At this historic event of the dedication of the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, Atta the need to pen down the story of the development of this gigantic edifice cannot be over-emphasized. This story might not capture the entire history of St. Matthew’s Church Atta as the first Church in Mbaitoli/Ikeduru clan. While bearing the aforementioned in mind, it will not be historically fair to tell the story of the Cathedral Church without mentioning how it all began. St. Matthew’s Church Atta situates North-West of Owerri, approximately 11 miles from the State capital – Owerri, along Okigwe Road. It presently has a membership of more than 2,700 faithful. Today’s success story started in 1910, when a group of villagers from Amawo – Atta went to bury one of their sisters married at Abazu Ogwa in Mbaitoli L.G.A by name, “Mgbaraegbe”, a daughter of Umuezealaduru in Amawo village. There, they met a white Lady Evangelist, Miss Beswick. The sight of this white lady greeted them with great surprise as they began to ask questions about her mission. Prominent in the trip included Late Daniel Nwagbara Nzuruike, Joseph Nwafor, Osuoha Ogide, Duru Ugwuegbu, Iwuchukwu Akunachuariri, among others. Miss Beswick preached what they had not heard in their lives (the goodnews of Jesus Christ), including the modern writing, reading and arithmetic which they embraced with astonishment and joy. They were converted, with a promise to return to Abazu Ogwa for another encounter. On return to Abazu Ogwa (which then became a sort of pilgrimage centre) some days later, they met an Igbo Evangelist, Mr. Emmanuel, who also taught them in vernacular as well as showed them a copy of the Holy Bible, where the instructions he had taught them were written. The seed of Christianity was sown in them from that point but not without many challenges. Serious opposition was mounted on the earliest converts to drop the whiteman’s message by some powerful paramount leaders especially when it was discovered that a church will be erected. Chiefs Nwaigwe Mbachu of Umuhu Atta and Njoku Nwanshi of Akabo saw the increasing Christian movement as a threat to their overwhelming dominance and authority. The converts were mobbed, maltreated and mishandled on the orders of Chiefs Nwaigwe Mbachu and Njoku Nwanshi. The first thatched church building was callously burnt down on the orders of these persecutors. The church teacher then was Mr. Jacob Opara. The church continued to win more converts for Christ, and the increased number of worshippers gave rise to the need for a larger accommodation and place of worship. A bigger church building was therefore erected in 1921 with a missionary school, Church Teacher’s house and a burial ground at Umuduruiheoma and Umuezealaduru Amawo Atta. This site is now accommodating the new Bishop’s Court premises under construction. In 1957, following a surge in the membership and the need for further development of the church, it became necessary to build a bigger, modern and more befitting church building. The location for siting this new church building sparked off a controversy that later produced St. John’sChurch Ubaha Atta. The foundation stone of that Church was laid on 2nd January 1963 by the Rt. Rev. G.E.I. Cockin while the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Nwankiti(later Archbishop) dedicated it on Saturday 23rd December, 1972. INSERT PICTURE OF 3RD CHURCH BUILDING This church building was a very beautiful edifice that was constructed to stand for a very long time. It served many purposes: namely, a worship centre for the congregation of St. Matthew’s Church Atta, the Parish church of the Old Atta District/Parish, the headquarters of Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Archdeaconry, Ikeduru Archdeaconry and presently Atta Archdeaconry. The growing profile of this church began to suggest the need for either to expand and modernize it or build a brand new one. Consequently, in 2007, the idea of a new befitting church building began to gain stronger awareness and support. The Vicar of the Church then, Ven. Evans Kemka consulted widely with the sons of St. Matthew’s Church. The result of the wide consultation gave rise to the development of a new church building plan in 2008. The Rev. Canon Dennis Nkachukwu (then Owerri DiocesanArchitect) produced a building plan with the sponsorship of Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (CFR). The commencement of that building was suspended due to the dare need for an existing church to become the Cathedral of the proposed Diocese of Ikeduru. On Tuesday, 14th July 2009, St. Matthew’s Church Atta became the headquarters of the Anglican Diocese of Ikeduru with the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chigozie Maduwike, JP as her first Bishop. From then, the church building assumed a Cathedral status and consequently became a diocesan Church. Instead of resting the burning desire for a new church building, the elevation to a Cathedral status further hatched the need to have a befitting church as the Cathedral of the youngest diocese in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. On Sunday 28th November, 2010, during the celebration of the Centenary of St. Matthew’s Church Atta under the first Cathedral Administrator, Ven. Dr. Ikechukwu Igwebueze Ihemtuge, JP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu among others received different categories of awards. In response to his Church Builder/Torch Bearer Award, Chief Dr. E.C. Iwuanyanwu reiterated his resolve to build a befitting Cathedral for his people as an appreciation for God’s goodness and faithfulness to him and family. In his Presidential Address at the Synod at Iho 2012, Bishop Emmanuel Maduwike JP declared as follows;“In the Diocesan Board Meeting of Saturday 19th May, 2012, held at St. Peter’s Church Umuoziri, Inyishi, it was resolved and moved that we as a Diocese start the building of our New Cathedral Church. And the site of the new Cathedral will still be at the present site of the existing Cathedral. Hence the Diocese appointed the Cathedral Building Committee members and they were inaugurated on Saturday 16th June, 2012 at the Cathedral to set out for action. The members of this committee are: 1. Chief Dr. E.C. Iwuanyanwu (Ahaeji aga mba) – Patron 2. Barr. D.C. DeNwigwe (SAN) – Chairman 3. Sir G.C. Ezeji – Asst. Chairman 4. Sir Samuel Kamange (Registrar) – Member 5. Sir Francis Ekwueme (Co-Registrar) – Member 6. Barr. Sir H.N.G Amadi 7. Dr. Sir Enoch Iwueze 8. Sir Foster Uwakwe 9. Sir Boniface Unachukwu 10. Prof. Sir Ogugua Nwankiti 11. Hon. Okechukwu Ezuruike 12. Sir Boniface Nzeako 13. Sir Anthony Osuoha 14. Sir Alexander Emekalam 15. Sir Richard Amonu 16. Sir Godwin Maduwuba 17. Sir Stephen Njoku Members 18. Engr. Sir Chibuzo Njoku 19. Sir Basil Chukwuocha 20. Sir Israel Onwubuariri 21. Sir Emma Ukonu 22. Ven. Ikechukwu Ihemtuge 23. Arch. Emeka Edohasim 24. Arch. Ephraim Nwanguma 25. Ven. Evans Kemka 26. Ven. John Akahara 27. Sir Ephraim Oguzie The Cathedral building got started on Wednesday the 12th of August, 2013 with the turning of sod ceremony led by the Lord Bishop, Rt. Rev. E.C. Maduwike JP assisted by the Archdeacons and Administrators of the Diocese. In attendance was the patron of the Cathedral Building Committee, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and members of the Cathedral Building Committee. Ven. Dr. Samuel Anumihe was the Cathedral Administrator that year. The Ven. J.B.C Njoku preached the homily in that service. The first fund raising ceremony for the new Cathedral Church building was held on Sunday 14th October 2012 at service of the 1st Session of the 2nd Synod of the Diocese of Ikeduru at Holy Trinity Church Iho Dimeze. It was at that service that the initial design of the Cathedral was unveiled by the Bishop. The design was produced and donated by Arch. Ephraim Nwanguma – (KSC). Initial notable donations towards the building of the New Cathedral were as follows:- 1. Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (CFR) N10m. 2. Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha N2m (Now the Governor of Imo State). 3. Dr. Sir Enoch Iwueze N1m. 4. Prof. Sir Ogugua Nwankiti 28 trips of chippens (granite). 5. Barr. D.C. DeNwigwe – A trailer-load of Cement In addition, enthusiastic Christian faithful in Ikeduru donated freely to the building of our new Cathedral. On Saturday, 19th July 2014, the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new Cathedral was performed by His Grace. Most Rev. Caleb Maduoma, JP and was assisted by Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Maduwike JP amid an enthusiastic admiration of the Christian faithful. Joy filled the whole Diocese of Ikeduru, precisely in December 2014, when the Bishop read a letter written to him by Chief Dr. Emmanuel C. Iwuanyanwu (CFR) indicating his resolve to take over the building of the new Cathedral with a view to complete it. Pursuant to this letter, on the 18th of July 2015, during a Diocesan Church service – making the 6th anniversary of the Diocese, the new Cathedral building project was handed over to Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo for completion from the window seating. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu promised to hand over a fully completed and equipped Cathedral to the Diocese in three years time. THE PRESENT DESIGN OF THE CATHEDRAL In his burning desire to have a very beautiful edifice that will stand the taste of time, His Lordship, the Rt. Rev. E.C. Maduwike, JP restructured the original design(which was bigger) of the new Cathedral, hence what we have now. The amendments were made by the structural engineer, Engr.Okechukwu Emekalam and Arch. Sir Emeka Edohasim. Arch.Sir Emeka Edohasim captured it in drawing. The present design is very simple but formidable and beautiful. The roof structure suspends on a void thereby creating an unobstructed view of the worshippers towards the Chancel area. It has two giant towers,three incorporated wings and a full hall gallery. The beauty of this Cathedral lies in the quality of the material used to build it. It has an estimated capacity of 10,000 worshippers. READINESS FOR DEDICATION As we recall that it was on January 8, 2017 that the last divine service was held in the old Cathedral building. The Cathedral Community moved into the hall for their services as they eagerly await the completion of the new one. The selfless services of the following people are highly appreciated with regard to the building of this Cathedral Church. 1. Hon. Sir Bon Unachukwuwas the coordinating director of the building of the Cathedral from inception to dedication. 2. Engr. Okechukwu Emekalam was the site engineer from the inception of the building till the roofing stage. 3. Arch.Sir Emeka Edohasim is the Diocesan projects Director. He drew the present design of the Cathedral in line with the vision of the Bishop. He supervised the architectural development of the Cathedral from inception to completion. 4. Mr. Nnamdi Nwachukwu is a worker in the Diocesan central office. As the man on the site, he served as the foreman. His contribution to the construction of the new Cathedral cannot be forgotten. Most times he combined his duties as the security man making sure that workmen used the right specifications and measurements. He was the link man between the supervisors and the site men. 5. Lady Frances Iwuanyanwu has always registered her solidarity with the husband, Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo in the building of the Cathedral project. Lady Frances threw her weight of support and managerial prowess in seeing to the realization of this project in a record time. She frequently travelled from Abuja to Atta to ensure that the work was done in compliance with the vision of her husband. She is really an Amazon of achievements. 6. Sir Foster Uwakwe was a pillar of encouragement. He threw his weight of experience on the work in this cathedral. He shuttled from Kaduna to Atta to ensure that things were done accordingly, especially the window aspect which his firm promptly handled. 7. Mention must be made of the team of pastors that were serving at the Cathedral during this development. Ven. Dr. Samuel Anumihe with his team was the Cathedral Administrator at the foundation laying. The Ven. Sydney Akuwudike JP and his team saw the completion and dedication of the new Cathedralin 2019. Apart from the building itself, the furnishing was also done by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. This includes the new pews, State of the art public address system, the four-way media projector, the silver rail on the gallery and the electrification powered by a 250 KVA generator set. The Cathedral compound now wears a new look courtesy of Ahaejiagamba. Hon. Sir Bon Unachukwu donated the Chancel rails (Gold plated), the Altar table, the Pulpit, the Lectern, the Prayer Desk and the Font, all of marble stones. In conclusion, the story of the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, Atta is a progressive one. The first phase of the project is what we are here celebrating today. We look forward to the second phase, which is the construction of an Ultra Modern Cathedral Hall in honour of the matriarch of this vision, Lady Eudorah Ozinyereaku Iwuanyanwu (Nee Agburum). Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has undertaken to build and donate the hall to the Diocese of Ikeduru and the Cathedral Community after the dedication of the Cathedral. Work is going on at the old site of the Cathedral Church of St. Matthew, the permanent site of the Bishop’s court and Diocesan Secretariat. Great opportunities still exist for well meaning children of God who might be willing to partner with us in this mission. Time and space will not allow us to exhaust all that might be needed to mention in this short story. When the history will be penned down, every necessary detail shall be included. To God be the Glory. Scripted by: Rev. Canon Chidi Njoku Canon in Residence 2019 |
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