Christianity in Sierra Leone

Church and Missionary House in Regent, Sierra Leone (1850)

Christians in Sierra Leone constitute approximately 22.9 percent of the country's population according to a 2019 estimate. ^[1] Christianity was brought to Sierra Leone by the Nova Scotian Settlers when they founded the Colony of Sierra Leone in March 1792.

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Sierra Leonean government generally respected this right in practice. ^[2]

Intermarriage between Muslims and Christians is common. ^[2] Islam and Christianity are often syncretized with indigenous religious beliefs. ^[2]

Protestantism

Main articles: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone and United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone

The majority of Sierra Leonean Christians are Protestants, of which the largest are Methodists ^[3] and Evangelicals. ^[4]

Orange Order influence

The Orange Order in Sierra Leone was the earliest expression of the Loyal Orange Institution in Africa. The first lodge in Africa, Freetown Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1955, was established in Freetown during the mid-19th century, introduced by Irish and Ulster Protestant settlers, soldiers, and missionaries serving in the British colonial administration. ^{[5] [6]}

Sierra Leone as a British Crown Colony provided a fraternal and religious network for colonial officials, merchants, and African converts associated with Protestant churches, particularly the Church Missionary Society. ^[7]

Roman Catholicism

Main article: Roman Catholicism in Sierra Leone

Catholics are the second-largest non-Protestant Christians division in Sierra Leone, at about 5% of the country's population. ^[8]

References

1. "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". Cia.gov. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
2. "International Religious Freedom Report for 2016". State.gov. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
3. "Methodist Church Sierra Leone — World Council of Churches". Oikoumene.org. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
4. The History of the Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone Archived 2013-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
5. "The Orange Order in Africa – History Ireland". historyireland.com. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
6. "LOL584". lol584.yourwebsitespace.com. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
7. "About". Orange History. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
8. "Sierra Leone: in wake of brutal war, churches full : News Headlines". Catholicculture.org. Retrieved 30 August 2017.