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The Diocese of Lagos Mainland (Anglican Communion) is one of the thirteen dioceses within the Anglican Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, under the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). The vision for a Diocese on the Lagos Mainland emerged during the episcopacy of the Most Revd. Dr. D. J. Abiodun Adetiloye, then Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos.
Agitations for the creation of the Diocese, with St. Jude’s Church, Ebute-Metta proposed as its Cathedral, led to the inauguration of the G. O. K. Ajayi Committee on the future of Lagos Mainland. Although this process resulted in the creation of the Diocese of Lagos West in 1999, the aspiration for Lagos Mainland Diocese persisted.
Upon the retirement of Archbishop Adetiloye in 1999, responsibility passed to his successor, Most Revd. Dr. Ephraim Adebola Ademowo. In 2005, he formally proposed the creation of the Diocese during a statutory meeting of the Lagos Diocesan Board. The proposal received overwhelming approval and led to the formation of a high-powered implementation committee.
On February 2, 2006, a Special Synod at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, approved the establishment of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland, designating St. Jude’s Church, Ebute-Metta as its Cathedral. The Archdeaconries of Ebute-Metta, Idi-Oro, and Yaba formed the foundation of the Diocese.
The roots of St. Jude’s Church date back to 1867, strengthened during the 1876 “Ifọle” persecution of Egba Christians. These faithful believers laid the spiritual foundation of what would later become the Cathedral Church of the Diocese.
National approval was granted by the Church of Nigeria in February 2006. Consequently, Rt. Revd. Prof. Adebayo Akinde was consecrated Bishop on August 20, 2006, and the Diocese was formally inaugurated on August 23, 2006 as the 95th Diocese of the Church of Nigeria.
From its initial three Archdeaconries, the Diocese expanded rapidly to eleven Archdeaconries by 2014, with aggressive church planting and growth. Today, approximately 137 clergy serve across its parishes.
Following the retirement of the pioneer Bishop in 2016, Rt. Revd. Babatunde Colenso Akinpelu Johnson was elected, consecrated, and enthroned as the second Bishop of the Diocese.
The Diocese remains committed to its vision of empowering worshippers to walk daily with Christ, advancing the Great Commission through Bible-based and contemporary means, guided by its enduring slogan: “Fear God; do it right and flourish.”