Nigeria's religious history began in the 16th century with the arrival of missionaries from Portugal. While Badagry is often considered the birthplace of Christianity in Nigeria, it wasn’t the location of the first church.
The first and oldest church in Nigeria is the Cathedral Church of St. Peters in Ake, Abeokuta. The key missionary in charge, Rev. Henry Townsend arrived from Sierra Leone to spread Christianity. And from 1846 to 1867, Abeokuta became the vineyard that he was called to work.