Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther reincarnated in Osoogun, Iseyin in the Oyo State of Nigeria on Wednesday, when The Most Revd Henry Ndukuba Archbishop Metropolitan & Primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion led a college of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and laity for the dedication of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther Mission Centre.
In a moving and spiritual invocation to declare open a place of worship at the centre, Primate Ndukuba knocking on the door declared: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, says, the Lord, if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come into the house and eat with you and you with me.
“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle “
This invocation statements set the tone for the opening of this mission centre which the Primate described as monumental for the growth of the Anglican church in Nigeria.
In his sermon Primate Ndukuba said the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) “owes a great part of her historical origin, establishment, growth and expansion to the missionary expeditions of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther”.
He commended Most Rev’d Dr. Nicholas D. Okoh (Rtd), for the vision to establish the Centre in 2007 under his Primacy
Bishop Ajayi Crowther he recalled was the first black Anglican Bishop to be consecrated in Nigeria. ” Though neglected in our days but today Ajayi Crowther has become a cornerstone for all Christians all over the world. He was a missionary of excellence of many parts in humility. He followed and served Jesus Christ faithfully.”
He said the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion always celebrated Bishop Ajayi Crowther every July 27 to praise and thank God for what He did through him.
“We now have Osoogun Mission Centre christened ‘Our Jerusalem’ where we will come to worship, educate mission workers and also serve as pilgrimage for all Christians,” he said.
He praised the efforts of Archbishop of Ibadan Province Most Rev. Dr. Segun Okubadejo, who was the Chairman of the building committee, and the untiring spirit of Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of Ajayi Crowther, the Rt. Rev’d Olugbenga Olukemi Oduntan.
Samuel Ajayi Crowther was commissioned in 1857 with others to carry out missionary works in different parts of Nigeria, a task he conscientiously pursued with godly zeal, against all odds, to the end that missionary presence was fully established in the places he worked. Samuel Ajayi Crowther was born and bred in Osoogun in 1809 and translated to glory in 1891.
The church in Osoogun is now completed and furnished with all things requisite for the due performance of Public Worship, training of missionary workers, a multipurpose hall, Museum and other facilities.