, Ogun State in Nigeria.

Since the 1990s, there has been significant growth in many other churches, independently started in Africa by Africans, particularly the evangelical Protestant ones. These include the mostly charismatic and Pentecostal denominations such as Mountain of Fire and Miracles, Christ Embassy, Streams of Joy International, Celestial Church of Christ and Dominion City. These churches have further many millions of members and followers in Nigeria. [32] Estimates of Pentecostals in the country reach up to 40 million. [33]

National Church of Nigeria, Abuja

The National Church of Nigeria Catedral Nacional em Abuja, Nigeria.jpg
The National Church of Nigeria

The National Church of Nigeria (previously known as the Nigerian Ecumenical Centre and officially known as the National Christian Centre) is a non-denominational church building of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body of many of Nigeria's Christian denominations. [34] The church is located in Abuja.

Freedom of religion

Nigeria is number six on Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. [35] In 2022, the country was ranked number seven.

Persecution

According to the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, as reported on LinkedIn, there were 52,250 Christian deaths recorded from July 2009 to April 2023. This figure includes:

The killings have been referred to as a silent genocide. [37] [38] [39]

Persecution of Christians in Nigeria is pervasive and ongoing. "Christians are also routinely denied land to build churches. The last time a Certificate of Occupancy was issued for a church building within the Diocese of Maiduguri was in 1979. Christian students are denied Christian religious curricula in the primary and secondary levels, and instead are forced to study Islam. They’re denied jobs and promotions in government parastatals. And, lest they try to secure these rights through democratic means, Christians are routinely denied the right to seek public office." [40] The ongoing killings of Christian in Nigeria is “religiously motivated” and “almost entirely fuelled by Islamist extremism”. [41]

See also

Statewise

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Church in Nigeria</span>

The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome, and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Argentina</span>

Christianity is the most widely professed religion in Argentina, with Roman Catholicism being its largest denomination. This historical background is very much due to the Spanish influence brought about through the newly conquered territories. However, affiliation with Protestant churches is increasing and immigration throughout the 20th century has brought other religions from various regions to Argentina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apostolic Church (1916 denomination)</span> Pentecostal Christian denomination

The Apostolic Church is an international Christian denomination and Pentecostal movement that emerged from the Welsh Revival of 1904–1905. Although the movement began in the United Kingdom, the largest national Apostolic Church became the Apostolic Church Nigeria. The term "Apostolic" refers to the role of apostles in the denomination's church government, as well as a desire to emulate 1st century Christianity in its faith, practices, and government.

Renewal is the collective term for Charismatic, Pentecostal and Neo-charismatic churches.

The Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC), officially the International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church (ICCEC), is a Christian denomination established in 1992. The ICCEC is a part of the Convergence Movement. Within North America, most of the Charismatic Episcopal Church's congregations and missions are located within the Northern, Southeastern, Midwest, and Western United States; it also has a presence in Texas, and in Western Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">African-initiated church</span> Independent Christian church

An African-initiated church (AIC) is a Christian church independently started in Africa by Africans rather than chiefly by missionaries from another continent.

The term "Aladura" means "praying person" in Yoruba. Aladura is a classification of indigenous churches that started in Yoruba land in the early 20th century. These churches believe in the efficacy of prayers and practical guidance by the Living God through his Holy Spirit in all its programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Nigeria</span>

Christianity and Islam are the two main religions practiced in Nigeria The country is home to some of the world's largest Christian denominations. Reliable recent statistics do not exist; however, Nigeria is divided roughly in half between Muslims, who live mostly in the northern region, and Christians, who live mostly in the southern region of the country. Indigenous religions, such as those native to the Igbo and Yoruba ethnicities, have been declining for decades and being replaced by Christianity or Islam. The Christian share of Nigeria's population is also now on the decline, due to a lower fertility rate relative to the Muslim population in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Africa</span> Overview and history of Christianity in Africa

Christianity in Africa arrived in Africa in the 1st century AD and in the 21st century, the majority of Africans are Christians. Several African Christians influenced the early development of Christianity and shaped its doctrines, including Tertullian, Perpetua, Felicity, Clement of Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, Cyprian, Athanasius and Augustine of Hippo. In the 4th century, the Aksumite empire in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea became one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion, followed by the Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia and several Christian Berber kingdoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Botswana</span>

More than 70% of the population of Botswana is Christian. Most are members of the Anglican, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, and African independent churches. Anglicans are part of the Church of the Province of Central Africa. The Roman Catholic Church includes about 5% of the nation's population.

The Convergence Movement, also known as the Ancient-Future Faith, whose foundation is primarily attributed to Robert E. Webber in 1985, is an ecumenical movement. Developed as an effort among evangelical, charismatic and Pentecostal, and liturgical Christians and denominations blending their forms of worship, the movement has been defined for its predominant use of the Anglican tradition's Book of Common Prayer; use from additional liturgical sources common to Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Catholicism have also been employed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Kuwait</span>

Christianity in Kuwait is a minority religion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Turkmenistan</span>

Christians, most of whom are ethnic Russians, constitute less than 11% of the population in Turkmenistan; Eastern Orthodoxy in Turkmenistan is the main form of Christianity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ Apostolic Church</span> First Aladura Pentecostal church in Nigeria

Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) is the first Pentecostal church present in Nigeria. It arose in the first half of the 20th century, in the then-British empire. It was founded in Ijebu-ode named Precious Stone Society in 1918 but was formally established in 1941 after a split from the Apostolic Church which the original Aladura organization had invited to Nigeria. Its growth was led by Joseph Ayo Babalola, a road construction driver who became its first General Evangelist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in the United Arab Emirates</span>

According to the 2005 census, Christians accounted for 9 percent of the total population of the United Arab Emirates; estimates in 2010 suggested a figure of 12.6%.

Christianity is a major religion in Ogun State and it constitutes 70% of its population, where Sharia is not valid. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta are present in the state. Ijebu-Ode has a St. Clare's Monastery. The international headquarters of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) are in Ogere-Remo, Ogun State. The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is present in the state. In Ogun State, the Celestial Church of Christ has Alafia, Emi, Ibukun, Itunu, Itunu Iyanu, Iyanu, Oba Nla, Ogo Oluwa, and Oluwaseun Parishes. Christ Apostolic Church has churches in the state. Jubilee Christian Church International has its headquarters in Abeokuta. The Anglican church is present in Ogun State. The town of Ota has a tract of land known as Canaanland, which includes the church of the name Faith Tabernacle and Covenant University. Crawford University and Seventh-day Adventist Babcock University are present in the state. Western Diocese of Salem International Christian Centre has its seat in the state. The Redeemed Christian Church of God owns Redeemer's University. Christ International Divinity College (CINDICO) has its seat in the state.

Christianity is the second major population in Niger State Nigeria, where Sharia is valid. Nine churches in Kontagora were set ablaze in 2006. Minna has a Living Faith Church, a Grace Baptist Church, Victory Christian Church and The Apostolic Church. The Church of Christ in Nigeria is present in the state. A bomb attack allegedly by Boko Haram killed three persons in All Christian-Fellowship Mission in Suleja, Niger State on July 10, 2011. Muslim Rights Concern has condemned this. Churches in Minna and Gwada have been burned, too. Faith Mission Church is present in the state. A Roman Catholic Diocese of Minna has its seat in the state and decidedly is a minority within its area. Evangelical Church Winning All is present in Madalla. The Evangelical Missionary Society used to be active in the area of Niger State.

References

  1. ↑ World Religions Database at the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08
  2. ↑ "Global Christianity: Regional Distribution of Christians". Pew Research Center. December 19, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  3. ↑ Nwadialor, Kanayo Louis (2013). "Christian Missionaries and Civilization in Southern Nigeria, 1841-1960: Implications for Contemporary Christians". UJAH: Unizik Journal of Arts and Humanities. 14 (2): 173–193. doi:10.4314/ujah.v14i2.9. ISSN   1595-1413.
  4. ↑ McKinnon, Andrew (2021). "Christians, Muslims and Traditional Worshippers in Nigeria: Estimating the Relative Proportions from Eleven Nationally Representative Social Surveys". Review of Religious Research. 63 (2): 303–315. doi: 10.1007/s13644-021-00450-5 . hdl: 2164/16008 . S2CID   233821494.
  5. ↑ Kennett, R.; Thorne, S.; Barma, S.; Allen, T.; Durbin, E.; Hibbert, D.; Patel, Z.; Quinn, M.E.; Stevenson, M.; Stewart, F. (2023). A new focus on...The British Empire, c.1500–present for KS3 History. Hodder Education. p. 327. ISBN   978-1-3983-6306-9 . Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  6. ↑ Aberdeen University Research Archive
  7. ↑ Catholics and Culture website, retrieved 2023-08-08
  8. ↑ "Current Dioceses in Nigeria (Catholic Hierarchy)".
  9. ↑ "Catholic Dioceses in Nigeria (by Ecclesiastical Provinces)". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  10. ↑ Carroll, Rory (2003-10-03). "The Guardian profile: Cardinal Francis Arinze". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  11. 1 2 "Site of the Church of Nigeria". Archived from the original on 2011-01-10.
  12. ↑ Gledhill, Ruth (12 November 2015). "Anglican membership figures could be out by millions". christianitytoday.com. Christianity Today. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Bp-Relate (2016-09-08). "History Of The Apostolic Church Nigeria". Believers Portal. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  14. ↑ Bp-Relate (2016-09-06). "History Of Assemblies of God Church, Nigeria". Believers Portal. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  15. ↑ "ABOUT". Assemblies of God Church, Obalende. 2019-01-18. Archived from the original on 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  16. ↑ "History" . Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  17. 1 2 "ECWA History" . Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  18. ↑ "Nigerian Brethren host the Fellowship of Christian Churches in Nigeria". Church of the Brethren. Archived from the original on 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  19. ↑ "About – The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria". lccn.org.ng. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  20. ↑ "Teaching the who, what and why of The United Methodist Church". ResourceUMC. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  21. 1 2 "Site of the Nigerian Baptist Convention". Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  22. ↑ "Presbyterian Church of Nigeria - World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org. January 1961. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  23. ↑ "RCCG Miracle Center | History". www.rccgmunich.com. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  24. ↑ "2019 elections: SDA Church alleges disenfranchisement of over 250,000 members". Vanguard News. 2018-08-18. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  25. 1 2 "LDS Newsroom- country information- Nigeria". Newsroom.lds.org. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  26. ↑ "Mormon Church announces in missions in Vietnam and Africa".
  27. ↑ "DER SPIEGEL 46/1972 - Dunkle Zeit". Der Spiegel. Spiegel.de. 5 November 1972. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
  28. ↑ 2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watch Tower Society. p. 184.
  29. ↑ "100 Congregations - Mississippi State Department of Health". msdh.ms.gov. Archived from the original on 2020-12-29. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  30. ↑ "Ordinations and a retirement in Nigeria : New Apostolic Church International (NAC)". www.nak.org. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  31. 1 2 Bp-Relate (2016-09-08). "History of Aladura". Believers Portal. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  32. ↑ "[VERIFIED] List of all Churches in Nigeria and their founders". Info, Guides, and How-tos. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  33. ↑ Balogun, J.A. (2022). The Nigerian Healthcare System: Pathway to Universal and High-Quality Health Care. Springer International Publishing. p. 225. ISBN   978-3-030-88863-3 . Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  34. ↑ Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Nigeria: Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); structure, goals, activities, and officers including the names of its Kano chapter organizing committee; whether it has a Kaduna chapter". Refworld. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  35. ↑ "Nigeria is number 7 on the World Watch List (Retrieved 2023-04-27)".
  36. ↑ "5,068 Citizens Massacred For Being Christians In Nigeria In 2022, 1,041 Slaughtered In First 100 Days Of 2023". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  37. ↑ "Silent Slaughter". International Committee on Nigeria.
  38. ↑ "Nigeria's Silent Slaughter Genocide in Nigeria and the Implications for the International Community". International Committee on Nigeria.
  39. ↑ Ibrahim, Raymond (2019-10-06). ""WORLD TAKE NOTE!": Genocide of Christians in Nigeria". Gatestone Institute . Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  40. ↑ Portella, Mario Alexis (2019-10-10). "Breaking the Silence on Nigeria's Christian Genocide". Crisis Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  41. ↑ Gledhill, Ruth (2023-07-04). "Slaughter of Nigerian Christians is driven by religion, says report". The Tablet . Retrieved 2024-02-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.