The Dawn of Christianity in Ode-Ondo
The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ did not spread to Ondo town until about the last quarter of the 19th Century. According to Church records, it was first preached in Ode-Ondo on 24th December, 1873, by the Revds. J.A Maser and E. Roper, two visiting missionaries of the Church Missionary Society [C.M.S.] from Lagos. When the two clergymen returned to Lagos, their glowing report of their mission, with particular reference to the warmth with which the townspeople had received them and The Word.
Encouraged by the favourable report, the C.M.S. sent another team of missionaries led by the Revd. David Hinderer to open Ondo mission. The Men arrived in this town on March 29, 1875. Though Revd. Hinderer left after some time, he placed his assistants, Messrs. C.N Yong, Hunsu Wright and Williams Dada in charge of the new mission.
On March 29, 1877, the Revd. Charles Phillips [later Bishop] arrived in Ondo to strengthen the mission. He took over immediately and the Lord used him tremendously to nurse and nurture the young spread of Christianity in Ondo town and its environments.
In 1880, Revd. C. Phillips, with the support of the native converts, sought for and was granted a parcel of Land at Oke – Aluko by Oba Jimekun, the Osemawe of Ondo at the time. That was how St. Stephen’s Church, Oke-Aluko, The first Church of God in Ondo and the mother of All Saints’ Church, Ogbonkowo, Ondo came into being, although it was not so named immediately.
For more than a quarter of a Century, all members of the Church were coming from various parts of the town to worship at Oke – Aluko. Steadily the number of adherents of the new religion in Ondo was increasing, thanks to God for the ‘fertile soil’ and the unflagging missionary and evangelical zeal of Bishop Charles Phillips.
THE BIRTH, INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD OF ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, OGBONKOWO, ONDO
The birth of All Saints’ Church Ogbonkowo, Ondo, was assisted by a number of factors of development. In the first place, by the turn of the 20th Century, that is after more than 25years of the introduction of the Gospel of Peace and the British system of administration to Ondo, the town land had witnessed relative peace and security and accelerated urban expansion. Erinketa and Odojomu quarters were two fairly distant parts of the town from which a good number of Church members were coming from Oke – Aluko to worship and attend class meetings on regular basis. Bishop Phillips, the Apostle of the Church in Ondo, was not unmindful of the inconvenience the distance posed to this set of worshippers. Secondly, he noticed that, in spite of this handicap, the number of converts from the areas in question kept rising. Therefore the Holy spirit revealed to him that the time was ripe enough to ameliorate the situation and bring the Word of God nearer to the people. He then suggested that another mission house be built in Erinketa for Christians coming from there and from Odojomu Area. The suggestion was embraced by the Church members. Bishop Phillips, therefore, in 1902 requested for a piece of land in Erinketa from Oba Tewogboye I. The Oba, in consultation with his chiefs from Erinketa, High Chief Adaja Tokileso and Chief Orunbato Ogungbeja, willingly gave the parcel of land lying around Ogbonkowo stream to the church. It was therefore a case of father like son, since, Oba Tewogboye was the direct son of Oba Jimehun who gave oke – Aluko land to the Church in 1880.
Ogbonkowo, which today has become almost synonymous with All Saints’ church, happens to be the name of the stream from which Erinketa people were at a time fetching water for domestic use. At the time the land was granted to the church, it had become a dreaded place used or reserved for dumping or burial of infants and vagrants as well as the abode or hideout of criminals or the like.
The Christians came together immediately to clear the land and to lay foundation of the mission house on November 3, 1902. And thus, the Church known and christened ‘All saints’ Church. Ogbonkowo’ was born.
THE FOUNDATIONAL MEMBERS
The earliest occupiers of the mission house at Ogbonokowo were Messrs. Jacob Adesegha, J. Babatope and Emman Oke Detiba. They were sent from the mother church, St. Stephen’s Oke – Aluko by the founder, Bishop C. Phillips. The Christians from Erinketa and Odojomu areas did not at once cease going to worship at Oke – Aluko. They tarried a little, until Mr. A.J. Williams, a catechist arrived at Oke – Aluko and was assigned to Ogbonkowo.
The founding fathers of All Saints’ Church, Ogbonkowo who formally left Oke – Aluko to form the pioneer congregation of the church were:
Chief Nathaniel Saba [later Baba Egbe]
Mr. Moses Olagundoye
Mr. Thomas Aworele
Mr. Josiah Akindugba
Mr. Josiah Adewole
Mr. Gabriel Adegbulugbe Roberts
Mr. Theophilus Adetuyi
Mr. Moses Awonugba
Mr. Abraham Saimakin Ogundipe
Mr. M.E. Akinyandenu
Mr. Daniel Akintaju
Mr. Joseph Enigbewo
Mr. Samuel Makinwa
Mr. Josiah Sajowa
Mr. Daniel Akinnibosun
Mr. Emman Akinyelu
Mr. James Akinmuko
Mr. Simeon Olowogunle Leyimu [Later Baale Ijo]
Mr. Gabriel Akindileni
Mr. Akinbileje [Alias Baba femi]
Mr. Emmanuel Adetula
Mr. David Akinmoju
Mr. Samuel Betiku
Mr. Solomon Akintole
Mr. Gabriel Faleye Fadojutimi
THE WOMEN MEMBERS INCLUDED
Mama Adebayo
Mrs. Marian Molasuru Leyimu
Mrs. Selinah Olabanjo
Mrs. Esther Ogunbanke
Mrs. Lydia Kotunmide
Mrs. Marian Adetuyi
Mrs. Hannah Omosa [later Iya Egbe]
Mrs. Deborah Aworele.
These men and women of imperishable honour, all now of blessed memory, today and forever have had their names carved out in letters of gold in the annals of the Church. As the first set of congregation of the church, they showed exemplary leadership qualities and led worthy Christian lives. Glory be to God that their labours had not been in vain. Many of their offspring and descendants were and are active members of the Church today. So their spirits live on. Alleluia!.
