Page 176 - LD215 History of the Church in Africa A4 final

A History of the Church in Africa

and Christianity, especially a Christianity that could be Africanized
without being compromised.

Isichei’s description of the population mix in Lagos indicates the value
of being Yoruba with a European background in reaching the diverse
peoples, religions, and cultures:

In 1861, the little island state of Lagos became a British colony.
By 1868, it had a population of 27 thousand, of whom just
under 4 thousand were Christians. They were outnumbered
both by Muslims and traditionalists, and half of them were
repatriates. (170)

Thomas Freeman and the Methodist Church founded a mission in
Badagry in 1842, and the Presbyterian Church went to Efik of Calabar
at about the same time. The Baptist Church launched several mission
stations by 1855.

In 1854, the British government commissioned another expedition to
survey the Niger River, and the Church Missionary Society was invited to
participate. Dr. William Baikie was in command, and John Glover, who
later became Governor of Lagos, was second in command. Missionaries
Crowther and Taylor were to be invited guests. Glover was a committed
Christian and he and Crowther formed a close friendship. The objectives
of the expedition were clear: The expedition was to conclude treaties
with chiefs for the promotion of trade, explore openings for missionary
work, and survey and chart the Niger itself.

Both Crowther and Taylor wrote journals, which the Church
Missionary Society published under the title The Gospel on the Banks of
the Niger: Journals and Notices of the Native Missionaries Accompanying
the Niger Expedition of 1857–1859 (Groves, 2:75).

The participants began their voyage on June 29, 1857 from Fernando
Po. Although twelve days were required to negotiate the Nigerian Delta
area, by July they reached Onitsha, where Taylor was left to begin
mission work. Before long, the expedition reached Rabba, the home
of the Muslim Fulani. Crowther and Glover visited the Emir at Bida.
Crowther’s report is worth noting:

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