St Barnabas Anglican Church launches 100 years anniversary
The St Barnabas Anglican Church at Osu has officially launched the countdown to its 100th anniversary, setting the stage for a year of reflection, evangelism and spiritual growth ahead of the grand centenary in September next year.
The celebrations will be held on the theme “Be an Encourager,” inspired by the biblical figure Barnabas, described as the son of encouragement.
In preparation for the milestone, the church has begun major refurbishment projects, including installing air conditioning units, carpeting and modern lighting.
A series of activities has also been lined up for the year-long celebration, including media engagements, Bible quiz competitions and recreational events.
God’s faithfulness
Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Parish Priest, Venerable Dr Joseph Lankwei Lamptey, described the centenary as a testament to God’s faithfulness over nearly a century of ministry.
“Since the church was established some 99 years ago, we have produced about six big churches.
They started as outstations but have now grown into fully-fledged parishes,” he said, listing the St Paul Anglican Church at La, the St Peter at Nungua, the St Bartholomew at Teshie and congregations at Nima and Haatso.
Dr Lamptey stressed that evangelism remained the heartbeat of St Barnabas’s mission.
“Our Lord gave us the great commission to go and teach all nations.
It is in that spirit of evangelism that we celebrate this occasion,” he said.
He further urged members to embrace encouragement as a guiding principle in their Christian walk and daily lives.
“We must believe in people, support them to realise their potential and use our talents for the good of the church and humanity at large,” he noted.
“This centenary celebration is not just for St Barnabas, but for the wider Christian community.
We thank God for bringing us this far and look forward to the future with faith and encouragement,” the parish priest said.
The Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Dan Taylor, also reflected on the church's journey from humble beginnings to its current prominence.
He recalled that the church was founded on September 26, 1926, in a carpenter's shed at Bannerman House at Osu Amanfon.
“From that small beginning, St Barnabas has grown into a vibrant parish that has birthed many other congregations," he said.
Mr Taylor explained that the choice of the name Barnabas is deeply symbolic.
"Barnabas, whose name means 'son of encouragement, was known in the Bible for mentoring Apostle Paul and supporting the early church.
His life teaches us that encouragement is not only in words but also in giving our resources, time, and talents for the good of others," he said.
Background
The church was established on September 26, 1926, at Osu Amanfon.
Its first service was held in a carpenter’s shed at Bannerman House, following groundwork laid by its four founders — Lucas Randolph, Josephus Christian Taylor, Nii Boi Acquarsen and Nesbit Cochrane — who secured the place freely from the family for the maiden service.
The church did not have a patron saint’s name at the time.
It was only a few years later that the Bishop of Christianborg, now known as Osu, who was then in office, gave the church the name St Barnabas.
