CENTENARY ANNIVERSARY OF ST JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH NAZE IN OWERRI NORTH IMO STATE (1912-2012)

The Church service/ceremony took place on the 26th of December 2012 at the premises of the St J ohn's Anglican Church in Naze . See pictures and more immediately after the cut........

ST JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH NAZE

PROPOSED NEW CHURCH BUILDING

RT. REV. PROF. EMMANUEL UCHECHUKWU IHEAGWAM & WIFE- BISHOP DIOCESE OF EGBU

MOST REV. DR. LUCIUS IWEJURU UGORJI- CATHOLIC BISHOP OF UMUAHIA( A SON OF NAZE)

VEN. BEN U. & EZINNE CHRISTY EKE- THE VICAR & WIFE

SIR DR . JOHNSON OLERU(KSC)- PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF KNIGHTS/ CHAIRMAN OF THE CHRISTIAN FATHERS ASSOCIATION EGBU DIOCESE AND ALSO CHAIRMAN OF CENTENARY PLANNING COMMITTEE

DR & CHIEF MAGISTRATE(MRS)NOEL ONYEWOTU- VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTENARY PLANNING COMMITTEE

SIR. DR. JOHNSON OLERU AND DR. NOEL ONYEWOTU ADDRESSING THE CONGREGATION

MR. EBENIZER NAZE- A DEVOTED MEMBER OF ST JOHN'S  DELIVERING A SPEECH

NNANYERE AMUNEKE- A DEVOUT MEMBER OF ST JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH  DELIVERING A SPEECH

 BRIEF HISTORY OF ST JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH NAZE

History has it that , by suggestion of the acting High  Commissioner in  Calabar , Mr Leslie Probyn ,in 1904 Archdeacon , Thomas J. Dennis and an Igbo Catechist , Mr Alphonso  Chukwuma  Onyeabo arrived in Owerri through Oguta in April 1905 for mission work . While in Owerri , the missionaries preached to the enthusiastic crowds in Owerri and also visited the neighboring towns which included Egbu, Nekede , Naze ,Uratta and Awaka .

One can therefore rightly say, that  Christian missionary  contact with Naze  dates back to 1905 ,but the actual establishment of a Church by CMS  in Naze was in 1912 through the instrumentality of late Gabriel Ajoku who was then serving in the palace of Chief Egbukole  Okoroafor the paramount ruler of Egbu . Gabriel coopted his relation Michael Osuagwu  in the Evangelical trip to Naze .

The church was sited at Ukwu Osha (ie under  the osha tree) in that ancient abode of Umuosu Naze . The walls were of mud with thatched roof and had mud seats .

The early converts and pioneers were Reuben  Ejelonu , Nathaniel  Ahumibe , Mathias Lumu , Joseph Maduagwu , Samuel Onyeneke , Emmanuel Onyiriuka and Fred Ihezue,Job Okoroma,James Osuji and Amos Nzurike of Nekede . Early Indigenous church workers were Reuben Ejelonu ,Nathaniel  Amaeshi , Mathias Lumu ,Daniel  Onyewuotu ,Job Iheanacho and Michael Osuagwu .

The church came to its present site in 1948 ,then the Church building was made of moulded bricks and roofed with corrugated sheets . In 1964 the workers'  house which later served as parsonage was erected with cement blocks and corrugated sheets.

Formal school that went hand in hand with church was much later founded . Initially it was infant classes which ran through the help of church teachers and local helpers . Once pupils passed into the standard  classes  they went to Egbu Central School . This school later grew into a full fledged school .

Mention must also be made that where ever Anglican Church is founded ,there are some features that move side by side with it . In this case ,something must be said about the Church burial ground . The area known as Mkporo  Ala  was given to the Church by Nazegbula( Onye ishi ala) who later joined the Church . The Church immediately cleared the site and dedicated it for the purpose for which it was granted.

THOSE WHO SERVED IN THE CHURCH INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: -

George Okeke (the first church teacher) , lyelumuo , Nzekwu Nworie , Ukaonu , Ugwuala ,Matumara ,Iroegbu , Oguike , Ekezie , Louis Ohale , Alexander Ahaotu ,John Njoku , Morgan Ibe , Benjamin Nkwocha , Cyprian Okere , John Kingsley , Progress Okereafo , Chukwuemeka Amushine ,Ikenna Akwara and Godwin Nwafor .

                   
                THE PRIESTS ARE

1) REV. DR  SAMUEL K. UDENSI  1985 - 1986.

2) REV. CAN. HERBERT S. ABARA 1986 - 1989.

3) REV. JOHN T.U . NGUMEZI  JAN - JUNE 1990.

4) REV. EMMANUEL N. OMEIRE 1990 - 1991.

5) REV. SAMUEL K. AHUMIHE 1992 - 1993.

6) REV. EUGENE E. ONWOCHIE 1993 - 1994.

7) REV. RAPHAEL O.I AZUBUIKE - 1995.
 8) REV. EDISON C. MGBEOKWEWE 1995 - 1996.

9)  REV. MORGAN C. IBE (First Parish Prist) 1996 - 1998.

10)VEN. PHILIP C. EKEOCHA 1999 - 2000.

11) REV. EZENWA UCHEGHARA 2000 - 2003.

12) REV. BENAIAH O. AJOKU - 2004

13) REV. CAN. EZECHUKWU C. ONWUKWE 2004 - 2005

14) REV. CHIDIEBERE AMADI  - 2006.

15) VEN. BENJAMIN U. EKE 2007 - DATE ( Centenary is being celebrated in his tenure).

Late Chief Benett O. Ejiogu, Mr Johnson A.C. Onyeagoro and late Chief Thompson O. Onyewuotu while in Port Harcourt during Nigerian crisis put their heads together over the dilapidated nature of St John's  Church building as there was the urge to build a new Church . They took a tour to Port Harcourt outskirts and sighted a small church located at Umukroshe and obtained the drawing . Members of the Church accepted the drawing with some modifications. The building started after the civil war during the tenure of Mr. Louis  Ohale. All hands were on deck and the Church was collectively built and dedicated on November 3, 1985 by the then Bishop , Rt  Rev. Dr. B.C. Nwankiti amidst jubilation and praise to God .

                                                                         
The church also had a modern Vicarage capable of  housing all classes of the clergy. This was dedicated by the Bishop , Rt. Rev. Prof E.U. Iheagwam in April 2002 .

St John's church grew to become parish headquarters . The parish ,Naze, was duly inaugurated on March 23 , 1997 by His Lordship the Rt. Rev. Prof. E.U. Iheagwam , Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Egbu with Rev. M.C.  Ibe as the first Vicar.  Naze parish so created comprised of  St John's Church Naze and Christ the King Church Umuakali Naze . Ever since then two chapels have been established . One at the mechanic village and the other at Okpuala .

Naze also rose to become an  Archdeaconary on April 18th, 2009 with Ven. Benjamin U. Eke as the pioneer Archdeacon.

It is important to note that St. John's Anglican Church Naze has produced some important personalities in both religious and social fields during this one hundred years of existence. Some of these people are :-

1)Late Engr. Raphael  Nwamadi Amaeshi- first University graduate and retired director of works Federal Ministry of Works.

2)Late Rev. Godson Chukwuemeka Ahumibe - first ordained Priest and renowned Educationist.

3)Prof. Samuel Onyiriuka- first Phd. holder/professor of Chemistry.

4)Late Prof. Innocent Onyewuotu - First medical doctor/surgeon.

5)Nnepuruiche Grace Nzerem( nee  Emeana) - first Naze daughter university graduate/rtd. Perm Sec.

Apart from the first priest.late Rev. G.C  Ahumibe ordained in 1976, other priests produced by the Church  are:-

Ven. Thompson Onyewuotu and Rev. Can. Emmanuel Ahumibe in 2002.

Rev. DabereChukwu  Maduakolam and Rev. Emmanuel Ude in 2003.

Rev. Can. Erikson Maduagwu in 2004. Rev. Gideon Amanze in 2006 .

Rev. Daniel Abakporo  in 2008.

Rev. Rodrick Onyewuotu in 2009.

Osinachi Obihara is presently serving as a church teacher in the diocese .

Late Mr. Nathan Onyewuotu and late Mr. Eugene Amaeshi served as Catechist.

The following son's and daughters of the Church Knights:-  

1)Sir Johnson Oleru (phd) - Present President of the Diocesan Council of Knights.

2) Late Sir Eric Nwosu

3) Sir Ikechukwu Chukwueke

4) Sir Ebenezer  Naze

5) Dame Florence Onyiriuka

6) Sir Lawson  Maduakolam

7) Sir Christian Ude.

The Church has also produced the present Registrar II and medical Adviser of the Diocese in the persons of Chief Magistrate  Maureen Onyewuotu and Dr. Noel Onyewuotu.

The sweet memories of our indigenous Choirmaster, late Mr. Felix Ukwu remains fresh. Our other sons and daughters are also making their marks in their various fields of endeavour.

Today we rejoice and give God the glory that the mustard seed planted in this soil soil hundred year ago has grown and is flourishing both physically and spirittally.

ST JOHN'S  ANGLICAN CHURCH CHOIR

ST JUDE CATHOLIC PARISH CHOIR NAZE

ST JUDE 'S CATHOLIC CHURCH PASRISH CHOIR

           THE CENTENARY PLANNING COMMITTEE

11.    Sir Dr Johnson O. Oleru  -Chairman

22.      Dr. Noel Onyewuotu  -Vice Chairman

33.      Mr. Evans Ozobia Onu –Secretary

44.      Sir Lawson Maduakolam

55.      Mr. Dennis Chukwu

66.     Chief Sam Njoku

77.      Mr. Emma Eze

88.      Mr. Charles Egeolu

99.      Lady Ngozi Naze

110.  His Worship Chief Magistrate(Mrs.) M.U Onyewuotu

111.  Mrs. Pat Emeana

112.  Mrs. Joy Onyiriuka

113.  Rev. Cannon Emma Ahumibe

114. Mr Charles O. Onu

115.  Mr. Clifford Ngoka

116.   Mr. Christian Chieke

117.  Lady Cordelia Oleru

118.  Mr. Christian Onyeagoro

119.  Mr. Emeka Ahana

220.  Ezinwa Morison Ejiogu

221.  L/R  Elizabeth Onyewuotu(Mrs.)

222.  L/R  Kenneth Ngoka

223.  Chuks Oleru

224.  Victoria Osuagwu(Mrs.)

225. Mrs Ogechi Eziefula

226.   Mr Pat. Emeana

227.  Linda Ngoka

228.  Lady Ngozi Maduakolam

229.  Goddy Nwafor (Church Teacher)

330.  Blessing Okere

THE  END