The history of Christianity in Esa-Oke dates back to that traumatic era of inter-ethnic wars in Yoruba land, around the 19th century, when some indigenes of Esa-Oke were taken captive and forcefully sold into slavery in the South West region of Nigeria.
That period, slave trade was said to have seriously overwhelmed.
Records had it that two of the indigenes, Alfred Fasina from Sajuku Compound, Erinjiyan Quarters and Emmanuel Adesina, from Asubiojo Compound, also in Erinjiyan Quarters, were in captivity in Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode, respectively, two towns presently in modern day Ogun state.
Oral history also revealed that after they had spent many years in slavery, Alfred Fasina was taken to Abeokuta and through the activities of the early missionaries, especially Rev. Henry Townsend and his followers, Alfred was converted to Christianity in Abeokuta, while Emmanuel’s father, Agbeti and his family members joined the fold in Ijebu-Ode.
In the year 1892, Alfred and his wife resolved to come back home (Esa-Oke) with the zeal of preaching the gospel to his kinsmen. In the same manner, Adesina’s family also left Ijebu-ode and arrived Esa-Oke shortly after Alfred Fasina finally settled down.
The two families began fire-brand preaching of the gospel, teaching and making converts. God actually empowered these two families to plant Christianity at Esa-Oke.
Their efforts started yielding fruitful results as more converts were recorded. Among them were David Segilola, the then Ogboni of Esa-Oke and Abraham Ojo Abesinga. With the increased number of converts, the original location being used for fellowship (the House of Adesina) could not freely accommodate them. The development led to the establishment of first church in Esa-Oke, built at Iponna Oniye.
The first church in Esa-Oke, St. Paul’s, Christian Missionary Society’s Church (CMS) was dedicated by Bishop S.C Philip and Rev. R.S.O Oyebode from St. John’s Church, (CMS), Iloro-Ilesa on June 25, 1903
There is no doubt that St. Paul’s CMS Church is the pioneer of gospel propagation in Esa-Oke. As the number of converts increased, Rev. R.S Oyebode baptized some converts on June 25, 1903 on the same day the first church was dedicated.
Those baptized include Samuel Ojo Adelugba, Daniel Ojo Adelugba, Joseph Ekundayo Fasina, John Ige Fasina, Alice Omotara Fasina, who later got married to John Onifade Ariyo and Racheal Ilori Adesina who married John Itayemi.
The first two were children of Oba Adelu that were given to Christians. While Joseph, John and Alice were children of Alfred Fasina and the last was the daughter of Emmanuel Adesina.
Oba Adelu himself attended the baptismal service since it was the practice of the early Christians to convert the chiefs and heads of community so as to guarantee peaceful conversion and protection from attack by non-Christians. Most of the early Christians played prominent roles in the progress and propagation of Christianity in Esa-Oke.
On August 2,1916, the first confirmation service was held at St. Paul’s Church, Esa-Oke for 57 candidates – 39 male and 18 female. During the reign of Oba Adelu, Christians in Esa-Oke enjoyed relative peace. There was ample opportunity to preach the gospel that gingered the conversion of many pagans to Christianity.
However, there was a conflict between St. Paul’s Anglican Church and Methodist Church Members on Christmas Eve of 1908, when the two groups of adherents attacked each other at somewhere at Erinjiyan Quarters. The cause of the rift was not immediately known, but it was alleged that the drum (Ibembe) which had just been bought by the Methodist Church was damaged and through reconciliatory moves by Rev. Williams (a Methodist priest) at Ilesa and Rev. R.S. Oyebode of St. John’s Church, Iloro-Ilesa, the matter was resolved.
Since then, the two major denominations have been operating peacefully in Esa Oke.
However, after the death of Oba Adelu, Christians were said to have faced various challenges, especially on observance of the community tradition.
They were subjected to a lot of humiliation and inhuman treatment to the extent that many of them could not go to their farms or anywhere for some months.
By 1914, Christianity was said to have gotten so many converts, with various programmes attracting a lot of them. By this conversion and various church programmes, there was silent opposition from non-Christians for losing followers to the Christians, while their economic survival was being threatened.
Among the opponents was the Hunters Group that championed the cause of others. The group insisted that Christians did not participate in the annual “Iwude Ogun” in which hunters would kill animals in the bush to be presented to the Owa of Ilesa for annual Ogun Festival. The Christians refused to participate as they did not believe in the act.
Also, there was a conflict between St. Paul’s Anglican Church and Idofin Quarters Community over the cemetery sited in the area. There was a particular occasion when the burial of one Lydia Oniforisola was rejected by Idofin Quarters Community, she was later buried in the old cemetery at the back of St. Paul’s Church in Oke Esa Quarters.
Many fruitless efforts were made to settle the acrimony between various interest groups until the church had to make an alternative arrangement to bury its departed members before finally sought for and gotten a permanent cemetery at “Oko Peter” in Itapole area of Erinjiyan Quarters, Esa-Oke.
How Formal Education Reached Esa-Oke
Just as St. Paul’s Anglican Church remains the mother of all the churches in Esa-Oke, the same can also be said of formal education and schooling. At time of planting the church, there was no formal school for the Christians or for the larger secular community; those few converts taught them in Yoruba on how to read the Bible passages.
It was through young people like Abraham Ojo (Abesinga) and Joseph Ekundayo Fasina who were sent to Rev. R.S. Oyebode at St. John’s Iloro-Ilesa to be educated.
The first school at Esa-Oke was St. Paul’s CMS Primary School, Erinjiyan Quarters, Esa-Oke. It was founded in 1905. The first worker was a certain Mr. Fagbo, who was in charge of the church as well as the school.
The School however, was able to operate only for only two academic years (1905-1907), because the teacher, Mr. Fagbo was alleged to have committed professional misconduct. Many attempts were made thereafter, to resuscitate the school, but no success was recorded. But relief eventually came around 1934, when the United Missionary School (UMS) was founded at Erinjiyan quarters, through the efforts of Catechist Ariwoola, who was posted to the church. He was said to have gone round all other religious denominations in the town for a joint operation of the school, but only the Methodist Church responded positively. It will be recalled that Methodist Church, Odo-Ese, Quarters, came into being in 1908. Exactly Nine years after St. Paul’s Anglican Church
An experienced headmaster, J.O. Lawanson from Ere-Ijesa was engaged as the pioneer head teacher. And by 1936, the school had been well established. While Catechist Ariwoola was transferred and succeeded by J.A. Babajide, the first trained teacher from St. Andrew’s College, Oyo and a member of St. Paul’s Church, Esa Oke.
There were many other old pupils including late Owa Omiran of Esa Oke, Oba Isaiah Ajayi Adeniran JP, who later taught at the UMS. Since the school had not gone beyond Standard Four till 1941, pupils who desired to pursue their education further, continued to move out of Esa-Oke to complete their Primary Education elsewhere. The teachers were sourced from both the St. Paul’s and Methodist Churches in Esa Oke.
The school was granted full Primary School status in 1940, under the headship of Mr. M.O. Popoola. United School is a pioneer of quality education in Esa-Oke. It laid the foundation on which many people attained greater feats in life.
After St. Paul’s Church, Oke Esa, there are two other Anglican churches (Immanuel Church, Idofin and Church of the Advent Church, Ibodi), there are other older denominations including the Methodist Church, Nigeria, St. Mark’s African Church (formerly West African Episcopal Church), Christ Apostolic Church, The Apostolic Church, Cherubim and Seraphim Churches, Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Baptist Church, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Deeper Life Church, the Apostolic Faith and several others numbering 150 in Esa-Oke today.
The Catholic Mission established St. Peter’s Primary School and also St. Joseph’s Secondary Modern School which have now transformed into St. Joseph’s Secondary High School; there is St Mark’s Primary School founded by the African Church as well as the Apostolic Primary School owned by the Apostolic Church.
At present, there are over 20 public and Private Primary Schools, with about 10 Public and Private Secondary Schools
CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (CAN).
Following a series of conflicts between Christians in Esa-Oke, the late Owa-Omiran, Oba Isaiah Adeniran advised that all Christian groups should explore the means of having a formidable forum to speak for all Christians. The Christians subsequently took up the challenge and late Joshua Ojo, a Lay Reader at St. Paul’s Church was actively involved in the union which metamorphosed into the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Esa-Oke Branch. The branch now has over 200 members and churches for propagation of the gospel in Esa-Oke Community.
Also, there are now many private and public primary/secondary schools with a government-owned Tertiary institution. Christianity at Esa-Oke which started on a gloomy note has now blossomed with lots of exploits and achievements.
Because of the rapid developments and expansion of Esa-Oke Township, the church and Christians have to face many challenges, especially with global modern gadgets and ICT accessories. New sites have been developed beyond the old boundaries within the community. Most especially, now the Students Village, Ita-Ipole, Oke-Ooro (Felicia Estate), Fayofunmi, Magbo and many others in need of evangelism and open-air services.
With the global advancement of technology, Christians must intensify efforts to win more souls for Christ. The Church should fight social vices, while Christian virtues should be encouraged.
On regular bases, Christian leaders should encourage open-air services within the community to teach the gospel. Evangelism should be expanded.