By Kelvin Obambon
The Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN), Ishie Town Parish, has held its ‘Awards and Tributes Night’ in which some dedicated and outstanding members were honoured as the church marks its 100th Anniversary.
The event which took place on Thursday, 17th October 2024, at the PCN Ikot Ishie, Calabar, Cross River State, had some of the awardees, including the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Rev. (Dr) Ekpenyong Akpanika, in attendance.
In a welcome address, the Parish Minister, Rev. Atim Ayara Obong, said the church was celebrating over 100 years of Presbyterian witness in the Ishie community and 100 years of the foundation laying of the church building.
She said, “Some of the awards are posthumous and are meant to honour those who have laboured since the founding of the PCN Ikot Ishie. The church is also honouring those who are still alive for their sacrifice, labour and service. It’s simply an award of recognition for their services in the Lord’s vineyard.”
Delivering a keynote address titled “The Legacy of Faith and Community”, Rev. Daniel Etim, journeyed into the past and unravelled how the PCN Ishie Town Parish was brought into existence by the grand patriarch of the Ishie people, Obong Ishie Offiong Okoho.
He noted that since its founding, the Ishie Town Parish has evolved into becoming one of the grade “A” parishes in the cradle of Presbyterianism in Calabar and Nigeria as a whole.
The keynote speaker narrated that “Ishie Community came in contact with the Christian faith between 1880 and 1906 through its Grand Patriarch, Obong Ishie Offiong Okoho, who at that time was residing at Efak Eyamba in Duke Town with his descendants (Ikot Ishie).
“Rev. Hope Masterton Waddell started a Church in Duke Town with a local building erected in 1847. The language of worship was ‘Pidgin English’, which was also the language of trade and was interpreted in Efik. Obong Ishie Okoho and his family were part of the worship life in Duke Town. Later on, crises arose due to economic, social and political standing among the Chiefs. They started rotating worship services in their residences. Among the Chiefs whose compounds were used for worship and religious activities were Archibong Duke, Duke Ephraim, Henry Cobham, Antigha Cobham, Bassey Offiong, and Ironbar.
“Perhaps, during this period of crisis and scrambling for ‘ownership’ of church and members, Obong Ishie Okoho acquired land and relocated from Efak Eyamba and founded Ikot Ishie (Ishie Town), the community we are now this evening. On arrival at the new location, Obong Ishie, with his descendants and converts, attended Sunday worship services at Obutong (Old Town) at its old site near Calabar River, but weekly church activities took place at Obong Ishie’s Palace at Enen Ishie (Ishie Square). Later, as the community grew, Enen Ishie became a worship centre, and the people stopped trooping to Obutong to worship.
“In 1917, Enen Ishie worship centre was inaugurated as a congregation and attached to Obutong and Ekorinim Congregations. This action gave birth to Northern Calabar Parish.
“In 1981, the committee of Ishie congregation applied to Calabar Presbytery for a Parish Status with the reason ‘to help her improve her spiritual potentialities within the church and community….,’ Parish Status was granted Ishie PCN on
10th January 1981, with all its functional arms and service groups, such as Men’s Christian Association (MCA), Women’s Guild (W/G), Presbyterian Young Peoples Association (PYPAN), and Christian Girls in Training (CGIT) and Choir.
“The Parish permanent structure was built in December 1924 – hence our celebration. Today, Ishie Parish is one of the grade “A” parishes in the Cradle of Presbyterianism, Calabar, and indeed the whole of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.”
Rev. Etim noted further that Ishie Town PCN and the Ishie community constitute an integrated charismatic union such that one hardly sees the difference between them.
“Ishie Church ‘owns’ Ishie
community and Ishie community ‘owns’ Ishie Church. The Church offers the community faith, hope, and love, while the community offers the church support system, acceptance, and respect. Ishie Town Hall is opposite Ishie Church.
“Many Elders of the Church are also Elders in Ishie Traditional Council. History has it that there was a time when both had a common Treasurer. If the community was in financial crisis and the church had money, through mutual consent, the church will bail the community out and vice-versa,” he said.
Concluding, the clergyman charged the PCN Ishie Town, to among other things, continue to seek God’s guidance through prayer and fasting; prioritise the welfare of widows and the aged; give assistance to indigent students; think of orphanages and old people homes; provide informal education and skills acquisition training programmes for those with low aptitude for formal education.
The event climaxed with the presentation of awards to deserving members of the PCN who have distinguished themselves in their service to God and humanity.
Some of the awardees were the current prelate and former prelates of the PCN; HRH Etubom Effiom Okon Effiom, the Clan Head of Ishie Clan; Justice Akon Ikpeme, Chief Justice of Cross River State; Chief Ettah E. Usoh; Elder (Mrs) Uyi Effiong Offiong; Elder Fidelis Etim; Sir Chief Felix Okon Nsemo KSJ; Elder (Mrs) Imelda Bassey; Henss Charity Foundation; among others.
Posthumous awards and tributes were also paid to the late Obong Ishie Offiong Okoho, the Grand Patriarch of the Ishie people; late Mr Ene James; late Chief Asuquo Obo-Ishie; late Elder Chief Johnson Ishie; late Madam Grace Edem Effiom; among others.