The Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Ikeja, Lagos State ended the celebration of its 60th anniversary with an award ceremony for several notable individuals and priests who have passed through the church.

As part of the 60th anniversary, Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church also had a book, titled: “Chronicle,” launched.

The anniversary also featured a lecture by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola.

Notable individuals that were honoured included the first Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. Awelewa Adebiyi, who was given a posthumous award; first Dean of the Cathedral, Most Rev. Segun Adeyemi (retd); Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa; and Chief Olusegun Osunkeye.

In her lecture at the event, Professor Ogunsola urged the church to reinvent itself and work towards getting the youth into the mainstream of the church.

She noted that the first 60 years of AVMCC was a time of exponential growth, recalling how it metamorphosed from being a 50-member church to a congregation of over 8,000.

According to her, the impact of the church in the society cannot be quantified.

She said: “The church has made a lot of impact that can’t be quantified. 

“It has been involved in charitable outreaches, support for the homeless, prison outreaches and a whole lot. 

“Many lives have been transformed through the activities of church. 

“The church has been doing awesome work in counselling. 

“It has been involved in cultural enrichment, advocacy and social justice.”

Ogunsola said it is time for the church to look inwards and work out practicable ways of attracting young people.

She said: “We must not be complacent. 

“We have to do it right. 

“Young people want to be mentored. 

“They don’t want to be shamed. 

“They want engagements on controversial issues.

“They need a sense of purpose and relevance. 

“We need to know how to accept them and engage them. 

“They are prone to anxiety and a high level of political activity.

“The present generation is constantly questioning the relevance of religion. 

“They enjoy the freedom of investigating beliefs. 

“They want sermons to connect them with what they do. 

“They want authenticity.”

AVMCC, in Ogunsola’s reckoning, has both the financial and human capital to make reasonable changes as long the changes keep to the “tenets of our faith, we can change”.

She noted that the church was named after Leslie Gordon Vining, who was first archbishop of the Province of West Africa. 

She said: “He was appointed bishop in 1940. 

“He reached out to the Muslim community and did a lot of evangelical work. 

“He died in 1955 as he was travelling back to England and was buried in Sierra Leone.

“The church started from two segregated churches-one for the white and another for the black. 

“European civil servants worshipped at Ikeja Magistrate Court while the black congregation worshipped at the Police College. Both churches had their roots in Saint Saviour Church. 

“By 1964 the two churches were combined to become the Anglican Church GRA.”

The CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Diamond Publications, Lanre Idowu, reviewed: “The Chronicle.”

Idowu described the book as the story of the growth of a small parish church to a cathedral. 

He said: “It is a book that ticks all the boxes of publishing.”

The Chairman of the Planning Committee for the event, Kola Olawunmi, said the celebration was the church’s way of appreciating God for the past and looking to the future with the hope of more impact.

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Abimbola Odumbaku, congratulated the Cathedral on the epochal event.

Sanwo-Olu said: “Documenting the history of the Cathedral that was once an ordinary Parish from its humble beginnings to becoming a beacon of hope and spiritual guidance for countless individuals and the headquarters of the Lagos West Diocese of the Anglican Communion in the form of a book is a very worthwhile adventure that will help preserve the legacies of this Cathedral even for posterity.”

According to her, the milestone of the cathedral “is a powerful reminder of the abundant grace that has sustained this church through the decades. 

“It is a celebration of the collective efforts of the clergy and laity, past and present, who have dedicated their lives to the service of God and humanity. 

“Their sacrifices and commitments have borne fruit, making this church a pillar of strength and a source of inspiration for all of us.

“As we reflect on the theme of this anniversary: ‘Consolidating His Abundant Grace at 60,’ we must collectively acknowledge that it is by the grace of the Almighty that we are here today. 

“It is by His grace that this church has flourished and impacted so many lives.

“In our rapidly changing world and in this present time when the love for things of God is waxing cold, the values of faith, community, and service that this church upholds remain firm and steadfast.”

While the Cathedral continues to enhance the mode of worship, teaching and preaching the word of God, Dr. Sanwo-Olu pleaded that it must also not lose focus on creating worshippers fit for the kingdom of heaven.