By Folu Olamiti
The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion on Sunday consecrated 15 Bishops to take charge of new dioceses as a result of expansion and growth of evangelical work to increase the number of Bishops to 183.
The rhythmic toll of cathedral bells filled the cool Abuja morning air on Sunday, 9 November 2025, as thousands of worshippers thronged The Cathedral Church of The Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, for a service unlike any other.
Inside the magnificent cathedral, scented with incense and faith, fifteen new bishops knelt before the Primate of All Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, to be consecrated into the episcopal order of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
By the time the final hymn rose, the moment had become more than an ecclesiastical ritual-it was a bold proclamation of renewal for one of Africa’s most influential Christian denominations. With this consecration, the number of bishops and archbishops within the Communion climbed to 183, signalling both expansion and a deepening of spiritual responsibility in a nation grappling with moral drift and social change.
The cathedral’s nave and adjoining tents overflowed with congregants- Archbishops, Bishops and clergy robed in purple and white, choirs in radiant crimson, and laity faithful in their Sunday best. It was, in every sense, an epoch-making assembly.
For several of the newly consecrated bishops, the day represented the fulfilment of years of waiting, hope, and unanswered prayers. Some had previously missed selection by the slimmest of margins; others had served tirelessly in rural parishes, their dedication finally rewarded under the solemn glow of the altar.
As the Primate and his fellow archbishops and bishops laid their hands upon each kneeling candidate, the weight of history hung in the air. Ancient prayers of consecration echoed through the cathedral. Many wept openly-tears of joy, relief, and awe-as sacred oil glistened on their foreheads, the air thick with emotion and the distant hum of hallelujahs and amen.
The hymns “Take My Life and Let It Be” ” Come Down O Love Divine”, Courage Brothers Do Not Stumble ” rose like incense, merging devotion with destiny. The twice procession of the new bishops in shimmering vestments to the altar reflected light from stained glass windows depicting scenes of sacrifice and redemption-an image of grace and continuity in a faith tested but unbroken.
The spiritual charge came from The Most Rev’d Edmund Akanya, Bishop of Kebbi and Dean Emeritus of the Church of Nigeria, a man revered for his theological insight and pastoral candour. Preaching from Matthew 5:13-“You are the salt of the earth”-Bishop Akanya delivered a message that was part exhortation, part warning, and wholly transformative.
“Salt,” he declared, “is small but indispensable. It seasons, preserves, and heals. As bishops, you must bring healing where there is pain, truth where there is confusion, and light where darkness reigns.” His voice softened, then rose again with prophetic intensity. “As you go under this anointing, be influencers-ignite the fire in your new dioceses. Do not go there to destroy; go to build, to heal, to lead.”
He warned them against the twin temptations that, in his words, “have broken the backbone of many ministries-money and immorality.” He urged strict adherence to the constitution and canonical laws of the Church. “The altar you now serve is not a marketplace,” he cautioned. “Guard your integrity. Let no indulgence stain your calling.”
Bishop Akanya’s homily went beyond ceremony; it became a mirror held up to a changing Church. “Regrettably, the Church is becoming more worldly,” he lamented. Citing John 14:12, he challenged the bishops to mirror Christ in both conduct and courage. “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also-and greater works than these he will do.”
His message struck a chord with the congregation. “You are light in a dark world,” he continued. “Do not blend with the shadows. Stand out as true born-again shepherds. Let your light keep shining in this dark world.”
Quoting Philippians 2:12, he concluded, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Then, fixing his gaze upon the new bishops, he asked quietly but firmly, “In five years, what shall we be saying about you? May the light of Jesus radiate in you.” The stillness that followed was reverent and profound.
Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, Chairman of Gafcon since 2023. Archbishop Laurent Mbanda and immediate past Primate of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Most Rev’d Nicholas Okoh and his wife dignified the occasion with their presence.
Outside the cathedral, drums rolled and traditional choruses rose as the newly consecrated bishops were greeted by throngs of supporters from their home dioceses.
Flags fluttered, cameras flashed, and the sound of ululation blended with church organ music. For a moment, Abuja felt transformed-a city baptised in joy.
The Primate, flanked by senior clerics, later reminded the Church that episcopal consecration was not an elevation to privilege but a call to deeper sacrifice. “The harvest is plentiful,” he said, “but the labourers must remain faithful, humble, and vigilant.”
Each of the fifteen bishops will return to their dioceses newly created, with a mandate to rekindle evangelism, strengthen rural ministry, and defend biblical orthodoxy in an increasingly secular world. Under Primate Ndukuba’s leadership, the Church of Nigeria has prioritised missionary outreach, youth empowerment, and moral reawakening, particularly in communities plagued by insecurity and economic hardship.
By evening, as the cathedral bells tolled once more and the crowd began to disperse, the lingering sense was not of ceremony concluded, but of mission re-energized. In a country where faith often bears the weight of social expectation, the consecration of fifteen new bishops was more than a religious event-it was a statement of continuity and conviction.
The Anglican Communion in Nigeria, now with 183 bishops stands as a symbol of resilience amid turbulence. Sunday’s consecration, steeped in scripture and song, underscored a truth that echoed through the cathedral’s arches: the Church is not retreating-it is advancing, steadfast, salt in a world in danger of losing its savour.
