Meet 74 Big Men Who Serve As Ushers…

…At The Cathedral Church Of Christ, MARINA, LAGOS

• They Are Called Guild Of Stewards

Every member of this group has been living up to the title of their Anthem which says, RISE UP O MEN OF GOD.

At the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, there is a group of men who do things differently during the service. They are called Guild of Stewards. They are a group of men on black suits who work as Ushers at the church. They have been in existence for 76 years. They did their 70th Anniversary in year 2016.

This group shone like a star at the funeral service of Late Otunba Subomi Balogun because Otunba Subomi Balogun was also one of them. He participated fully and was a staunch member of the group. They paid their special last respect to the late icon during the service with the rendition of their song.

A visit to any of the church services, you will receive a first time welcome from this group of men who serve as ushers at the cathedral. They are not called Ushers but Guild of Stewards. They have formed a society in the church and the beauty of this group is that they are all male, no female. If you go to the church for any function, it is only this group of men that will attend to you.

They are not just a common group, many of their members both serving and retired are great men of repute. One thing you will also notice among them is that they are not young, though there are few younger ones among them but most of them are in their 60s & 70s and yet they still carry out all their activities perfectly well. Members of this group are prominent Nigerians, including even those that are retired. What about those that are dead, there are also many important personalities of the group who have passed on.

The Guild of Stewards (often called the Guild) is a service arm of the church charged, primarily with the responsibility of maintaining orderliness at Church services and functions. This Guild members are the first contact with the parishioners and visitors during services and Church functions.

Their objective is to provide such services such that will help promote and facilitate orderliness of worship in the cathedral. They are also to support all activities of the cathedral and to render efficient services to both the cathedral congregation and visitors alike.

Becoming a member is not just on a platter of gold, you must have met some criteria before you can join this group. To be a member, membership is open to financial male members of the congregation who are known to be regular worshippers and communicants. When members join, they place them on 6 months’ probation before confirming them. They give them a guild certificate and guilds brooch. Membership is for life except if the person dies, resigns or is removed for conduct prejudicial to good stewardship.

The patron of the guild is the Provost of the cathedral in the person of Rev. Adebola Ojofeitimi while Vice Patron is among the retired stewards.

Any steward who has attained age 70 can not take up an executive post in the group. For the purpose of effectiveness and discipline, they are organized into 4 groups because of their numbers. They are headed by their group leaders and deputy group leader.

They have their rules and regulation in the group, it is not just a group, it is a well-structured group.

A steward must give his best at all times. Stewards are expected to attend all services during any week his group is in duty. They don’t allow any parishioner to walk around the church, uttering communicants, and they readily don’t allow anyone to walk across the main aisle when services are on.

They also have a mode of dressing. Black or dark blue suits with no stripe whatsoever, plain white shirts, and Ties are issued by the guild and are to be used. Red ties are used on All Sundays, purple are used during lent, funeral or memorial services while Green ties are used for weddings, birthdays and Anniversaries. Black shoes and dark socks is also form of the dress code. They are also very orderly in the way they move in church, they line up according to their positions in the guild.

At their meetings, they give out prizes and commend the stewards who have rendered exemplary services to the guild and cathedral during the year.

They do annual contributions and stewards who are not up to a year in the guild are not eligible for election and can also not vote.

Any family of member who dies is entitled to a benefit irrespective of their financial standing in the guild at the time of his death. Admission into the guild is 10k. Each steward pays 5k as annual dues.

A certificate of long service award is given to members who have been in the service for a period of 10 years. A plaque of long service is presented to a member who has been in service for a period of not less than 25 years and who has served meritoriously. This group of men are divided into 4, Group A to D and each has its group leader and Deputy Group leader.

Below are the names of the 74 members. Mr. Gbolaga Ajayi is The Chairman/People’s Warden, Mr. Jide Ladeinde is the Vice Chairman/Provost Warden, Dr. V. A. Dacosta is the leader of group “A” And Mr. Bukola Meadows is The Leader Of Group “B”. Chief Gbola Akinola is the leader of group “C” And Mr. Dotun Makinwa is the leader of group “D”, Mr. Demola Bolarinde is the Secretary, Mr. Jide Claudius-Cole is the Assistant Secretary. Mr. Abayomi Adelola is the Treasurer. Mr. Seyi Duggan is the Financial Secretary, Prince Yemi Ademiluyi is the Social Secretary, Prince Dapo Opeaye is the Assessment Cordinator, Mr. Kayode Sorinwa is Ex-officio, Group “A”, Mr. Muyiwa Adefope Is ex-officio, Group “B, Engr. Sola Ladeinde is ex-officio, Group “C”, Mr. Akinwande Martins is ex-officio, Group “D”, Mr. Soji Kuboye is ex-officio, (Immediate Past Secretary),  Chief. Gbolahan Ayodele is ex-officio, Immediate Past Chairman/People’s Warden

Members of the other groups from Group B are Mr. Bukola Meadows as a group leader and Mr. Phillip Abumere as a deputy group leader with other 18 members.

In Group C, there are Chief Gbola Akinola (CPA) who is the GROUP LEADER, Capt. Dapo Olumide is the DEPUTY GROUP LEADER, other members are Engr Sola Ladeinde, Mr. Femi Ajana,  Mr. Eyinnaya Akagha, Mr. Seyi Dugan, Mr Segun Elliot, Mr. Elufioye Johnson, Mr. Lanre Ladipo, Mr. Lady Nylander, Mr. Karma Okafor, Mr. Dayo Opeaye, Mr. Ofoma, Mr. Bamidele Ojo Osagie, Mr. Prince Akintayo Oyolola, Mr. Tolu Pearce Dawodu, Mr. Tunde Spaine, The Elder steward is Asiwaju Folawewo Osibo.

Group D consists of Mr. Makinwa Dotun (group leader), Mr. Sofowora Makinde SAN (Dep. Group leader) Mr. Tayo Olaniyi (Secretary), Martins Akinwande ( Group Ex Officio to Guild), Mr. Aboaba Dotun, Mr. Adelola Yomi, Amihere Steve, Chief Ayodele Gbolahan (Immediate Past Chairman), Mr. Bolarinde Demola, Mr. Claudius Cole Jide, Mr. Fetuga Deola, Mr. Foresythe Tokunbo, Jackson Tunji, Mr. Marinho Akin, Mr. Peters Babajide, Engr Agbogidi ( immediate past group leader), Mr. Kehinde MAO(Past Group Leader), Olowoselu Lewis, Mr. Olaomo CT and Professor Sowemimo G who is the past group leader.

-TAYO OYEDIJI (08111811219)