Church of Nigeria The Cathedral Church of Christ on Lagos Island, Lagos, is the oldest Anglican cathedral in Nigeria. This photograph was taken in August 2020, when government restrictions on religious gatherings were in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (more) Church of Nigeria Anglican church Written by Meg Matthias Meg Matthias is Senior Video Production Manager at Encyclopædia Britannica. Meg MatthiasAll Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 31, 2026 •History Church of Nigeria, independent Anglican church in Nigeria, the largest province (member church) in the Anglican Communion. In 2025 the church was estimated to have about 25 million members. (By comparison, the Church of England—the historic mother church of Anglicanism and the seat of the archbishop of Canterbury—reported about 21.75 million members in the United Kingdom and parts of continental Europe.) The church’s conservative views on social issues including same-sex partnerships and women in leadership have eroded...

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