St Peter Anglican Cathedral climaxes centenary celebration
The St Peter Anglican Cathedral in Koforidua has climaxed its 100th anniversary celebrations with a call on church members to remain united and love one another.
The celebration marked the centenary of faithfulness in witness to the gospel and evangelism, emphasising the church's role in shaping spiritual life, training human resources, and influencing denominational and national development.
The congregation, which is part of the Koforidua Diocese in the Eastern Region, was established in 1925. It began with only seven members and has grown significantly over the years, now boasting 645 congregants.
Dignitaries
The event with the theme: "A Centenary of Faith, A Legacy Of Grace", took place last Sunday (November 2) with a number of dignitaries -- the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, and the two municipal chief executives of New Juaben South and New Juaben North, Ransford Owusu Boakye and Samuel Adongo, respectively, gracing the occasion.
Among the hundreds of congregants were the Dean of the Cathedral, Very Rev. Father Samuel Eding Parddy and the immediate past Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Anglican Church, Rt Rev. Francis Benjamin Quashie.
Church members at its centenary celebration in Koforidua
Others were the first Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Anglican Church, Most Rev. Dr Robert G. A. Okine; other bishops from dioceses of the church and the diaspora and the Rector of the Bedhampton Parish in the Portsmouth Diocese of England, Rev. Max Cross, the guest preacher.
Also in attendance to give a regal touch was the Mawerehene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Adu Gyamfi Kumanini.
Many professionals
Addressing the congregation, the Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Anglican Church, Rt Rev. Felix Odei Annancy, said a lot had been accomplished over the years and that apart from preaching the gospel, the church had trained many professionals such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses and engineers who are currently in responsible positions, while others had been called to their Maker.
Rt Rev. Annancy was hopeful that, with the centenary celebration, God would grant the diocese the grace and empowerment to spread Anglicanism by establishing additional congregations.
"Our aim and goal is that God will give us the power and grace to spread Anglicanism by establishing more congregations within the Koforidua Diocese", he indicated.
Rt Rev. Annancy stated that establishing congregations or churches in the communities would enable the people to forgive one another, love God and unite to build communities and the country as a whole.
Illegal mining
On the menace of illegal mining (galamsey), the Koforidua Anglican Bishop stated that throughout the diocese, on Sundays, at least five to 10 minutes would be dedicated to educating congregants on the negative effects of illegal mining.
That, Rt Rev. Annancy stated, was because many of the illegal mining communities are within the Eastern Region.
He said the church would allow its congregants to avoid illegal mining, which would go a long way toward addressing the issue.
"We will let our clergy start educating our members in the Akyem areas on the negative effects of illegal mining", he indicated.
Jesus Christ teachings
Rev. Max Cross asked the congregants to adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ, emphasising love for one another and peaceful coexistence, adding that there was currently so much disunity in the world.
He was, however, happy that Ghana was currently enjoying peace and unity, and as Christians, they were supposed to remain united while at the same time respecting one another’s views in church.
Development
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, praised the cathedral for its role in the country's development, especially for establishing schools to train the country's human resources.
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