About Us

PREAMBLE

History has it that Early Christian converts from Ikereku were part of the early Egba Christians worshipping in various Churches like St. Jude’s Church Ikija and St. Stephen’s Church Ilugun.

Some were attending the Methodist Church, Ogbe notable among whom were late Otun of Egba, Hon. Chief J.B. Majekodunmi and his brother Chief D. Adekunle Majekodunmi. It was in the 1880s that the idea of having an Anglican Church at Ikereku was mooted because the Methodist mission at Ogbe was too remote from Oke-Ona, and they were usually too tired to go back to Ikija or Ilugun for evening service after attending Mattins there. They stated having a temporary place for evening service at Ikereku for that purpose. Daddy Soyemi (Venn) helped to negotiate for a piece of land near the the rock at Ikereku in an area usually referred to as Esekuta. (Esekuta) meaning “at the base of the rocky outcrop” from a neighbor’s wife was known as “TAMU”.

THE FOUNDATION MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH

1. Daddy Thomas Lewu
2. Madam Suada Ogun (Mother of Isaac Babalola Ogun)
3. Daddy James Bernard Majekodunmi (A.K.A. Ijaola or Baba oju Oopo) later Otun Egba
4. Madam Eleanor Oredola (Popularly referred to as Iya Ijo)
5. Daddy Isaac Sobola- (Alias Arila-Jiyan)
6. Daddy Emmanuel Sojo
7. Daddy Soyoye ( otherwise known as Venn) a very well educated man

A temporary worshiping shed was erected on the land, but in 1888 they decided to put up a permanent structure built of mud for regular Sunday worship. It was dedicated in 1890. It was close to the Holy Trinity (CMS). Primary school, Ikereku, Abeokuta. More converts Isale Ogun, Ikija, Ilawo,Ijaiye Kukundi and  Ikatedo, later joined the new church.

The first church –worker to be put in charge of the young congregation the District Church Council was a catechist named Green. Daddy Green, otherwise called Adefolu, was the father of late Dr. Adefolu.

Very early in its existence, the young church ministered to the spiritual needs of worshipers from far and near. Candidates for baptism came from Ikereku itself, Asa, Ilugun, Ikija, Erunbe, Opeji, Kemta, Owu, Ilogbo.

PURCHASE OF THE PRESENT (OJU-OLONA) SITE

Around 1926, it was becoming clear that the church building at Esekuta was getting too small for the increasing congregation and its capacity was grossly inadequate any time an important event was being celebrated which attracted visitors and other guests. Furthermore, the rocks around would not allow for any expansion of the building.

Leading members of the church, pondered over the matter and eventually mooted the idea of building a more spacious church elsewhere. Among these people were Mr. J. O. Akisanmi, Chief D. Adekunle Majekodunmi (Alias ‘D. A’), Chief I. A Sodipo (Alias Molaja), Chief Isaac Babalola Ogun, Mr. Feyisara Sopein (Treasurer of the Church), Madam Eleanor Oredola, Madam Ayelaagbe (known as iya Eleesu) and Madam Efunjoun. The idea was shared with Hon. J. B. Majekodunmi who was looked upon as Baba Ijo of the Church because of the activities, his leadership qualities, and his generosity towards matters affecting the progress of the Church. He endorsed the idea and members of the congregation started to contribute to a fund while the search for a suitable site also began.

The first site purchased was a piece of land facing the property of Daddy John Adesanya who was otherwise known as Onile-Etija (i.e. the one whose house is near the market) because his house was close to Oja Apagun (Apagun market). It is on this site that Suada mission now stands. The site had to be sold because the women in the Church complained that the land was again too small and also too close to the main road. They feared for the safety of parishioners, especially children, in future when the volume of vehicular traffic would have increased. Infact, building material like stone etc had already been assembled on the site before its was sold out of deference to the point raised by the women. The land was first bought from the Church for the purpose of building a house for the man who later became Osile, Oba Yesufu Idowu Adedotun (1932-34), before it was eventually purchased by I. B Ogun for the building of Suada mansion.

The search for another site started again. It ended with purchases of the present Oju-Olona site where the Church now stands. This was between 1927 and 1928. It was bought from the children of Chief Adebesin, the first Jagunna of Ikereku. It was a swampy area and once served as Igbo Eluku (Eluku grove). All the land that now makes up the frontage of the Church was given free by the Amusan family.

THE BUILDING OF THE NEW CHURCH

Permission to build the new church had to be sought from the then Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos, The Rt. Revd. F. Melville Jones. One Saturday in 1930 a delegation led by the Hon. J. B. Majekodunmi and Otun Egba met the Bishop on the matter but the bishop was reluctant to give approval on learning that the Church had only £235:0s:0d (two hundred and thirty-five pounds) in its account. The Assistant Bishop, the Rt. Revd. A.W. Howells I, appealed to the Bishop to approve the building of the Church remarking that the leader of the delegation, the Hon. J. B. Majekodunmi, could single-handedly build the structure shown on the building plan submitted. Bishop Jones asked the members of the delegation to allow him time to consider and so they left.

On the Sunday following, the Hon. J.B. Majekodunmi reported to the whole congregation the outcome of the delegation’s mission to the Bishop and all agreed that a contributory fund should be started that Sunday towards the building of the Church. Each Sunday thereafter, members contributed generously and enthusiastically to the fund with the Hon. J.B Majekodunmi leading the way. It was not surprising therefore, that when the delegates later returned to the Bishop, approval was readily given.

A 52-member Building committee headed by Hon. J.B. Majekodunmi was there- upon set up to handle the project.

The foundation stone was laid on Saturday, 26th December, 1936  at 4pm by Alaiyeluwa Oba Ladapo Ademola II C.B.E (later Sir Ladapo Ademola), Alake Oba Egba, the service was conducted by Rt. Revd. F Melville Jones, the Bishop of Lagos Doicese, taking his sermon from 1Cor. 3:10.

The construction work was supervised by Late Chief Z.I Renner of Ijemo Agbadu (free of charge), a Carpenter by training but who was famous as a church builder.

The church was completed in 1941, at an estimated cost of 6,000.0s.0d (six thousand pounds). It was a surprise to most people at that time that such an imposing and commodious stone structure could be built within so short a time (1936 to 1941). It was dedicated on Easter Eve, 12th April, 1941. The service was led by the Bishop of Lagos then, Rt. Revd. Lesile Gordon Vining, who also preacher the sermon taking his text from 1 Cor. 3:10.

The Church became the seat of the chairman of Abeokuta North Provisional District Church council on 30th December, 1981.

The churches under the District Church council are Holy Trinity Church, Ikereku, St. Jude’s Church, Ikija, St. Stephen’s Church, Ita-Elega, Ilugun, Emmanuel Church, Keesi, Anglican Church Opeji, Anglican Church, Onibuku, Anglican Church Ologburugburu and St. Jude’s (Anglican Church) Iyana Eruwa Railway Station.

It became the headquarters of Abeokuta North Archdeaconry on 24th July, 1984 with Ven. V.O. Sotunde as the first Archdeacon. Churches in the following District Church Councils form the Archdeaconry: Abeokuta North and Osiele Otere (up to August 1994).

Eventually, Holy Trinity Anglican Church Ikereku became a sole Archdeaconry in 2008 when another four archdeaconries namely, Ikija, Ilugun, Keesi and Elega were again carved out of it.

The Archdeaconry now has four churches under it. They are Holy Trinity Church, Ikereku which is the headquarters; the Church of Advent, Saje founded in 1998, SS Timothy and Titus, Adedotun founded in 2009 and St. John of Baptist, Arakanga founded in 2010.

The first available record of baptism in this Church was that on January 11, 1891

The first available record of marriage was in 1908

The first available record of burial was in 1907

The church has been enjoying the services of church workers both lay and ordained unbroken since its foundation with the Venerable J. O. Odebunmi as the incumbent

LIST OF PAST BABA IJO

1. Chief Benjamin Adura Majekodunmi – Installed 17th September, 1972 (Died 3rd October, 1995)
2. Chief Olatunbosun Akanni Lampejo – Installed 1st June, 1996

LIST OF PAST IYA IJO

1. Chief (Mrs) Julianah Bamikunbi Adegunwa – Installed 17/9/72
2. Chief (Mrs) Maria Olaitan Adewale – Installed 17/9/78
3. Chief (Madam) Marian Oyebolu – Installed 9/5/87
4. Chief (Mrs) Christianah Olapemo Ogungbe – Installed 13/5/95

LIST OF PAST IYA-EGBE, EGBE AYA BISHOP

1. Mrs. Evan Oredola Obadina – Installed 9th May, 1987

LIST OF PAST CHURCH MINISTERS/VICARS

1. 1880-1890 – Daddy Green Adefolu
2. January 1891 to October, 1891 – Revd. D. Williams
3. October 1891 to January. 1926 – Revd James Augustus Lahanmi
4. March, 1926 to July 1934 – Revd. Jacob Adenbigbe Fadipe
5. August, 1914 to December, 1948 – Revd. James O. Gbemisola Sodipe
6. January, 1949 to December, 1949 – Catechist J.O. Famose (supervised by Revd. E.O. Ogungbe from St. Jude’s Church, Ikija)
7. December, 1949 to January 1955 – Revd. Emmanuel O. Odubogun
8. April 1955 to December, 1969  – Revd. Emmanuel O. Osinowo
9. January, 1970 to September, 1970 – Revd. Canon B.A. Falode
10. October, 1970 to March, 1974 – Revd. Canon D.O. Adesina
11. March, 1974 to April, 1975 – Revd. S. A Aratunde
12. May 1975 to July, 1975 – Revd. Lapese Ladipo assisted by Revd. J. Af. Adenuga
13. July 1975 to September, 1979 – Rev. (now Ven) Victor O. Sotunde
14. September, 1979 to August, 1980 – Revd. (now Ven.) S.O. Adekunle (acting for Revd V.O. Sotunde who was on study-leave ln USA)
15. August, 1980 to September, 1980 – Revd. O. Adesina (acting for Revd V.O. Sotunde)
16. December, 1980 to December, 1981 – Revd (now Rt. Revd) J.O. Popoola (acting for Revd V.O. Sotunde whom he assisted till December, 1983)
17. December, 1981 to June, 1990 – Ven. Victor O. Sotunde
18. July, 1991 to March, 2002  – Ven. J. Ola Obayomi
19. April, 2002 to June, 2002 – Revd Canon E. K. O. Onabanjo
20. July, 2002 to April, 2007 -Ven. Sunday A. Abodunrin
21. April, 2007 to July, 2011 – Ven. Odubeko B. Odutayo
22. July, 2011 to July, 2018 – Ven. Samuel O. Somorin
23. July, 2018 to August, 2020 – Ven. Dr. I. O. Oyeneye
24. September, 2020 to date – Ven J. Ola Odebunmi

THE PRESENT CHURCH OFFICIALS ARE:

• J. O. Odebunmi – Vicar
• Engr. Olumayowa A. Idowu – People’s warden
• Mr. Dademu Aderounmu – Pastor’s Warden

CHURCH CHIEFS ARE:

• Chief Dr. Akin Majekodunmi – Baba Ijo
• Chief Mrs F. T. Akisanmi  – Iya Ijo
• Iya Egbe,Egbe Aya Bishop – Vacant