The Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church (AVMCC) in Lagos State has launched a book titled, ‘Chronicle’, in the state.

The book was launched during the celebration of the church’s 60th anniversary held recently in Lagos.

The book was unveiled alongside an anniversary lecture by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, and an award ceremony for several notable individuals and priests who have passed through the AVMCC.

Speaking at the event, Ogunsola urged the church to reinvent itself and work towards getting the youth into the mainstream of the church.

She noted that the first 60 years of AVMCC was a time of exponential growth recalling how the church metamorphosed from being a 50-member church to a congregation of over 8,000.

The UNILAG VC said: “The impact of the church in society cannot be quantified. The church has made a lot of impact that can’t be quantified. It has been involved in charitable outreaches, support for the homeless, and prison outreaches, among others.

“Many lives have been transformed through the activities of the church. The church has been doing awesome work in counselling. It has been involved in cultural enrichment, advocacy and social justice.

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“We must not be complacent. We have to do it right. Young people want to be mentored. They don’t want to be shamed. They want engagements on controversial issues; they need a sense of purpose and relevance. We need to know how to accept them and engage them. They are prone to anxiety and a high level of political activity.”

“The present generation is constantly questioning the relevance of religion. They enjoy the freedom of investigating beliefs. They want sermons to connect them with what they do. They want authenticity.”

Ogunsola added that the AVMCC was named after Leslie Gordon Vining who was the first archbishop of the Province of West Africa.

“He was appointed bishop in 1940. He reached out to the Muslim community and did a lot of evangelical work. He died in 1955 as he was travelling back to England and was buried in Sierra Leone.

“The church started from two segregated churches-one for the white and another for the black. European civil servants worshipped at Ikeja Magistrate Court while the black congregation worshipped at the Police College. Both churches had their roots in Saint Saviour Church. By 1964 the two churches were combined to become Anglican Church GRA.”

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief of Diamond Publications, Lanre Idowu, who reviewed the book, described it as the story of the growth of a small parish church to a cathedral.

“It is a book that ticks all the boxes of publishing,” Idowu added.

The chairman of the planning committee for the event, Kola Olawunmi, said the celebration was the church’s way of appreciating God for the past and looking to the future with the hope of more impact.

Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the wife of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Abimbola Odumbaku, congratulated the Cathedral on the event.

Some individuals honoured at the event included the first Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. Awelewa Adebiyi, who was given a posthumous award; the first Dean of the Cathedral, Most Rev. Segun Adeyemi (Rtd); Maxi Sam Ohuabunwa; and Chief Olusegun Osunkeye; among others.

The Star