The pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos West, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rt Revd Peter Awelewa Adebiyi, has been pronounced dead.

The family of the deceased disclosed that Bishop Adebiyi died on Thursday night after a brief illness at the age of 78.

The family added that burial arrangements will be announced later.

Adebiyi was bishop of Lagos West Anglican Diocese until 2013 when he retired having clocked the mandatory 70 years retirement age.

He was born on April 27, 1943, to late Chief Samuel Ogunmola and Madam Alice Fatinuwe Adebiyi both from Osi-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Bishop Adebiyi was made deacon in 1970 and priested in 1971.

He lectured in the university for many years before his call to the ordained ministry. He started his career as a priest at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Ilawe Ekiti.

He was preferred a canon in 1983 and was the vicar of Archbishop Vining Memorial Church, Ikeja between 1987 and May 1993.

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He was collated an archdeacon in 1990 and consecrated Bishop of Owo Diocese on May 26, 1993.

In 1999, Bishop Adebiyi was translated to the See of the Diocese of Lagos West.

During his tenure, the Diocese hosted all Bishops in Africa at an event known as African Anglican Bishops Conference in November 2004. He also carried out many strategic projects and reforms in the diocese.

Before his retirement, Bishop Adebiyi, through his evangelical activities, church planting and youth development programmes, made the Diocese of Lagos West a leading diocese in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion which was the vision and mission of the church. This earned him the name ‘Peter the church planter’.

He joined the league of those who battled the military in the post June 12 annulment years. This also earned him the name ‘Nadeco Bishop’.

His wife, Caroline Adefiola Adebiyi, had died on December 31, 2015.

He was survived by brother, sisters, children, and grandchildren.

TheStar