Calvary Methodist Church @ 90
The Mfantse Korye Kuw of Accra brought together most Fantis following the large number of Akans in the Civil, Teaching and Mercantile services in the capital so that the fante children could learn to speak, read and write mfantse.
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“Remember the days of old; Consider the generations long past,Ask your father and he will tell you,Your elders, and they will explain to you”.— Deuteronomy 32:7
The children soon got to know one another and were recruited into a Sunday School which met at the Methodist Mixed School, Bannerman Road, James Town.
The pioneer teachers of the school were Mr. S.B. Baisie, Mr. T.G. Impraim, Mr. J. K. Nelson and Mr. S. H. Wilson supported by Madam Mercy de-Graft (Maame Efua Joe), Mrs. Alice Ainooson and Madam Blankson.
Later, a non-denominational Divine Service was held immediately after Sunday School classes at the Freeman Memorial Chapel, due to its proximity to the venue of the Sunday School.
The small pioneer Sunday School afforded the Akans the opportunity to learn, read, write, and worship in their own language; as most of them “struggled” with the Ga Language. In due course, the school increased in number, but the quality of its singing left a lot to be desired. This was due to the lack of adequate singing practice periods, as members rehearsed only once a week — Saturdays.
Some of the members were, therefore, selected and organised into a singing band under the baton of Mr. T. G. Impraim, with Mr. J. K. Nelson as organist. practices were held three times a week at Mr. Baisie's residence. This marked the beginning of the Calvary Singing Band.
The new arrangement brought about considerable improvement in the standard of singing, especially with the introduction of songs from the Sankey Hymn Book already in use. Consequently, the Singing Band sang during offertory time.
The 'Magic' of the Synod Picnic
The Sunday School's proudest day, during the first year of its existence came, when a few months after the school had been launched, the annual District Synod of the Methodist Church was held in Accra, and the school was permitted to take part in the ceremonial picnic of the members of the various Societies, which was in vogue during Synods at the time.
The school's turnout was acclaimed the best, and like nothing ever seen before in Accra, especially the women's “takuwa” hair-do adorned with hair-pins covered with bright yellow wool, giving the appearance of pure gold; it was said that the effect on the spectators was electrifying, sweeping Accra off its feet and throwing the whole city into a state of high ecstasy. It was simply marvelous!
The picnic, therefore, provided the Sunday school with an effective publicity leading to an influx of new members thereafter.
Sunday Morning Services
Encouraged by that development, the Sunday school decided to hold a Sunday morning Service as well as the already established late afternoon one.
The flourishing period of the Fanti Society began from the 1940's when personalities like Nana Esslfie-Bondzie, Head of the then Fanti Community and National President of the Christ Little Band and Bro. E.K.B. Odoom, the then Singing Band Master, lent their support to the Society's further development.
Procuring a New Site
In the 1950's accommodation at the James Town Freeman premises had become too small to contain the large congregation which assembled there for Sunday morning services.
Through the efforts of Rev. Noel L. Warmann, the then Society Minister, the present site at Barnes Road was secured.
Dedication
On July 3, 1965, the dedication of the fine chapel situated on Barnes Road, almost opposite the National Museum, took place amidst pump and pageantry under the name CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH. The opening ceremony was performed by the then President of Conference, the Rev. F.C.F. Grant, who had also laid the foundation stone just a year earlier in 1964.
Circuit Status
In 1973, eight years after the dedication of Calvary, the Leaders’ Meeting, with the support of the entire Society's membership, decided that, the Society had every justification for its creation into a circuit.
With Rev. T. Wallace Koomson, who later became President of Conference, appointed to serve as its first Superintendent, the North Accra Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana was inaugurated in 1973. It must be noted that Calvary is the first society in the whole connexion to be made a one Society Circuit; a proud achievement, 48 years after its inception as the Fante Sunday School.
Apart from the clergy, there have been lay men who have served in various capacities as Society and Circuit Stewards in the church.
Expansion
Calvary Methodist Church has been a central church for all Akans mostly Fantis who live in various parts of Accra. Whenever a group of members from one suburb or community increased enough to form a Society, they were allowed to worship as such. The following Societies are the offshoots of the Calvary Methodist Church-Adabraka, Accra.
a. Mount Olivet Methodist Church - Dansoman
b. Gethsemane Methodist Church - Mamprobi
c. St. John Methodist Church - New Achimota
d. Immanuel Methodist Church - Airport East
e. Adjirigarnor Methodist Church - East Legon
f. Pantang Nursery Society – Pantang.
Evangelism in Calvary Methodist Church
In 1990, the North Accra Circuit was made up of three societies namely Calvary, Gethsemane, and St. John. All indications were that soon the other two societies namely Gethsemane and St. John would attain circuit status, then North Accra would revert to its original status as a one Society circuit.
When Calvary members resident in the areas covered by Mt. Olivet, Gethsemane and St John started fellowshipping in those residential areas there was the need for Calvary to undertake serious evangelism to draw more souls to Christ.
Just then Bro. Yaw Ofori returned from the Haggai Institute in Singapore and had the urge to embark on real evangelism with the permission of the Leaders’ Meeting. He organised an Evangelism School to train members in the art of evangelism.
The first members of the school included Sis. Dina Yorke, Sophia Jones, Patience Andoh, Comfort Aryeh, Josephine Quainoo, and Brother Bruce Tagoe. These members constituted the evangelism team to reach out to the rural Accra communities. Villages covered were Agyiriganor, Otano, Bawaleshie and Frafraha.
On March 7, 1992, the Agyiriganor preaching post was planted by the Evangelism Team. The church started in the living room of the then Chief, Nii Odai Kwame. Finally, the preaching post moved into its own premises.
We thank God for His great mercies; two products of the Evangelism School are now Rev. Douglas Bruce Tagoe and Evangelist Dinah Yorke. Brother Kingsford Amoah, Sister Irene
Osam-Tawiah and Brother Kwaku Asante- Krobea are the other Evangelists in the circuit.
Organisations
Over the years, several organisations have sprang up in the church to support her spiritual development. Among these are the Men's Fellowship which was inaugurated by Very Rev. T. W. Koomson on August 1, 1976 with a total membership of 53, and Bro. A. E. Enchia as its first chairman and Bro. S.H. Wilson as Secretary. Hitherto, the Men's Fellowship has stretched to almost every Methodist Church in the whole connexion.
Before the Men’s Fellowship were the Women's Fellowship, Christ’s Little Band, the Choir, the Singing Band, the Guild, Youth Fellowship, Boys and Girls Brigade and later, the Susanna Wesley Mission Auxiliary (SUWMA).
Currently, there is a vibrant and dynamic singing group, Calvary Jewels, which provides soothing gospel music during church services. The Awerekyekyer Kuw is a group which visits the sick and destitute in the church as well as other people through regular home and hospital visits.
Ministers/Evangelists
The history of Calvary will not be complete without the mention of Superintendent Ministers, Ministers and Evangelists who have served in the circuit, and whose spiritual guidance has propelled it this far. On this auspicious occasion we cannot but thank them all, both living and dead, for their invaluable contributions towards our spiritual growth. To all our cherished ministers, lay persons and the entire congregation who have faithfully and selflessly served the church we say thank you and God Bless!