CHRISTIANITY IN IGBOLAND: THE PLACE AND IMPACT OF SOME SELECTED MISSIONARIES (1800-1920)

Abstract

Christianity in Igboland did not emerge out of vacuum, there were certain personalities such as Simon Jonas, J. C. Taylor, Joseph Shanahan, Mary Slessor among others who sacrificed their comfort, time, resources and so forth to ensure that the light of Christianity illuminates Igbo territory. There are volumes of literature written concerning Christian missionary enterprise in Igbo of Eastern Nigeria however, much have not been done in pin pointing some distinguished personalities and their respective contributive efforts towards the planting and growth of Christian religion in the Eastern geographical territory of Nigeria. Thus, this research is an attempt to bring to limelight the salient labours of some Christian missionaries whose contributions led to the growth and development of Christianity in Igboland. The finding of this research is that some Christian missionaries were zealous and resilient to the fulfilment of the Great Commission. This resulted to their enormous contribution in the growth and development of Christian religion in Igbo territory. They made positive impacts in Christianizing and civilizing the Igbo nation as today, a greater population of Igbo people are Christians. The research recommends that present indigenous Christian missionaries should endeavour to impact meaningfully to the sustenance of Christian religion in Igboland and Nigeria at large.