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'.
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 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:
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
