History

Amawbia Anglican Community will again make history as it hosts the 2018 Diocese of Awka Synod between Saturday 12th and Wednesday 16th May at Saint Peter’s Church, Amawbia. It once hosted the synod in 2005. This year’s hosting promises to be one with a difference.
Thus, the Anglican faithful, in conjunction with the people and government of the town, are poised to welcome the Lord Bishop of Awka, Right Reverend Dr Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim, his Wife, Martha Chioma, the Diocesan Officials and all the Synod Delegates to the big occasion. They are promising their visitors stress-free, enriching and highly successful second session of the eleventh synod of Awka Diocese, with the theme: Mission – The Heart Beat of God, taking from the Book of Ezekiel chapter 33, verse11 and Acts chapter 1 verse 18.
Christianity, nay Anglicanism in Amawbia, has come a long way, with the British Colonial incursion in 1903. With the final settlement of the missionaries in Awka, at the site of today’s Paul University, in a position to carry the gospel to nearby communities, assisted by their hosts. The Visit of Reverends Llewellyn, Browns and Stuart, led by Chief Onuora Usoku from Awka to the household of Chief Ikele Nwine, the Chief priest of Ngene-Ene shrine and father of chief Agbata Ikele in 1903, signaled the advent of Christianity in Amawbia, as the first convert, Okoye Kachi and later Dorcas Ikele, the first wife of chief Agbata Ikele and others, thronged the compound of Ikele Nwine to hear the Gospel.
By 1904, one Mr. James Nrabalu from Ogidi was appointed to take charge of the growing flock in Ikele Nwine’s Compound. In collaboration with the then baptized first convert, Mr. James Kachi, Mr. Nrabalu succeeded in winning more souls and the church moved to a public square called Ebe-Akpu in Ngene Amawbia. As the growth continued with a great impact on the people and their idolatrous practices, the church moved to a more central place at Obodo–kwe in Umukabia village in 1912, the present site of Saint Peter’s Amawbia, registering rapid infrastructural and spiritual developments before and after the Civil War. It is noteworthy that the then Bishop of the Niger, Right Reverend C.J Patterson dedicated a solid church building of Saint Peter’s on December 27, 1962, and inaugurated it as a District on December 4,1965, with the first superintendent, late Reverend Abel Igboanugo posted in January 1966.
By 2001, an ultra-modern Saint Peter’s Church edifice was dedicated by the then Bishop of Awka and Emeritus Dean and Archbishop, Most Reverend M.S.C Anikwenwa, whereas the incumbent Bishop of Awka, Right Reverend Alexander Chibuzor Ibezim, PhD, inaugurated Saint Peter’s as the Headquarters of Amawbia Archdeaconry, comprising Churches in Amawbia and Enugwu-Agidi on January 28, 2016, with Venerable Chris Ogbodo as the Archdeacon. The birth of Saint Augustine’s Aguogba, Church of Resurrection, Saint Luke’s and Saint Peter’s Church is clearly due to the rapid growth of Anglicanism in Amawbia.
Synods in the Anglican Communion are held annually to bring the faithful together, with the Bishop presiding. They provide opportunity for stock taking and projection into the future of the dioceses. It is therefore expected that Amawbia Anglican Community, with its brethren and friends, will mobilize most meaningfully to support Awka Diocese in its developmental strides.
Mention must be made of a few ongoing outstanding projects initiated by Bishop Ibezim since his enthronement, eight years ago. They include the all-purpose Mount Zion International Resources/retreat Center, Faith Specialist Hospital, Amanwanyi Training Complex and 3-storey faculty building at Paul University.
To the Bishop’s credit and to the glory of God, the Diocese had completed some projects dedicated by the Primate of all Nigeria, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, three years ago. They include: Millennium Micro Finance Bank Building, Ultramodern 2- story block for Saint Paul’s Nursery/Primary School, Staff Quarters at the Cathedral as well as the prestigious Queen’s convent Awka. There is no doubt, the Sir Nnaike Ofodile-led Planning Committee, supported by vibrant Archdeacon Chris Ogbodo, Reverends, Bonny Ogaraku, Chris Anyachebelu and Prince Chukwudum will motivate Amawbia people to rise to the occasion and chorus in unison with the diocesan faithful, Amawbia 2018 Awka Diocesan Synod, here we come.