Reminiscences of Adisadel

CHAPTER NINE

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH AND EDUCATION IN GHANA

The Anglican Church has existed in Ghana for well over two and a quarter centuries. Cape Coast was the setting for the great experiment and explorations in religion - and education - in the country in the 18th century. The founding of Christ Church. the `Mother Church' of the local Anglican community, literally signified the planting of a grain of mustard seed of Christianity (Anglicanism) in the fertile soil of Ghana - (then the Gold Coast). The seed, happily, was to sprout up and grow to bear the richest fruits of enlightenment and progress on all sides with, of course, immense moral and spiritual benefits for the people as a whole. It began in 1752 when the Revd. Thomas Thompson, M.A. (Cantab.) Fellow of Christ Church, Cambridge, the first Anglican (SPG) Missionary to West Africa, set foot on the soil of that ancient town to "Propagate the Gospel", having been given the expressed Orders "to make trial with the natives and to see what hope there would be of introducing among them the Christian Religion". Thomas Thompson laboured earnestly, and almost single-handedly in the field, under trying and difficult conditions, for four years, from 1752 to 1756, when he was invalidated home, broken in health.

Nevertheless, as a result of the great missionary zeal with which he laboured and his abiding faith in the success of his mission, Thomas Thompson succeeded in laying the superstructure upon which the local Church has been firmly built. This process began the evolution that has now culminated in the establishment of the Anglican Church of Ghana.

It is of historical significance that Cape Coast, the starting point of Anglican missionary work in the country, gave the Anglican Communion, the first African ever to receive Holy Orders in the Church of England since the Reformation, thanks to the foresight of the Revd. Thomas Thompson who arranged for the education, training and ordination in England of Philip Quaque (among two other lads from Cape Coast). This great event marked the turning-point in the history of the Anglican Church of Ghana.

A lot, of course, has since then been achieved by the Church, now an associate of the Anglican Church of the Province of West Africa, inaugurated in April 1951 and under an Archbishop resident in Sierra Leone. Her achievements during the period of her existence in Ghana have been spectacular in both the religious and educational fields. The sacrificial work of the early missionaries, supported by dedicated and hardworking local priests and lay helpers have combined to produce fruitful and beneficial results for both the Church and the State.

Ignorance and superstition, so rampart in the past, have given way to knowledge and enlightenment to a definite and far-reaching extent. Many homes have been brought directly under the refining and wholesome influences of the Holy Spirit to the extent that Jesus Christ is the acknowledged Saviour and Lord of the Faithful. The moral and spiritual lives of the members have been enriched and ennobled under the impact of the Church.

Anglican Churches now dot about the country in the cities and towns as well as in the villages and hamlets. Virgin fields, however, span the country-side ready for the `Sower of the Word' to bring them under active cultivation for Christ. And even though the prospects for evangelization are much brighter than before, the apparent "fewness" of the Labourers in the Vineyard tends to limit the scope and extent of the harvest. Nevertheless, the Church plods on steadily, undaunted, intensfiying her evangelical work in many directions to the limits of her resources.

At present, there are two Dioceses: the Diocese of Accra and that of Kumasi, both headed by Ghanaian Bishops. The Diocese of Kumasi was carved out of the Diocese of Accra in 1973. The Accra Diocese has five Arch-deaconries having their headquarters in the regional capitals. They are under the charge of Archdeacons who are normally senior parish priests of considerable experiences and standing, and who exercise jurisdiction over a number of churches within their respective spheres of influences. (The present distribution of Archdeaconries is given later in this Chapter).

The Anglican Church of Ghana has come a long way since its inception. Thanks to divine blessings and guidance, the Church has not only stood the test of time but also grown enormously in stature and in numeral strength. The fruitful outcome of the foresight and labours of love of the Revd. Thomas Thompson is seen in the work of the Revd. Philip Quaque, M.A., (Oxon) whom he selected (along with two others) for education and training in England for the ministry of the Church. Revd. Philip Quaque's pioneering work, extending over a period of 50 years, considerably strengthened the foundation of the Anglican Church in the Gold Coast laid by the Revd. Thomas Thompson in 1752.

The Revd. Philip Quaque could well be said to be the forerunner of the Christian Council of Ghana, a fellowship of the various independent churches in Ghana, dedicated to the promotion of oneness and unity of the Christian Faith, thereby upholding their common calling as Torchbearers of the Word of God. Quaque courageously unfurled and held aloft the great banner of Christ at Cape Coast, thus attracting other religious faiths into the country for evangelical work. This process led to the spread of Christianity and enlightenment in our part of the world.

The intervening years between the inception of the Church in 1752 and the time of the inauguration of the Anglican Church of the Province of West Africa in 1951, and subsequent years, brought out into the field, in almost endless stream, many expatriate missionaries - Bishops and priests - men of vision, courage, great faith and high aspirations who laboured, each in his several ways, to give the local Church dedicated leadership and keen sense of mission. The zeal and dedication of those missionaries served to give great fillip to the activities of the Church in the country. The Church was thus guided and set along a steady course, clear of dangerous shoals and other impediments during the turbulent and difficult years of her existence.

It needs to be said in tribute, that the successive missionary Bishops of the Diocese, conscious of their Episcopal charges played well their part and employed their various talents in the best interests of the Church. And, indeed, it is true that their lives and works considerably influenced the course of Adisadel College and also touched the lives of the staff and students in many remarkable ways. The great strides made by the School since then and the quality of the products turned out by the school over the years testify to this fact. All told, both the Church and the School stand as great monuments to the foresight, zeal and dedication of the early missionaries in the fields of religion and education in the country.

We may well recall, at this juncture, with reverence and gratitude, the fadeless memories of those well-beloved Bishops of the Church who have been called to higher service, namely: the Rt. Revds. Nathaniel Temple Hamlyn, D.D., the Founder of the School (1909-1910) Mowbray Stephen O'Rocke (1913-1924) John Orfeur Aglionby, M.C., D.D., (1924-1951) John Sydney Daly (1951-1956) and Richard Reginald Roseveare. S.S.M., (1956-1967). And of course, Ezra Douglas Martinson, C.B.E., the first Ghanaian Assistant Bishop of Accra (1951-1968) who served the Church in various capacities for a period of 57 eventful years. The lives and works of those pioneering bishops provide shining examples of service to God and man and richly deserve to be recorded in golden letters in the annals of the Church to the Glory of God.

It is also worthy of record that the Church has, at various times been enriched by the devoted services rendered by many of her colourful Ghanaian priests, who have also been called to their eternal rest. Apart from the Revd. W. Hutton-Mensah whose short profile is given in an earlier chapter of this book, mention should also be made of, among others, the Very Revd. G.E.F. Laing, the first Provost of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Accra, and one-time Rector of the erstwhile St. Augustine's Theological College, Kumasi, the Revds. O.M. Renner, M.A., J.R.C. Yalley, the Revd. Canons B. T. Quartey, J.A.Q. Okwabi, S.A.C. Lutterodt, the Ven. A. Ben-Smith and the Revds. V.K. Saifah and J. E. B. Welbourne, the Diocesan Treasurer. Of course, the Venerable Archdeacon Emeritus of Sekondi, C.H. Elliott (the last of the tribe of "Foundation Scholars" of the School now dead) is the first full-blooded Old Santaclausian to be ordained into the Priesthood in answer to the call of the Founder, and who is reverently referred to as the `First Fruit of Orders'. Notable among other Old Boys who followed in the train are: the Revd. Canon H. Tekyi-Mensah, L.Th., former Archdeacon of Sunyani, the Venerables: Edmund Yeboah, M.A., B.D., A.K.C.. Archdeacon of Cape Coast and J.K. Dadson, M.A:, Archdeacon of Accra; the Revd. Fr. T.S.A. Annobil, M.A.; L. Th.. Lecturer in Theology, Trinity College, Legon and Revd. Fr. A. E. Asmah, B. A., Priest in charge, St. Paul's Labadi, Accra.

Those faithful servants of God who have `passed on' served well their day and age in the Lord's Vineyard, and have left the stage in glory: Happily, their mantles have been taken up by equally zealous and dedicated priests who are continuing from where they left off. May their shining examples of dedication to the service of God for the salvation of souls, inspire not a few of succeeding generations of students of Adisadel to follow in their footsteps, and thus helping to keep in constant view one of the noble objectives which gave birth to Adisadel, namely, to train priests for tile 'propagation of the Gospel'.

Education

In the field of education, the Church has made meaningful contributions in the country. The Church's achievements in this field, however, cannot be assessed or measured fully only in terms of the number of educational institutions that she has so far been able to establish and manage in the country. The significant point to consider in this respect is the ability of the Church to produce useful citizens, men and woman of ability and character, capable of serving the Church and State loyally and faithfully in various capacities. Many of such men and women, from various walks of life, trained and brought up in the best traditions of the Church, are holding positions of responsibility in various spheres of our national. life both in the country and elsewhere.

This interesting development in education in so far as the Anglican Church is concerned of course began during the ministry of the Revd. Philip Quaque. It is on record that the Revd. Philip Quaque, combining effectively his ecclesiastical duties with education succeeded in establishing the first School at Cape Coast about 1788. This School developed eventually to become the Government Boys' School and the Government Girls' School respectively. Of historical interest in this experiment in the development of education at that time is the fact that three products of the Government Boys' School, namely William de Graft, John Martin and Joseph Smith, carried on their work of the School after the death of the Revd. Philip Quaque. And significantly, de Graft and Martin were instrumental in bringing out into the country, the first Wesleyan Methodist Missionary, the Revd. Joseph Rhodes Dunwell in 1835, an event marking the beginning of the Methodist Church of Ghana.

And as if by divine direction, Bishop Hamlyn came on the scene, watered with care the seedling that the Revd. Philip Quaque had planted in our fruitful soil, and ably tended by the Revd. Knight to blossom forth into Adisadel as it is today. Commenting on this significant development, G.K. Sam-Amavih, former General Manager of Anglican Church Educational Unit observed, of course, adapting the apt words of St. Paul in the context: "Quaque planted, Hamlyn watered and Knight gave the increase". _

The successive Bishops of Accra were fully alive to the importance of education as a vital factor in the evangelization programme of the Church and accordingly gave active consideration and attention to the provision of educational facilities for the education and training of the children of members of the Church. It is, however, to be noted that the episcopacy of Bishop Aglionby, the third Bishop of Accra, was a particularly remarkable and stirring one. There was an intense spiritual reawakening in the Church and sustained developments became evident in the field of education.

Bishop Aglionby brought his keen insight into human affairs and his full weight to bear on the educational programmes of the Church; many of which he initiated and executed himself. His invitation to the Revd. A. J. Knight (now His Grace the Archbishop of the West Indies) to become headmaster of St. Nicholas Grammar School in 1929, marked a definite turning point in the history of Adisadel College. With Father Knight at the helm. the School was given a refreshingly new lease of life which has culminated in the beautiful buildings housing the School at Adisadel on the Hill.

Girls education was given a great impetus by Bishop Aglionby as well. In 1926, the Order of the Holy Paraclete (OHP) in response to an invitation from the Bishop, sent out an advanced party of three members who arrived in the country that year and started a girls' school at Cape Coast. Thus, began the exciting story of the establishment of what became known as the Convent of our Lady and Saint Monica's with Sister Dorothy as the presiding genius. The fructifying results of this grand experiment in girls' education locally are seen in the St. Monica's Training College (originally established at Cape Coast in 1930 but transferred to Ashanti-Mampong in 1936) and St. Monica's Secondary School established also at Ashanti-Mampong in 1949. These institutions reflect the importance that the Church, then as now, attaches to girls education alongside that of boys in the country.

In 1949, writing about the favourable outcome of this experiment in girls education in the country Bishop Aglionby wrote home with evident satisfaction: "The little seed (sown by the OHP) has blossomed into a lovely flower. But the real monument of the Order is not in buildings, but it is in the hundreds of homes with Christian mothers, because mother was an Old Girl of St. Monica's". It is significant to note, in this connection, that one of the first products of St. Monica's Secondary School at Mampong-Ashanti is a Ghanaian Sister - Sister Bertha - herself a member of the Order, who is at present Headmistress of Bishop's Girls' School in Accra.

In 1937, Bishop Aglionby was able to prevail upon the government of the day to release a plot of land nearby for the building of a girls' school, in Accra. On this land, he built classroom blocks with a bungalow attached. The outcome was the Bishop Girls' School taken over and run by the OHP. The idea of establishing this girls' school was to serve as a complement to the Bishop Boys' School which the Bishop had earlier opened also in Accra.

Bishop Aglionby was, for all practical purposes, a keen and resourceful Prelate to reckon with. As already indicated, his time marked a happy period of development and expansion in education at various levels. The strides made in the field were however enhanced by the fact that many of the projects were initiated, undertaken and financed largely from the Bishop's own resources. And whenever the need arose the Bishop paid out the salaries of the teachers from his own stipends. That the education and training of the youth of the country was dear to Aglionby's heart was clearly evidenced by the zeal with which he pursued the educational programmes of the Church almost single handedly, with fruitful results.

In those days, the Bishop combined his diocesan work with education, and served as General Manager of Schools. This involved him in regular extensive trekking to the remote parts of the country on evangelical work and to acquaint himself with problems and difficulties facing those schools and the teachers as well, and seeking solutions to them, financially and otherwise.

Now these educational responsibilities have been delegated to what is known as the Anglican Church Educational Unit. This is headed by a full-time General Manager of Schools who is responsible to the Bishops for the efficient running of the Unit. Officially, the General Manager of Schools is responsible to the Ghana Education Service and he is the person to whom all matters affecting educational institutions belonging to the Church are referred. In this sense, the General Manager of Schools serves as the Liaison Officer between the Diocesan Bishops on the one hand and the Education Service and its officials on the other. Regional Supervisors of Schools who work directly under the General Manager, take care of the educational matters of the Unit in the regions, subject to certain limits.

Apart from the expatriate Bishops who served as General Managers of Schools in the past, notable Ghanaian educational personalities also served as General Managers and Regional Supervisors of Schools respectively at various times. These included E. F. Laing, who served as Supervisor of Schools from 1945 to 1952 and then as General Manager for 27 years. G.K. Sam-Amavih who also served as General Manager of Schools from 1970 to 1977, was Headquarters Supervisor and Regional Supervisor of Schools respectively from 1962 to 1969.

The other Regional Supervisors included, the Revd. E.D. Martinson (1941 - 1952) T.K.S. Stephen (1949 - 1952) Miss Doris Martinson (1953-1966) A.F. Quayson (1961-1963) L.S. Aikins (1964-1974) and George A. Aikins (1964-1974). At present, the General Manager of Schools, J.C.O. Ayeh, is assisted by Regional Supervisors of Schools namely: R.E.F. Laing, (Accra/Volta Regions) S.F. Abaka (Central) J.R.C. Otoo (Western) W.A. Sackey (Ashanti) B.K. Okoh (Brong Ahafo) and W. Anoff Ntow (Eastern).

The Anglican Church Education Unit at present manages altogether, 400 Primary and Middle Schools spread all over the country, with a teaching (staff) strength of about 2,000. The Unit, like those of the other religious bodies, provides education for the youth from the Primary to the Secondary and Teacher-Training levels without regard to the religious inclinations or ethnic backgrounds of the pupils and students.

The Unit manages the following Secondary and Teacher Training Colleges in the country: Adisadel College and the newly established Secondary/ Commercial/Vocational School both at Cape Coast; St. Monica's Secondary School and St. Monica's Training College both at Ashanti-Mampong; Holy Trinity Cathedral Secondary School, a mixed day secondary institution in Accra, and St. Cyprian's Secondary School and Anglican Secondary School both at Kumasi, and the Ejuramant Secondary/Vocational School at Ejura where an Agricultural College is soon to be established to train school leavers in scientific agriculture to help boost food production in the country.

Large tracts of land have been acquired at Ejura and Mampong for this special project. There are also St. Andrew's Training College at Kumasi and another one, the Wiawso Training College at Sefwi Wiawso in the Eastern Region. Both produce certificated teachers far the primary and middle schools of the Unit.

An important event in the educational history of the Church was the opening of the Anglican Teacher Training College at Cape Coast in 1930. The college was run alongside St. Nicholas Grammar School and so the students of the College and those of the School shared common amenities. The student-teachers benefited from the instructions given by those dedicated tutors of St. Nicholas Grammar School, who were loyal, devoted and hard working helpers of the Revd. A.J. Knight, then also the Principal of that College.

The first batch of students who passed out of this College as trained teachers were, among others, the Ven. A. Dawson-Amoah, (now Archdeacon of Koforidua,) G.A. Aikins (retired Regional Supervisor of Schools) George Baiden, J.C. Monney and S. Banson.

The students were also privileged in the course of their training to have the expert help and guidance of experienced and able headmasters of the Unit, such as J.T.N. Yankah, M.B.E., T.J.O. Gyebi, E.F. Andrews-Ayeh, J.B. Aggrey, T.E. Appiah, J.R. Coleman, J.O. Kotey and James Cabbold. Due to financial difficulties which hampered its work, the college was unfortunately closed down after the first batch of teachers had passed out.

It is indeed a matter for gratitude to God that the Church has produced many scholars and notable personalities who are serving the country in various capacities.

This proud record of the Church, should suffice to strengthen our faith in the merits of Christian education as a great and potential force for reforming the youth, the "trustees of posterity", and for achieving meaningful progress in society. At any rate, the intrinsic value of the Church's educational system should strengthen our convictions, deepen our optimism and re-edify our hopes for the future of education in the country as the Church strives to involve herself much more actively in Ghana's educational programme and thereby contributing meaningfully to the advancement of the country.

The Anglican Church: The Set-Up and Developments

The Anglican Church of Ghana as at present constituted comprises two Dioceses: The Diocese of Accra and that of Kumasi.

The Diocese of Accra dated back to the year 1909. The Rt. Revd. N. T. Hamlyn D.D. (1909-1910) was the first Bishop of the Diocese. The present incumbent, the Rt. Revd. Dr. I.S.M. LeMaire enthroned in 1968 is the Sixth and the First Ghanaian Bishop of Accra. The first Assistant Bishop of Accra was the Rt. Revd. E. D. Martinson (1958-1963). The third were both the Rt. Revd. J. B. Arthur (1966-73) and the Rt. Revd. A. K. Nelson (consecrated in 1966 retired in' 1977). Bishop LeMaire, the second, served as Assistant Bishop from 1963 to 1965.

The Diocese of Kumasi carved out of the Diocese of Accra in 1973 is headed by the Rt. Revd. J. B. Arthur, D.Th., the First Ghanaian to be appointed to the new Diocese.

In each Diocese, apart from the Bishop who is the ecclesiastical head and serves as Dean, there is also a titular head, known as Chancellor, also a Registrar, Treasurer and Secretary, each assisted by ancillary officials. There are five Archdeaconries in the Diocese of Accra, having their headquarters in the regional capitals and are under the charges of Archdeacons who oversee a number of churches in their respective spheres of influence. The Archdeaconries are divided into parishes and further subdivided into Districts. At present the archdeaconries are distributed as follows:

1. DIOCESE OF ACCRA

Chancellor - Mr. Justice G. C. Mills Odoi, LLB, Barrister-at-Law
Registrar - E. Brite-Gaisie, LLB., Barrister-at-Law.
Asst. Registrar - S.H. Annancy, LLB., Barrister-at-Law.

J.A. Dennis is Diocesan and Synod Secretary, E.K. Nmai-Dsana, Accountant and J. K. Dadson, Financial Adviser. C.D.M. Forde is Diocesan Public Relations Officer and Editor of "The Anglican Voice," the Church magazine.

Accra Archdeaconry: The Venerable (Lt. Col.) J.K.: Dadson, M. A. is the Archdeacon, who is also Chaplain-General of the Ghana Armed Forces, Burma Camp. (The Very Revd. R. E. Ashietey for several years, Archdeacon of Accra and Resident Chaplain of Ridge Church is now Provost of the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity Accra, in place of the Rt. Revd. A. K. Nelson, who has retired after 45 years service to the Church). Revd. J.O. Akrofi, B.Sc., M.Ed,. M.Div., is Resident Chaplain of Ridge Church, Revd Fr. J. A. Ackon, Dip.Th. B.Th,. F.G.C. I.E., S. Th. is Precentor of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity and Chaplain of Holy Trinity Secondary School, Accra. Revd. Fr, J.L. Obeng. L.Th., of St. Andrew's, Abossey Okai, is Bishop's Chaplain.

Cape Coast Archdeaconry: The Ven. Edmund Yeboah, M.A, B.D, _AKC, in charge of the Parish-Church of Christ The King. Revd. Canon K.P. Sakyiama, former Archdeacon of Cape Coast, has also retired from active pastoral work after 46 years service. Sekondi Archdeaconry: The Ven. E.A.B. Sackey in charge of St. Andrew's Church.

Koforidua Archdeaconry: The Ven. A. Dawson-Amoah in charge of St. Peter's Church.

Sunyani Archdeaconry: The Ven: A.C. Agyemang in charge of St. Anselm's Church.

Tamale/Bolgatanga Archdeaconry: This archdeaconry recently carved out of the former Sunyani/Tamale Archdeaconry is under the charge of the Ven. J.H.B. Rye, B.A., S.T.B.,. Missioner Northern Ghana.

Canons: Other senior parish priests who are all resident canons include: A.C. Obodai (St. Alban's, Tema) A. Ofei-Kwatia (St. Barnabas, Osu, Accra) G.M.S. Ampah (All Saints, Adabraka, Accra) C.A. Obeng (St. John's, Nsawam), T.A. Annobil (All Saints, Takoradi) J. Agordekpe (St. Paul's, Abezume, Volta Region) Major F.W.B. Thompson, Chaplain to the Forces, Uaddara Barracks, Kumasi.

The Revd Canon Leo Ankrah is Headmaster of Achimota School, and the Revd. Fr. W.N.K. Amamoo is Head of Religious Broadcasts, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

 2. DIOCESE OF KUMASI

The Diocese of Kumasi has Mr. Justice Henry K. Prempeh, LLB. Barrister-at-Law as Chancellor and William Prempeh, Barrister-at-Law, as Registrar. H.R. Annan and G.E.O. Amar are Diocesan Treasurer and Diocesan Secretary respectively. The Revd. Canon B.O. Bewagi is the Archdeacon of Kumasi. Revd. Canon A.G. Opoku is Precentor of the Cathedral Church of St. Cyprian, Kumasi.

The Kumasi Diocese comprises three Districts, each under the charge of a Senior Parish Priest designated "Chairman" viz:

Kumasi District - Revd.. Canon J. K. Yeboah
Bekwai District - Revd. Canon A. K. Mensah
Mampong District - Revd Canon G. E. Y. Arkorful

Other priests of the Cathedral include: Revd. Fr. M.A. Garrison, BS., BA., STD., TM., Revd. Fr. E.T. Mends and Revd. Fr. W.K. Addae-Boateng. Revd. Fr. P.D. Aggrey, BD., is Principal of Anglican Training College and also Headmaster, Anglican Secondary School, Kumasi.

The two Dioceses are served by a good number of priests, and catechists who are actively at work in the Churches in the rural and urban areas of the country preaching the Word of God, carrying the messages of Salvation to the people in addition to assisting in various others ways in the field of education.

The Diocese of Accra has plans for the creation of more dioceses out of the existing archdeaconries, and is now actively considering all possible steps towards that end. In effect, the way is being prepared for the ultimate creation of a Province of Accra. The Diocese of Kumasi has plans on similar lines for the extension of the Church in Ashanti

The Church And Youth Work

The Church is actively engaged in youth work in the country. As the catalyst of society, the youth have rightly been accorded their proper places in the scheme of things in the Parish Churches throughout the country. Apart from the underlying aim of bringing the young peoples to the point of accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, the Church seeks to harness the energies of the youth for constructive work in the service of the church in various ways, notably as Servers and Choristers.

The youth work of the Dioceses has found practical expression in such active organisations as the Church of England Society, the Anglican Young People's Association, the St. Andrew's Brotherhood, the Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary etc. There are also the Mothers Union (began at Cape Coast in 1933 by three local ladies namely, Miss Kate Korsah, the late Mrs. Beatrice Amissah and the late Mrs. Charlotte Halm, under the guidance of Sisters Dorothy and Lilla of St. Monica School), the Guild of Good Shepherd, the Anglican Women's Fellowship, St, Monica's Guild, among others.

The members of these organisations are alive to their duties and help in various ways to keep up the work of the Churches in the Dioceses. The Revd. Fr. A. Kwesi-Mensah is in charge of Youth Work, while Mrs. Eva Lewis is organiser for women's activities in the Diocese of Accra. Mrs. Rose Konuah is the President of the Mothers Union. In the Kumasi Diocese, Mrs. Lydia Arthur is President of the Mother, Union and Mrs. Eunice Arthur, the enrolling member. Thomas Bruce is the Boys’ Brigade Leader.

Training of Priests

Serious attempts at the theological training of candidates for the priesthood of the Anglican Church began in 1931 during the episcopacy of Bishop Stephen O'Rocke when the urgent need for a `native clergy' was felt'.'

In 1914, the Revd. Graham Wynter Morrison, M.A. who was appointed to train Ordinands for the Diocese settled at Kumasi as Priest in-charge of St. Cyprian Church. later becoming the Archdeacon in 1916. The Revd. Ezra Douglas Martinson was ordained Deacon at St. Cyprian's in January 24, 1915.

In 1916, both the Revds. E.D. Martinson and W. Hutton-Mensah were ordained priests at Christ Church, Cape Coast, followed later on by that of the Revds. O. M. Renner, M.A., J. R. C. Yalley and C. H: Elliott.

In 1923 Bishop O'Rocke invited the monks of the Benedictine order at Nashdom in England to undertake the systematic. training of priests for the Church locally. Consequently, in 1925, St. Augustine's Theological College was opened at Kumasi and training began under the rectorship of Dom Bernard Clements, O.S.B. The College had the credit of producing a core of notable African priests who laboured for the Church in the 1920s and 1930s.

In 1933, St. Nicholas Theological College opened at Cape Coast, also began the training of candidates for the priesthood. The college was run alongside St. Nicholas Grammar School under the Revd. A.J. Knight, the headmaster. The present three Bishops of the Dioceses, the Rt. Revds Le Maire, Arthur and Nelson were products of this College.

One of the objectives of the Dioceses is to attract into the Ministry of the Church young men of the right calibre. This is being done by the provision of facilities and opportunities for systematic training at various levels both locally and overseas.

The Anglican Church of Ghana is one of the sponsoring Churches of the Trinity 'Theological College at Legon which provides post-ordination and graduate courses of training for the Clergymen of the various protestant Churches in Ghana. The two Dioceses maintain up to about 20 theological students at the College at a time.

Anglican Maternity Clinics

At Mampong Ashanti, the Sisters of the Order of Paraclete (OHP) have been running a Maternity Clinic for the care of expectant and nursing mothers. A Midwifery Training School attached to the Clinic, produces qualified midwives. A similar Clinic, pioneered by Mrs. Elizabeth Spio-Garbrah, a qualified state certified midwife, also operates at Sefwi Bodi in the Western Region. The Clinic was set up at request of Bishop LeMaire in 1973.

Developments

A major development project of the Church is the projected seven storey Diocesan Building Complex to be built on the grounds facing the the Bishops's House in Accra. The Sod Cutting ceremony was performed by His Lordship the Bishop of Accra, the Rt. Revd. Dr. I.S.M. LeMaire on December 3, 1977 in the presence of a distinguished gathering of people, including members of the government, the diplomatic corps and distinguished church dignitaries from far and near.

The building complex is designed to contain a large Reception Hall with facilities for restaurant, bookshop, reading room etc. on the ground floor. The first and second floors will comprise apart from Conference Halls, offices for the Bishop and the Cathedral Staff. The rest of the apartments, covering the 3rd to the 7th Floors will be let out for rent as offices.

The Anglican Diocesan Headquarters Building Complex is intended, in the words of Bishop LeMaire, who originated the project, "to give continuing support to the work and expansion of our Church and all her activities" In other words, it is intended to serve as the Church's financial backbone, an imperative need for sustaining the Church in these hard and difficult times. The project is being financed by donations and contributions by members of the Cathedral themselves supplemented by a loan from the Bank.

Visit of Archbishop of Canterbury

The Anglican Church of Ghana had the privilege of welcoming, with great warmth and fervour, the Most Revd. and Rt. Hon. F. D. Coggan, D.D., Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England and Metropolitan, when he paid a 3-day visit to Ghana in the course of his tour of the Dioceses, constituting the Province of West Africa in March, 1979.

The tour, at the request of the Most Revd. Moses Scott, C.B.E: D.D., Archbishop of West Africa and Bishop of Sierra Leone, covered besides Ghana, the Gambia and Rio Pongas, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. The Prelate also visited Conakry, Guinea, and met leaders of Guinea's Anglican community to discuss the possibility of installing an Anglican bishop in that Country in keeping with his plan to "Africanise" the church.

While in Ghana, the Archbishop of Canterbury was feted by the Anglican communities in Accra and Kumasi, where also a colourful durbar was held in his honour by the Chiefs and people of Ashanti to give the honoured Guest an insight into aspects of Ghanaian tradition and cultural heritage.

The highlight of the visit was a Pontifical High Mass sung by the Rt. Revd Bishop L S. M. LeMaire, assisted by the Very Revd. R. E. Ashietey the Provost, in the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity on Sunday March 18, 1979. The visiting Archbishop preached a didactic sermon to an overflowing congregation. Referring to the contemporary Ghanaian situation, with particular reference to the transitional period, His Grace called on all Ghanaians to guard against "the temptations of corruption and bondage of sin" at all levels of the national life, cultivate a keen spirit of prayer, and seek the creative powers of God for the necessary reforms and solutions to the nation's problems.

The service was also marked by a short ceremony of presentation by the Archbishop, of a Lambeth Diploma in Theology (Dip. Th.) to the Revd. Fr. John A. Ackon, Presentor of the Cathedral, who thus becomes the first African Priest of the Anglican communion to be awarded such a diploma. A dinner hosted by the State for the august Guest, which rounded off the visit, was attended by many church and state dignitaries, including Rear-Admiral J. K. Amedume and Air Vice-Marshall G. Y. Boakye, who both represented the Supreme Military Council. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the 76 million world Anglican community.

This is the second time within living memory, that an Archbishop of Canterbury has visited Ghana. The first was in 1961 when His Grace Michael Arthur Ramsey D.D., then Archbishop-designate of Canterbury visited the country and formally opened the College Science Laboratories in the presence of many distinguished personalities.

Conclusion

In 1942, the late Bishop Aglionby speaking about the growth of the Church in Ashanti said:

"We must not judge the progress of God's work mainly by statistics. Let us look to the past when there was not a single Christian Church in the country There are many thousands of Anglicans now all over the country and it is marvellous in our eyes".

Those striking words of the late Bishop are as true and meaningful today as they were then. The extent of the rich harvest of souls that has been won for Christ and the large number of churches and schools that have sprung up in the country so far, are clear evidences of achievement that must occasion great pride and gratitude to God. The fruitful outcome of the work of the church in Ghana is certainly "marvellous in our eyes" though there is much more to be done.
 

[Back to Table of Contents [Chapter 10]


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