| The Apostolic Church Nigeria | |
| Imagewidth: | 220px |
| Main Classification: | Evangelicalism |
| Orientation: | Pentecostal |
| Theology: | Trinitarian |
| Structure: | National Temple |
| Leader: | Pastor (Dr.) Sampson Ekwutus Igwe |
| Associations: | Apostolic Church, Christian Association of Nigeria |
| Website: | tacnlawna.org |
| Founded Date: | 1918 |
| Branched From: | The Apostolic Church, United Kingdom |
| Members: | 4,500,000 (2018) |
The Apostolic Church Nigeria is a Pentecostal Christian denomination in Nigeria with its national headquarters in Lagos and international headquarters in Penygroes, UK.
The church has its origins in the founding of a prayer group called "Precious Stone" in Ijebu Ode by the Anglican leader Joseph Shadare in 1918.[1] [2] In 1922, the group left the Anglican Church.[3] The group joined the Apostolic Church in 1931.[4] [5] In 1938, the denomination counted 120 churches in Nigeria.[6]
In 2011, the denomination inaugurated a 100,000 seat temple called National Temple in Lagos.[7] [8]
In 2018, the church had 4.5 million members in Nigeria.[9]
The Apostolic Church Nigeria is built on a fundamental doctrinal belief based on the Holy Scriptures. Its theological beliefs are summarised in its confession of faith, known as the Tenets.[10]
The Apostolic Church Nigeria is administered as a single entity by the National Council and it is headed by a president. The current president is Apostle E.S Igwe, who was the chairman of Igboland territory. Igwe succeeded Pastor G.O. Olutola in February 2017. G.O Olutola, who succeeded Eyo Okon in 2011, retired at the age of 80 and handed over theleadership to E.S Igwe.[11]
In 2011, the church founded Samuel Adegboyega University, a tertiary institution located in Ogwa, Edo State, Nigeria and named after LAWNA's first territorial chairman Samuel Adegboyega.[12]