A group of Anglicans drawn from All Saint’s, Adabraka. St. Mary’s, Accra, and Holy Trinity, Accra, residing in the Accra New Town area met in the first quarter of 1985, precisely on the 19th of February 1985. The meeting took place in order to deliberate and map up a strategy to establish a place of worship at Kpehe to stem the problem of traveling long distances to their place of worship.

Under the leadership of Catechist Charles Nii Apomsah Ankrah, the intention was soon concretized and more members associated themselves with the idea. The then, Archdeacon of Accra, Ven. R.J.A. Adjaayi was approached and he assisted the young congregation named after St. Mary Magdalene spiritually by saying mass and attending to the needs of the members.

In August 1986, there was a misunderstanding between one of the founding members, the landlady, and Charles N.A. Ankrah, founder and Catechist in Charge. This misunderstanding led to the sudden expulsion of the church from the premises of the landlady. Catechist Charles Nii Apomsah Ankrah was not discouraged, he wrote letters to Ghana Education Service (GES) and permission was granted to the infant church to use one of the classrooms of the ANT 2 & 10 primary schools.

The first worship meeting of the congregation in this new location took place on the 15th November 1986, a week before St. Cecilia Day. Members present unanimously decided to change the name of the church from St. Mary Magdalene to St. Cecilia Anglican Church. The 1st confirmation of members of this church was held at All Saint’s Anglican Church, Adabraka, on the 1st May 1988. 28 members were confirmed by the then Bishop of Accra, Rt. Rev. F.W.B. Thompson.

Environment

As a result of the location of our church, the members are predominantly the inhabitants of Accra New - Town, in the Ayawaso district of Accra, the capital city of Ghana. They are mainly made up of Ga’s, Akans, Ewes and Hausas (Muslims). The Hausas forms the bulk of the inhabitants hence making Christian activities very difficult to execute. Ghana as a whole has three major religious groups which are Christians, Muslims and African Traditional Religion. Among the three, Islam seems to be the most dominating religion in Accra New –Town area.

New Premises

Just after the 1990 Harvest Thanksgiving, word came in that there was a plot of land with a building (three single rooms) on it being offered for sale. With the assistance of Mr. F.K. Boye and other members, the landlady offered to sell it at 1.5million cedis. An initial payment of Five Hundred Thousand Cedis was made; the building was finally purchased in 1995. The partitions of the rooms were pulled down to create space for worship. This building has since served as our regular place of worship.

The history of this church can not be written without mentioning the name of the man who was the Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity and who is now the Lord Bishop of Accra, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) J.O.Y. Akrofi. This man helped in many ways. All the priests who worked at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity, one way or the other, pastored this church, especially Rev. Fr. Ernest K. Clottey now at Holy Gabriel’s, Kotobabi. We are most grateful for the support we received from these individuals. May God bless them!

First Resident Priest

The first resident priest, Rev. Fr. Victor Leon Addo-Nmai Acquaye, was posted to this parish on the 28th of February 2001. The posting of a resident priest has added to the already high expenditure of the church, as we now have to pay our yearly assessment to the Diocese, bills and other expenses of the church as well as the rent and bills of the priest as against the low income of the church. The posting of a resident priest to the church has raised the worship life and spirituality of the church. Although he stays at East Legon, a distance of about ten kilometers, he attends to the spiritual needs of the church.

Church Memebership

Membership now stands at about 65 people, Workers forming 15%, Students 45% with the unemployed and Children 40%. Our church, to borrow the words of the gov’t of the day is “Highly Indebted Poor Country” (Church). “Come over to Macedonia (St. Cecilia Anglican Church) and help us.” Acts: 16:9.

Guilds & Associations

There are four guilds in the church namely:The Servants of the Sanctuary, Church Choir, Anglican Young People Association (AYPA) and Guild of the Good Shepherd.

Parochial Church Council

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) consists of the following, the Priest in Charge, who is the head of the parish and chairman of the council, the people’s and priest wardens, parish representatives to Synod and ten others who were elected at the Vestry Meeting. The Parochial Church Council together with the Priest in Charge is responsible for the spiritual growth and the general administration of the church. The Parochial Church Council meets once a month.

Members are:

1.`EDWARD NIMAKO :SYNOD DELEGATE
2.ROBERT QUAYE :SYNOD DELEGATE
3.EWARD AMOAH
4.FUSTINA AMAAH
5.CAROLINE SACKEY
6.ANITA ADJEI
7.MARY ADDY
8.REGINA OFORI
9.BARBARA ATTOH
10.EUNICE SACKEY
11.BEATRICE NYARNOR
12.KATE ASARE
13.SAMUEL TETTEH-ASHONG
14.MARTHA NETTEY

Nursery School

The Church has a Nursery School with a population of 120 people, made up of both Christians and Muslims. Some of who are not paying fees, as a result of their parent’s inability to pay. This gesture to those who cannot afford to pay the fees is our social commitment to the community.

Project

The construction of a permanent place of worship is now the main project for the next three to five years. The first phase, which will be the construction of the foundation has just started. YOUR PRAYERS AND FINACIAL SUPPORT IS MOST WELCOME

Appreciation

The church is most grateful to the Ingeveld Family in Sundre, Alberta- Canada for sending us money to buy 100 copies for distribution to the members. The family also supports the Parish Priest and his family among other support to the church.
Operation Pass Along, a non-profit making organisation based at Eureka Springs, Arkansas U.S.A, had provided the church with some vestments and other church furnishings.
Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious organisation in the UK gave the parish,the following vestments Red, White, Green and Purple vestments and a pax.
We are most grateful to these donors and hope others will join in helping this small church in a Muslim community as we have started the construction of a New Church Building. Nothing is too small or too big; help to us to put up a place of worship. God Bless you.