Anglican Diocese of Accra facts for kids
The Anglican Diocese of Accra is like a large family of churches in Accra, Ghana. It is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, a group of Christian churches connected to the Church of England. This diocese was started in 1909 by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Its main church, or "cathedral," is the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Accra.
The Anglican Diocese of Accra (ADOA) is the oldest Anglican diocese in Ghana. It is also the largest in Ghana, with many clergy (church leaders) and churches. The diocese has over 100 churches, congregations, and missions. More than 120 clergy, both men and women, serve these communities. The diocese is organized into five main areas. These areas help manage the churches and activities.
The Diocese of Accra was created in 1909. Before that, missionaries had been working in the area for about 200 years. This area was then known as the Gold Coast. As the church grew, the Diocese of Accra was formed. This followed the Anglican way of being "Synodically Governed and Episcopally led." This means it is led by bishops but also guided by church councils (synods). For a long time, during the colonial period, the diocese was led by bishops from other countries.
Ghana became an independent country on March 6, 1957. After this, Ghanaian leaders began to lead the Diocese of Accra. The diocese covered the entire country of Ghana at that time. Today, the current bishop is Daniel Sylvanus Mensah Torto. He became bishop on June 24, 2012.
Leaders of the Diocese
Here are the bishops who have led the Anglican Diocese of Accra over the years:
- 1909 Temple Hamlyn
- 1913 Mowbray O'Rorke
- 1924 John Aglionby
- 1951 John Daly
- 1951–1968 Ezra Martinson, Assistant Bishop
- 1956 Richard Roseveare
- 1968 Ishmael Mills Le-Marie (also Archbishop of West Africa, 1981–82)
- 1983 Francis Thompson
- 1996 Justice Akrofi (also Archbishop of West Africa, 2003–12)
- 2012 Daniel Torto
