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Brief History of st. Mark’s Anglican Church, Nnewichi, Nnewi
Presented below is an abridged history of St. Mark’s Anglican Church Nnewichi Nnewi.
Christianity as a seed was carried from Onitsha to Obosi and through Oraifite Nnewi in 1893. This first attempt failed due to the internal war that was to ensue till 1902 when the second attempt spearheaded by Miss Wilson and Miss Bodd with some Oraifite converts succeeded. The first place of worship was in Ume-oduagu’s land where one Mr. Asoh resided. The first set of converts attending from Nnewichi were Joseph Mojike, Paul Ibeadua, James Onyemelukwe, Gabriel Onyeaguilim,, Julius Odunukwe, Samuel Onwudiwe among others.
Notable among these was Joseph Mojike who graciously donated part of his land as a place of worship for the new Christian converts in Nnewichi. This was in 1904.
In 1906, a thatched mud-walled building with dwarf wall as seats for worshippers was dedicated. It is of interest to note that each of the four successive church buildings erected by St. Mark’s Church has been accommodated on that same land till date. Worthy of mention is the fact that one Mr. Christian Joseph (from Nnewichi) became the first Church worker officially posted to Man the Nnewichi Church soon after the building was dedicated. This was in 1906.
The new St. Mark’s Church continued to grow in leaps and bounds but not without persecutions which are expected as recorded in the Bible.
Growth And Expansion
As the church membership continued to increase the need to expand became obvious.
St. Mark’s Church had given birth to the following since inception
1. St. Joseph’s Church Obiofia in 1958
2. St. Paul’s Church Abubor in 1958
3. St. Mark’s was inaugurated as 3 church districts on 15th January 1967. These 3 churched had long become Parishes and had given birth to other Parishes till date.
4. Church of Transfiguration Nnewichi – planted in 2007.
5. Ascension church Nnewichi – planted in 2005
Churches under St. Mark’s Parish presently
6. Victory Church Mbaneze Nnewichi – Planted in 2000
7. Dominion Life Anglican Church Nnewichi – Planted in Feb 2023
8. Pillar of Glory Anglican Church Nnewi – Planted in Nov 2022.
Notable Things
1. St. Mark’s Church had produced 11 clergymen, notable among them are Late Rt. Rev. L.M. Uzodike who was the first Anglican Priest of Nnewi origin, the first Archdeacon from Nnewi as well as the First Bishop from Nnewi. Worthy of note is the fact that the present Bishop of the Diocese of Nnewi the Right Rev’d Ndubisi Obi is an indigene of Nnewichi and a bonafide son of St. Mark’s Church.
2. St. Mark’s Church Nnewichi has hosted Diocesan Synods three times. First in 1995 (which was actually the last synod before the creation of the Diocese of Nnewi from Diocese on the Niger in Feb 1996). Again in 2009 and then in co-hosted in 2019.
3. St. Mark’s Church became an Archdeaconry headquarter on March 19th 2006 with Ven. J.Ok. Obi as the Pioneer Archdeacon.
4. St. Mark’s Church had hosted Diocesan Women’s Conference in 2006, 2015 and recently in 2021.
Presently, St. Mark’s Church is a centre of several divine encounters actively involved in aggressive evangelical activities which attract thousands of worshippers weekly. Many thanks to the Bishop Rt. Rev Ndubisi Obi for bringing the church of Nigeria to St. Mark’s Church Nnewichi. The church will continue to march on and the gates of Hell shall not prevail.