The Primate Congratulates The St.Philips Church on The Foundation Ceremony of Their Vicarage and Staff Quarters.
It is indeed a new chapter for the St. Philips Anglican Church, Gwarimpa, Abuja as the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion The Most Rev Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba rejoiced and appreciated God with the members of the parish for their efforts and consistent support in the work of God.
He made this remark at the foundation laying ceremony of a new Vicarage and staff quarters which took place at the St. Philips church Gwarinpa Abuja on March 1st, 2023 and was attended by the house of clergy and also the general members of the ST. Philips church family.
The Primate, in the sermon started by congratulating the St. Philips church family thanking God despite the challenges economically the church still made efforts in pushing the work of God to that stage, speaking on the concluded presidential elections the Primate congratulated all elected persons and also encouraged the congregation to be prayerful.
The primate encouraged the congregation not to lose sight of God during this period because God will remain favorable to His people. The Primate also talked about the challenges of security in the country among other issues in the country and encouraged Christians not to give up but hold onto faith and stand strong in faith for there will be upliftment amidst all of this.
The Primate, speaking on the foundation not only in terms of building, family, and ministry but in a general sense and ideas even in politics adds that some philosophers whose ideas have shaped good economy of some powerful nations in the world. He then implored the congregation to build on strong foundations stressing on the foundations laid in the Anglican Church and giving an example of the sacrifice Jesus made and the foundation Jesus laid, a spiritual and powerful foundation. The primate urged the congregation to stand on the foundation of Jesus and not focus on the structures which are not the primary importance of life but the foundation in the life of every Christian. He added to the congregation not to build on things of the world but on Jesus a better and stronger foundation that will be significant to God in the End.
After the sermon, the Primate went on to lay the foundation of the building with the clergy of the Abuja Diocese and the general members of the St. Philips Anglican Church. The Vicar and the members appreciated the Primate, house of clergy, and guest present for the foundation ceremony and gave an account of the progress in laying the foundation and the architectural design of the building.
Speaking on this, the chairman of the building committee, Sir Kene Ekweme, noted the effort put in place by the pioneer vicar of the church, Ven. Ovie Ezimeruwe and the continued push by the new vicar of the church Ven. Princewill Ireoba.
The proposed vicarage which was approved by the Primate on 11th May 2022 sits on 450 square meters of the St. Philips Church compound. The Committee chairman noted that the proposed vicarage is 9 units of accommodation for clergy and lay staff of the parish, 2 suspended floors, and basements, it contains a 3 units of three-bedroom apartments each with a study and also a duplex of four bedrooms, and units of one bedroom apartments.
He further stated that the vicarage is a division of multiple apartments and it is adherent with the Primate`s instruction that the apartment will not only take care of the priests posted to St. Philips Church but also able to take care of others that have been posted there by the Bishop either for visit or other purposes.
