An African-initiated church (AIC) is a Christian church independently started in Africa by Africans rather than chiefly by missionaries from another continent.
The order of establishment of these African initiated churches has been in some form of dispute over time, however, well documented and confirmed reports indicate that the right and precise order is as stated:
1) THE BLACK ELIJAH OF WEST AFRICA:
Prophet Harris, The “Black Elijah” of West Africa offers the only comprehensive study of the thought of WILLIAM WADE HARRIS, the Glebo (Liberian) loyalist whose prophetic mission from 1910 – 1929 moved tens of thousand. William Wadé Harris (1860 – 1929) was a Liberian Grebo evangelist who started his ministry in Ivory Coast died in 1929.
2) PRECIOUS STONE SOCIETY:
In 1918, an Anglican lay leader JOSEPH SHADARE, in the southwest formed a prayer group with Sophia Odunlami, a school teacher, both of whom had experienced dreams visions calling them to respond to an influenza epidemic in the region. The Precious Stone Society was established. He started his mission in 1918 and died in 1962.
3) KIMBANGUISM
Kimbanguism is a Christian new religious movement professed by 0the Church of Jesus Christ on Earth by His special envoy SIMON KIMBANGU, founded by Simon Kimbangu in the Belgian Congo (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo). He started his mission in 1921 and died in 1951.
4) THE CHURCH OF THE LORD (ALADURA):
JOSIAH OLUNOWO OSITELU started his ministry on the 17th May, 1925 – The Church of the Lord (Aladura) and died on the 12th of July, 1966. The Church of the Lord alone has about 8 Million adherents worldwide.
The Church of the Lord Worldwide is presently headed by His Holiness, Most Revd Dr Rufus Okikiola Olubiyi Ositelu.
The Church of the Lord is a member of the Organization of African Instituted Churches; All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC); Christian Association of Nigeria, a broadly ecumenical group that includes traditional Protestant churches, the Roman Catholic Church and Pentecostal churches; and the Christian Council of Nigeria that includes traditional Protestant churches and is part of the WCC.
5) CHERUBIM AND SERAPHIM CHURCH:
MOSES TUNUOLASE ORIMOLADE started his ministry – Cherubim & Seraphim Church with Christiana Abiodun on the 11th of September, 1925 and died on 1933.
6) CELESTIAL CHURCH OF CHRIST:
SAMUEL BILEWU JOSEPH OSHOFFA was the founder of the Celestial Church of Christ. He founded the church in 1947 near Porto-Novo in Benin. The church now has its main offices in Bénin and Nigeria. He died in 1985.
The documentations also indicate that, the Aladura Movement which started in Ijebu-ode, Nigeria is a classification of churches that abide by a Christian religious denomination or trend inspired by activities of progressive church elements, that included: J. B. Sadare, D. O. Odubanjo, I. O. Sanya and others in 1918.
The Aladura Group as a whole today has over 30 Million adherents worldwide.
By 1925, the Aladura Movement comprises of the Precious Stone Church at Ijebu-Ode, The Church of the Lord at Ogere-Remo and the Faith Tabernacle at Ibadan. C&S later became part of the Aladura Movement in 1929. CCC, which was founded in 1947 became part of the Aladura Movement in 1950.
THE EMERGENCE OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH AND CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
After a disagreement among the Elders of Faith Tabernacle on School-Medicine and Faith-Healing, the Faith Tabernacle group divided into many parts, but majorly into The Apostolic Church (TAC), which retained its loyalty to the British Apostolic Church from Scotland, and Nigeria Apostolic Church, which sever its link with the British Apostolic Church from Scotland and later metamorphosed into Christ Apostolic Church (CAC)
THE GREAT REVIVAL
The Great Revival of 1930 in Ibadan were officiated by Shadare of Precious Stone Church, Ositelu of The Church of the Lord and Joseph Babalola of the Faith Tabernacle.
C&S was not involved and CCC could not be involved because it was not in existence then.
Well done. More grease to your elbows.