Ecclesiastical Architecture in Nigeria: Exploring Unifying Elements in the Design of Worship Centers (original) (raw)
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CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY, LITURGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL ARCHITECTURE IN NIGERIA
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As each epochal period of ecclesiastical architecture manifested its own characteristics to exhibit its own time, this study investigated the characteristics of modern ecclesiastical architecture in Nigerian between 1980 and 2010 with a view to identifying how the previous epochal period transformed to the period under study. The study area was Lagos State in Nigeria because of a number of reasons. The area pioneered the emergence and development of ecclesiastical architecture in Nigerian and arguably the cradle of Christian evolution and growth in Nigeria. It is one of the Christian religious cities in the world having a long history of Independent African Churches. Since this study is historical in nature qualitative research methods were adopted to gather data and also for the analysis. Three Church facilities were selected for this study through random sampling spread across the study area. The study discovered that the period was characterized by high increase in church buildin...
Exploration of the Predominant Determinants of Ecclesiastical Architecture in Nigeria
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As ecclesiastical architecture transformed from one style to another, a number of factors were identified to have influenced their development and many studies argued that one determinant or the other should predominate. Among these determinants five of them that influenced the development of ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria were explored. These determining factors were classified as Existing Building Materials and Current Architectural Style, Basic Theology and liturgy, Free Expression of Styles and the Knowledge of the "Masters", Moving with Time Like Evangelical Way, and finally Church Building is Heresy and Apostasy. As this study is theoretical and historical in nature, qualitative methods were employed to gather the data and the data were analyzed by description. This study found out that all these determinants were prevalent at different times during the three phases of the development of ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria. Two or more of these factors wer...
Site and Ecclesiastical Architecture in Akure , Nigeria : The Critical Nexus
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Site and architecture work together to build common theme, sense of place and setting. They mutually complement and enhance each other; thus promoting intended use and desired behaviours within the particular designed space. The emergence of Pentecostalism in Nigerian religious terrain resulted in multiplicity of worship centres across the nation’s human settlements with varying qualities of architectural environments. This paper takes a succinct look at the emerging architecture and bemoans the evident neglect of the potentials of positive setting in enhancing the goals of such centres. It puts forward appropriate professional and policy recommendations for better performance.
Effects of Pentecostalism on Ecclesiastical Architecture in Nigeria
Many factors have been identified as elements of influence on ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria. Therefore, this study examined ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria with a view to identifying the effect of Pentecostalism. Lagos was chosen as the study area because it is arguably the most Pentecostal city in the world and the cradle of ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria. Since the study was explorative in nature, qualitative research methods were adopted in gathering the data and descriptive analysis was used.
Existing Materials, Current Style and Ecclesiastical Architecture in Nigeria
International journal of innovative research and development, 2015
Existing building materials coupled with the current style factor has been identified as one of the predominant determinants of ecclesiastical architecture. This study examined various emerging materials and architectural styles with a view to identify how and why these factors have affected the emergence and development of ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria. The study area was Lagos State because of many reasons. Lagos State was noted as the cradle of Christian evolution and growth in Nigeria. It was a place that pioneered ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria. Lagos State was arguably one of the most Christian religious cities in the world having a long history of Independent African Churches dating back to the time of the great influenza epidemic of 1918. Since this study was a theoretical research and historical in nature, qualitative methods in form of literature, unstructured interview and non-participant observation were employed to gather the data and analysis was done ...
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Characteristics of Early Ecclesiastical Architecture in Lagos State in Nigeria
Considering the fact that the period between 1854 and 1929AD has been identified as the first phase of emergence and development of ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria, this, therefore, became the earliest period and this study examined the characteristics of the church buildings during this period. Among the churches that were built during this period, five were significantly prominent and still exist. This study examined two because those buildings shared similar characteristics. As the study was an explorative one and historical in nature it adopted qualitative method of non-participant observation, historical and unstructured interview methods of gathering data using descriptive method of analysis. This study found that Churches were dominated by foreign established missions as indigenous ones were yet to evolve. Gothic style dominated the period characterised by its usual strong focus on verticality, pointed arches, rib vaults, flying buttresses, large stained glass windows, ornaments and pinnacles. Construction works and financing relied heavily on foreign input. It also noted that construction materials were imported and the church buildings were more of foreign monuments rather than industrial or makeshift. Nigerian cultural, geographical, geological, climatic, existing religious and social factors were not major considerations. The study concluded that the characteristics of the early church buildings were significantly at variance with the current trends.
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF PROLIFERATION OF CHURCHES IN NIGERIA By
2018
The continuous proliferation of churches in Nigeria has steered up concerns among adherents of religious faiths, onlookers and scholars alike. Nigerian society today is experiencing significant constant proliferation of churches which has brought not only changing values, but also source of solutions to people’s problems. The origin of this phenomenon could be traced to Martin Luther’s 95 theses which sparked off religious revolution in 16th century Europe. This reform gave rise to the formation of the Lutherans, the Anglicans, Methodist and the Presbyterians. The Pentecostals and the independent churches which proliferated at last also joined. In Nigeria some of them started to show up towards the end of the 19 century. Proliferation of churches means multiplicity of Christian religious groups with each founder claiming divine origin of his or her ministry. However, this paper has established other factors rather than divine call for church proliferation. The paper also tried to ex...