History of Christ Anglican Church, Odosenlu Alaro
A few years after the Christian Missionary Society (CMS) succeeded in launching the Christian Faith in Ijebu-Ode in 1892, the spread of the Word of God reached Odosenlu, a small town about nine and half kilometres east of Ijebu-Ode. Some of the early Christian converts who gladly embraced the Word formed themselves into a group and held meetings at private places to pray and discuss the Word of God.
Leaders of the early Christians in Odosenlu were the Late Daddy Jonah ODUSANYA, who later became a licensed Layreader for Christ Church Odosenlu and served until his death in 1960. Daddy David Adebowojo OLUGBEKAN, Mrs Eunice OLUGBEKAN, Daddy Ezekiel KUSI from Lowana and also became a licensed Layreader from St. Peter’s Church Odogbondu and served until his death in 1938. These people with others travelled every Sunday morning in 1893 to attend church service in Ijebu-Ode and returned in the evening.
About 1894, when the number of the Christians who travelled from far places to early converts in Ijebu-Ode increased encouragingly, the early converts from Ijebu-Ode districts were allowed to form themselves into groups and meet at centres convenient for them in their localities. Those from Odosenlu therefore joined others from Isonyin and made Isonyin a Centre.
One of the first set to be baptised in 1896 by Rev. I.B. OGUNMEFUN when the Isonyin Centre was created was Chief J. T. OLUGBEKAN, son of Daddy David OLUGBEKAN. Others who were later baptised in the fold included Daddy Josiah ADENUGBA, Ezekiel AINA, Thomas KOLEOWO, who later was the first son of Odosenlu to be the Organist of the Church, Michael OPE, who was a licensed Layreader for Odosenlu until his death in 1997, William OGUNLOLA, Robert OLUYOKU, E. A. O.OLUGBEKAN, Ezekiel OGUNBOTE, Timothy OGUNYALE, David ADEGOROYE, father of Late Rev. Z. M. ADEGOROYE, first Odosenlu son to be priested in 1937 by the Anglican Bishop of Lagos. Others were Isaiah OBADINA, James OLORUNYOMI, Michael OWODE, Isaac LIPEDE, Daniel OGUNTOLU, Abraham OLUFOWODU, David OLORUNYOMI and Abraham OGUNWA.
In 1896 or thereabout, these early Christians from Odosenlu later withdrew from Isonyin Centre and made their own Centre at Odosenlu under the leadership Daddy Jonah ODUSANYA and Daddy David OLUGBEKAN.
When the number of Christians at Odosenlu increased, the church authorities at Ijebu-Ode sent down the first Teacher/Agent, Mr OLURINDE to take charge of the Centre in 1891. He worked relentlessly and with the cooperation of the local inhabitants of Odosenlu, the first Church at Odosenlu was built in 1900.
Other Teachers/Agents after Mr OLURINDE included Mr Nossam OLUSOLA, Mr I. B. OWARU and many others. The first trained Catechist for the Odosenlu Church was Mr J. A. ADEKOYA 1948 – 1954, while the first priest/resident Vicar was Rev. S. O. ONI 1954 – 1959. Among the Pastors who had worked in Odosenlu were Rev. J.O.A. AJAYI 1959 – 1960, and Rev. Canon J.A. OJOMO. Others were Rev. Canon J.O. BAMGBOSE, Rev. J.S. AWE, Rev. C.O. OGUNYEMI, Rev. Canon G.A.O. ADEBIYI and Rev. M.A. ADERIBOLE. Ven. E. Femi OSIKOMAIYA (the first Archdeacon), Ven. M.A. NUGA, Ven. Femi OSITUYO, Ven. P.O. SANGOYINKA, Ven. (Dr) O.O. ONAMUTI and Ven. A.I.K. ADELEKE (present Vicar).