About

The Apostolic Church Nigeria is a Pentecostal Christian denomination in Nigeria with its national headquarters at Olorunda Ketu, Lagos and international headquarters in Penygroes, UK. 

THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH as a denominational name was adopted in 1916 in the United Kingdom by the body of believers who had been led by God, subsequent to the Welsh Revival of 1904 – 05, into the truth of the Principles and Practices of the early Apostolic Church as contained in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament;

In Nigeria, in the year 1918, during the period of influenza epidemic, some brethren of a certain denomination started to practice Divine Healing which led to persecution from other members of the aforesaid denomination who did not believe in divine healing, thereby causing the said brethren to withdraw from the said denomination and thereafter formed the “Diamond Society”

In the year 1921, the “Diamond Society” became affiliated with the “Faith Tabernacle Congregation” of Philadelphia, United States of America which also believe in divine healing, confessing and forsaking of sins, tithes and offerings, baptism by immersion, opposition to divorce and re-marriage and other similar scriptural teachings but did not, however, believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit with signs following;

On the 10th of June, 1930, at churches in fellowship with “Faith Tabernacle Congregation” resulting in much persecution, a great revival, led by the late Evangelist Joseph Babalola started in Ilesha, consequent upon which appeals for help were made to the leaders in Philadelphia who failed to respond to the appeals;

Thereafter, appeals were made to the Headquarters of  The Apostolic Church in the British Isles, with whom correspondence had earlier been exchanged, enjoyed favourable response consequent upon which three Missionary delegates namely the late  Pastors Daniel Powell Williams (President), Andrew Turnbull (Vice President) and Williams Jones Williams (International Prophet) arrived Lagos Nigeria from the United Kingdom on the 23rd of September, 1931 and whose Ministry, after their arrival, God richly blessed and thereafter upon an exchange of views on doctrinal matters and other fundamental scriptural truths, the leaders of the Faith Tabernacle Congregation of Nigeria unanimously decided to affiliate with The Apostolic Church of Great Britain and adopted THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH as a denominational name together with its Principles and Practices.

The work of The Apostolic Church commenced in Eastern Nigeria with the visit from Calabar in 1932 of Pastor George Perfect and Evangelist Idris J. Vaughan  to Umuigu Oboro, Nbawsi, Udo Ezinihitte and Aba by which the church was firmly established.

The Apostolic Church Nigeria is administered as a single entity by the National Council and it is headed by a President. The current president is Apostle E.S Igwe, who was the chairman of Igboland territory. Igwe succeeded Pastor G.O. Olutola in February 2017. Pastor G.O Olutola, who himself succeeded Pastor Eyo Okon in 2011, retired at the age of 80 and handed over the mantle of leadership to Apostle E.S Igwe 

The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Obikabia junction was founded in September 1996. The Church was cared for by then Deacon(now Elder) Samuel Kalu Uche and Pastor Godfrey Richard Ogolo. The first resident pastor was Pastor Michael Iheanacho. He took over in the year 1997.

Pastor Mmecha Mmecha took over from Pastor Michael Iheanacho in the Year 2000. He was the resident pastor up until 2005. 

In the year 2005, Pastor D. D Ogwo took over in 2005 and was the resident pastor till in 2007 when the church was elevated to the status of district headquarters. 

In the Year 2007, Pastor Ukoha Kalu became the first district Pastor of the church. He pastored the church till in the year 2014 when Pastor Godwin Mbi took over as the resident pastor of the church.

Pastor Paul Amachukwu took over from Pastor Godwin Mbi in 2018. On the 1st of June 2024, Pastor John Izunwanne took the reins of leadership of the church to become the 4th district Pastor of the Church.