PATRIACH MOBOLAJI METHODIST CATHEDRAL

BUILDING OWNERS: METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA, DISCOSE OF IKORODU

LOCATION: 1/3, Ladega Street, Ita-Elewa, Ikorodu, Lagos- Nigeria.

DATE OF COMPLETION: CURRENT CHURCH (3RD BUILDING) 1976,

BRIEF HISTORY:

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA, DISCOSE OF IKORODU (1ST BUILDING) 1892:

The 9th of July 1892, marks a crucial day to the foundation of Methodist Church in
Ikorodu, this was the day a band of Wesleyan Missionaries and workers, about 20 in number
including both Europeans and Local Indigenes, left Tinubu Methodist Church to expand at
Ikorodu. On 10th July 1892, a site was given to them at Ita Elewa on which 1st a mud house was
built for worship and later with increase of members, the 1st Methodist Church building was
erected.

Source: Methodist Church Nigeria Dicose of Ikorodu 25th Anniversary, 2020.

JOHNSON MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH (2nd BUILDING) 1920:

Between 1917-1920, another church was built for the methodist church Ikorodu, intended
to cater for its congregation that has increased from about 250 members to almost 600 members.
The church was built with adobe (burnt) bricks and plastered with cement. The reason for which
the church is named “Johnson Memorial Methodist Church” is as a recognition and memory of
one of the donors of the land on which the church was erected, ‘Daddy Thomas Williams
Johnson’.

The building which cost N2052.70 (N461,700- 2020 estimate) got dedication on 4th June
1921 at N49.15 (N10,800) . In 1931, paid workers took it upon themselves to renovate both
interior and exterior of the church. This act of improving the chuch’s aesthetics then continued
with contribution from members as the church increased and the church served its purpose of a
for the time being. In 1950 however, the structural members of the church building started to
deform and all attempts to repair and renovate failed. Seeing the state the church was at, the
congregation started making plans to the construction of a new hall of worship which lead to
their current church building “PATRIACH MOBOLAJI METHODIST CATHEDRAL”

Source: Methodist Church Nigeria Dicose of Ikorodu 25th Anniversary, 2020.

PATRIACH MOBOLAJI METHODIST CATHEDRAL (3rd BUILDING) 1976:

On 8th November, 1959, a committee for the new church building was formed. The major
head of the committee were; President- Late Revd. O.A. George, Chairman- Mr. E.L. Adeniji,
Secretary- Mr. H.O. Onafowokan, Treasurer- Mr. Ajasa Soyebo, Financial Secretary- Mr. E.O.
Dosunmu. The secretary Mr. H.O. Onafowokan was given the responsibility of getting
architectural drawings for the church in view and in 1962 the drawings were presented to the
congregation for consideration. With majority of the church in support of the proposed design for
the new church design, it was presented the following year (1963) to the Conference of
Methodist Church Nigeria and got approval.

By 10th December, 1965, Revd. E.A. Fowode, the Superintendent of Tinubu Circuit and
the Chairman of the Trust Committee of the Methodist Church Ikorodu awardwd the contract for
the 3rd church building to Messrs. Pointi & Co (Italware). On the 5th of March 1966, the concrete
foundation ceremony took place under the chairmanship of Chief Shobowale, the late Olisa of
Ikorodu. However the building progress of the church building was slow due to the lack of
availability and cost of building materials. On Saturday, 30th May 1970 marked a memorable day
in the history of Methodist Church Nigeria, Discose of Ikorodu as this was the day the
foundation stone of the 3rd building was laid. It was done admist impressive service by Colonel
Mobolaji Johnson who was the Military Governor of Lagos State at the point, hence the name
PATRIACH MOBOLAJI METHODIST CATHEDRAL. The 3rd church building was completed
in 1976.

MATERIALS:

Concrete: The building walls were constructed by use of solid concrete blocks and reinforced
concrete

Wood: The use of wood was observed a lot, being used in the gallery as floor finish, and also
used as railings in both the gallery and around the alter
Stained Glass: The asthetic use of stained glass, was used to illustrate bible stories and doctrine
and also to depict the identity of the church

Glass Blocks: The use of glass block was used to bring in light into the building.

Marble: marble tiles were used mostly for flooring but it was also used around the podium to
improve its aesthetics and also increase lighting through reflection.

CURRENT STATE:

The architecture and structural stability is seen as a design process well thought of,
however the choice of rigidity in materials can also be as a demerit to the building. With the use
of solid filled concrete blocks which is structurally good, it has been noticed by the congregation
that nailing or attaching decorations and other forms of renovations of the building is extremely
difficult and even close to impossible for a manual process.

The roof is another point to draw attention to as it was not properly sloped at construction
which has lead to leakages between joints of members and due to the nature of design, it requires
a high cost of maintenance.

In conclusion, the Patriach Mobolaji Methodist Cathedral is very solid in terms of

structural stability, and also good architecture in terms of aesthetics and function but this
building also lacks keeping due to high-cost of maintenance and this is a major demerit for the
historic building.