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The Methodist Church Ghana
History

Origins

Methodism in Accra started in 1838 through the zeal and commitment of a small group of about twenty people led by three young men namely, John Ahumah Solomon, John Plange and Frederick France, who met in regular worship and fellowship at James Town, British-Accra. The group was started by two mulatto Ga men from Accra, Peter Mayer and a friend, name unknown, who had earlier come into contact with William de-Graft, a Methodist Local Preacher, while on a trading trip to Winneba and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit to convert to Christianity. They became born again and received baptism of the Holy Spirit. The experience made such a deep impression on them that they desired to go tell the good news of Jesus Christ to their community. So, on their return to Accra, Peter Mayer and his friend rented a house at James Town, British-Accra and began meeting in private devotion and fellowship with a small group of like-minded people to study the Christian faith

The Rev Freeman Invited to Accra

Delegates from this group attended the first Missionary Meeting in Cape Coast organised on 3rd September, 1838 by The Rev Thomas Birch Freeman, a missionary from the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) in London who had come to the Gold Coast to spread Scriptural Holiness throughout the land by the proclamation of the Evangelical Faith which gives Light to People that sit in darkness under the shadow of death.

Rev Thomas Birch Freeman

The Fellowship extended an invitation from King Ahumah Solomon, Chief of Ngleshie Alata, James Town, British-Accra, to Rev Freeman requesting him to visit Accra and establish a Mission and a School. The invitation culminated in Father Freeman, as he was affectionately called, arriving in Accra on 24th October, 1838 and planting the Methodist Church in Accra on 1st November, 1838.

He did it by dividing the fellowship group into three Bible Classes and appointing the three enthusiastic young leaders, John Ahumah Solomon, John Plange and Frederick France, each in charge of a Bible Class to establish what we today call Wesley Society, nucleus of the Accra Circuit and by extension the Accra Diocese.

Rev Freeman then started a School on the following day and departed to Cape Coast leaving the new-born Church in the hands of John Martin, his native Assistant, supported by the three Bible Class Leaders, who later entered the ordained Ministry of the Methodist Church in Ghana.

Expansion and Growth

The church in Accra experienced rapid growth and members began opening new Societies in Accra Township. These were Freeman (1902), Korle Gonno (1918), Adabraka (1919), Kru - Liberia (1919), Abossey Okai (1922), Fante now Calvary (1927) and Osu (1972). Led by the Missionaries and locally trained Ministers, the Evangelical groups helped spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout Greater Accra Region and beyond planted churches in places like Prampram (1846), Fetteh (1847), Ningo, Kpone, and Tema (1850), Kpong (1858), Akwamu (1859), Nsawam (1861), Aburi (1874), Bawaleshie and Shai (1875), Larteh (1872), Ewukugua, Ofankor and Avenor (1883), Koforidua (1884/85), Pokoase and Adjen Kotoku (1885), Mayara (1889) and also Mampong-Akwapim, Tutu, Peki, Anum, Ada, Dodowa, Pakro, Mangoase, Adeiso, Damfa, Asuboi and Afadjator.

Accra Attains Circuit Status

The Accra Church attained Circuit status in 1841 with The Rev Robert Brooking as the first Superintendent Minister.

Missionary Period Superintendents

The following served as Superintendent Ministers in the Missionary period of the Accra Diocese (then District) were:

No. Period Name
1. 1840 – 1842 The Rev Robert Brooking
2. 1842 -1843 The Rev Annesley Shipman
3. 1843 The Rev Robert Brooking (interim capacity)
4. 1843 - 1844 The Rev Benjamin Watkins
5. 1844 The Rev Timothy Greaves
6. 1844 The Rev Robert Brooking (interim capacity)
7. 1845 - 1861 The Rev Henry Wharton (assisted by The Rev Frederick France and The Rev John Plange)
8. 1861 - 1864 The Rev John Ahumah Solomon (first African Superintendent Minister)
9. 1865 The Rev Henry Wharton
10. 1874 – 1877 The Rev W. Penrose
11. 1878 – 1881 The Rev Richard Rossai
12. 1881 – 1885 The Rev Thomas Birch Freeman (Pioneer of Methodism in Accra)
13. 1885 – 1888 The Rev Andrew W. Parker
14. 1889 – 1892 The Rev T. J. Price

Post Missionary Period Superintendents

The following served as Superintendent Ministers in the post Missionary period of the Accra Diocese (then District):

No. Period Name
1. 1894 – 1894 The Rev Ejyir Assan (6 mths.)
2. 1895 – 1903 The Rev David Hincliff
3. 1904 – 1904 The Rev W. Anold Bethel
4. 1905 – 1912 The Rev Frank Metcafe
5. 1913 – 1919 The Rev J. R. Addo
6. 1919 – 1922 The Rev J. C. Mensah
7. 1924 – 1927 The Rev D. M. Bruce
8. 1928 – 1932 The Rev Ernest Bruce
9. 1933 – 1936 The Rev J. J. Mettle
10. 1936 – 1944 The Rev J. T. Clegg
11. 1944 – 1954 The Rev J. E. Allotey-Pappoe
12. 1954 – 1958 The Rev J. E. Addo
13. 1958 – 1960 The Rev P. K. Dagadu

Autonomy and District Set-up

In 1960, the British Methodist Conference meeting in Liverpool unanimously agreed and resolved to the setting up of a new Methodist Conference in Ghana in July 1961. Consequently, on 28th July, 1961, the Methodist Church in Ghana became autonomous and Accra was one of the five Districts created by the Conference. The other Districts were Cape Coast, Kumasi, Sekondi and Winneba.

The Rev Joseph Thomas Clegg was the first Chairman. Circuits in the new District were Accra, Aburi and Mampong, Dodowa and Prampram, Koforidua, Tema, Larteh, Nkawkaw, Somanya, Nsawam and Volta.

Accra District was later limited to the Greater Accra area with the following Circuits – Adabraka, Accra North, Korle Gonno, Abossey Okai, Tema (now in the Tema Diocese), Kaneshie, Accra South, Ada, Peki and Madina.

Past District Chairmen

No. Period Name
1. 1961 – 1964 The Rev Joseph Thomas Clegg
2. 1964 – 1968 The Rev Joseph Ebenezer Allotey-Pappoe
3. 1968 – 1976 The Rev Joseph Kwao Clegg
4. 1976 – 1978 The Rev Allen N. K. Sackeyfio
5. 1978 – 1983 The Rev Lawrence Hardy Shewland Osae-Addo
6. 1983 – 1984 The Rev Dr Jacob Stanley Adama Stephens
7. 1984 – 1988 The Rev Emmanuel Ashikwei Ashitey
8. 1988 – 1994 The Rev Victor Buer Nartey-Tokoli
9. 1994 – 1999 The Rev Charles R. Amartey Pappoe
10. 1999 – 2000 The Rt Rev Samuel Kwami Hodasi

Episcopacy Status

In August 1999, the Methodist Conference held at Koforidua adopted the Biblical pattern of Episcopacy and on 23rd January, 2000, the articles of Episcopacy were signed and a Proclamation Service for the Episcopacy was held at the Wesley Methodist Chapel, Asafoiatse Nettey Road, Accra. The Accra District became Accra Diocese and Accra Wesley Chapel became Accra Wesley Cathedral, the seat of the Presiding Bishop of The Methodist Church Ghana, as well as the seat of the Bishop of the Accra Diocese. The Most Rev Samuel Asante Antwi was the first Presiding Bishop and The Rt Rev Samuel Kwame Hodasi became the first Bishop of the Accra Diocese. The Rt Rev Samuel Kofi Osabutey is the current Bishop of the Accra Diocese inducted into office on 8th November 2015 to serve a six (6) tenure of office.

The headquarters of The Methodist Church Ghana is located in the Accra Diocese which is the custodian of the Accra Wesley Cathedral, THE CATHEDRAL OF ALL CATHEDRALS of The Methodist Church Ghana.

Past Diocesan Bishops/Lay Chairmen/Synod Secretaries of the Accra Diocese.

No. Period Name
Past Diocesan Bishops
1. 2000 – 2005 The Rt Rev Samuel Kwami Hodasi
2. 2005 – 2011 The Rt Rev Abraham Ayi Tagoe
3. 2011 – 2015 The Most Rev Titus Kofi Awotwi Pratt
4. 2015 - 2021 The Rt Rev Samuel Kofi Osabutey
Past Diocesan Lay Chairmen
1. 2001 – 2004 Sis Gladys Afarchoe Odoi
2. 2004 – 2007 Sis Araba Ata Sam
3. 2007 – 2010 Bro Prof Tim Acquah-Hayford
4. 2010 – 2013 Sis Christiana Aku Odoi
5. 2013 – 2016 Bro Solomon Quaye Lartey
6. 2016 – 2019 Bro Joseph Kofi Addo
Past Diocesan Synod Secretaries
1. 2000 – 2003 The Rt Rev Samuel Kofi Osabutey
2. 2003 – 2005 The Very Rev Asford N. Y. Quarcoo
3. 2005 – 2012 The Very Rev Alfred N. O. Aryeetey
4. 2012 – 2017 The Very Rev Sampson N. A. M. Laryea-Adjei
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