The Cathedral of St. Peters Anglican Church at Aremo is the oldest church in Ibadan, the oldest church in Western Nigeria, and the oldest church in all of Nigeria. The church is 158 years old. This is where you will see the rich and the famous in Ibadan who all come together to worship God. It is the church where most prominent Ibadan sons and daughters attends.As we speak, it is the church that the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde attends. His father was one of the prominent and top hierarchy member in the church.
Built reportedly in 1860, it served as a rallying ground for a number of initial missionaries to Ibadan, many of who played other roles in the government. Since the ages, Ibadan has therefore been predominantly a unique ancient city which has fast become a commercial state city too. Ibadan is blessed with ancient and Iconic structures which has served as monumental edifices being visited by tourist from time immemorial when Ibadan was and is still the “posh” part of Oyo State where the seat of power is situated. Of these historic edifices, the St Peters Cathedral Church, Aremo which is the oldest Anglican Cathedral in the Church of Nigeria and also one of the finest cathedrals in Africa, towers above the rest in the preservation of the pre-amalgamation legacy. The famous church, with its imposing brown-coloured cathedral, had long celebrated its centenary, specifically in 1960. The church is under the leadership of His Grace, Most Reverend Segun Okubadejo, The Archbishop of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province while The Provost is the Very Reverend Adewale Andrew Adebiyi, The Provost, St Peter Cathedral Church, Aremo, Ibadan.As a mother Cathedral, setting the pace for other churches in evangelism & preaching of the word is their mission and their vision is having a spiritually filled congregation where honesty, faithfulness, joy & true love reigns among parishioners.
To say its architectural master piece is second to none is stating the obvious because it is the most beautiful and it is massively constructed with luxurious stones. Not only is the beauty of its building but the church is being attended by many prominent Ibadan indigenes. It is one of the richest Anglican congregation in Nigeria and it has produced many Arch Bishops, Bishops and several Reverends. Because of its architectural masterpiece, it makes it one of the most expensive Cathedral in Nigeria because of its maintenance.
If you are a first timer at St. Peters Cathedral Church, you are likely to be lost in the beauty of the building, its facilities and its environs because it was built on a large expanse of land. Most noticeable is the glamour that saturates the entire atmosphere of each service, the close knit members who have become families, the over 50 societies who work in unity and the congregation of youths who are full of enthusiasm in winning souls for Christ. The beautiful piece is built in between old and ancients houses and it is lopsided on a tiny road at a junction on Apeni road that you will almost think, there can’t be any such edifice in the area.
Located in Ibadan, the city of commerce and politics which is a unique place, it is categorized to function under the Ibadan Province which is an ecclesiastical province of the Church of Nigeria. It was created when the division into ecclesiastical provinces was adopted in 2002, and it comprises 19 dioceses, 117 archdeaconries and 623 parishes. The present Archbishop of Ibadan Province is Segun Okubadejo, who is also the Bishop of the Diocese of Ibadan North. The church is also strong in its membership values that even while many members were away, they founded an old boys and girls forum which is the Aremo Ibadan Cathedral old boys and girls of St Peters where they bring together old boys and girls of Aremo Anglican Cathedral of St. Peter as one family for Christ. Many years ago, the cathedral celebrated the golden jubilee of dedicating the present auditorium on the 26th sept 2010.Their morning mass is Sundays and evening mass is on Sundays and Wednesdays is for weekly service.
Some of the prominent individuals who attends the church are the Agboolas, the families of late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Odugade Odulana, Olori Ariyike Odulana, The Alabis, The Akinwales, The Fatokis, Former Oyo SSG, Bishop Oluranti Odubogun, Mrs Abigail Makinde, Archdeacon Banjo, Late Seriki of Ibadanland, Chief Adebayonle Oyediji, late renowned banker,and many others. The church also has junior and secondary school in Ibadan.
– TAYO OYEDIJI
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