Christianity in The Gambia
Encyclopedia
Christians in The Gambia constitute approximately 8 percent (~136,400) of the country's population (1,705,000 - 2009 est.)
The government did not establish a state religion, however the predominant religion is Islam
, practiced by approximately 90 percent of the country's population. Article 25 of the Constitution
protects the rights of citizens to practice any religion that they choose.
The Christian community, situated mostly in the west and south of the country, is predominantly Roman Catholic; there are also several Protestant groups including Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and various small evangelical denominations. In 1963 was formed The Gambia Christian Council as an ecumenical association of Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist churches.
Intermarriage between Muslims and Christians is common. In some areas, Islam and Christianity are syncretized
with animism.
Now there are about 42,400 (~2.4%) Catholics in The Gambia. The Diocese of Banjul is divided into 56 parishes.
Bishop Robert Patrick Ellison
(b. 12.02.1942, Ireland) is the present Catholic Bishop of the diocese of Banjul.
was founded in 1935. John Charles Sydney Daly
(1901-1985) was the first bishop of the new diocese. In 1951 five West African Anglican dioceses, including the Diocese of Gambia, were formed into the Church of the Province of West Africa
. In 1985 from the Diocese of Gambia was separated the Diocese of Guinea and now the jurisdiction of Anglican Diocese of Gambia comprises the Republics of The Gambia, Senegal
, and Cape Verde
.
In 2000 the Church of the Province of West Africa adopted legislation permitting women priests, but only Liberia and The Gambia have passed enabling legislation and ordained women clergy.
Bishop Solomon Tilewa Johnson (b. 27.02.1954, Bathurst) is the current Anglican Bishop of Gambia and is the first Gambian national to hold the post.
The government did not establish a state religion, however the predominant religion is Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, practiced by approximately 90 percent of the country's population. Article 25 of the Constitution
Constitution of The Gambia
The Constitution of The Gambia is the supreme law of The Gambia. A coup by the military in 1994 suspended the constitution. The current constitution has been in place since January 1997 and marked a return to civilian control of the government.-References:...
protects the rights of citizens to practice any religion that they choose.
The Christian community, situated mostly in the west and south of the country, is predominantly Roman Catholic; there are also several Protestant groups including Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and various small evangelical denominations. In 1963 was formed The Gambia Christian Council as an ecumenical association of Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist churches.
Intermarriage between Muslims and Christians is common. In some areas, Islam and Christianity are syncretized
Syncretism
Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
with animism.
Roman Catholicism
In 1931 from the Apostolic Vicariate of Senegambia was established Mission “sui iuris” of Gambia. In 1951 Mission was promoted as the Apostolic Prefecture of Bathurst, in 1957 promoted as Diocese of Bathurst in Gambia (renamed in 1974 as Diocese of Banjul).Now there are about 42,400 (~2.4%) Catholics in The Gambia. The Diocese of Banjul is divided into 56 parishes.
Bishop Robert Patrick Ellison
Robert Ellison (Roman Catholic bishop)
Robert Patrick Ellison is the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Banjul, Gambia. He was born in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. He was ordained a priest on July 6, 1969, for the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. On 25 February 2006 he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Banjul. He was...
(b. 12.02.1942, Ireland) is the present Catholic Bishop of the diocese of Banjul.
Anglican
The Anglican Diocese of Gambia and the Rio PongasAnglican Diocese of Gambia and the Rio Pongas
The Anglican Diocese of Gambia and The Rio Pongas was founded in 1935....
was founded in 1935. John Charles Sydney Daly
John Daly (bishop)
John Charles Sydney Daly was an Anglican bishop in Africa and Asia for fifty years.-Education:Educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and Cambridge University, Daly was ordained as a Church of England deacon and priest in 1923.-Career:...
(1901-1985) was the first bishop of the new diocese. In 1951 five West African Anglican dioceses, including the Diocese of Gambia, were formed into the Church of the Province of West Africa
Church of the Province of West Africa
The Church of the Province of West Africa is a province of the Anglican Communion, covering 15 sees in West Africa, specifically in Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone. The current primate of the province is Archbishop Justice Akrofi.-History:...
. In 1985 from the Diocese of Gambia was separated the Diocese of Guinea and now the jurisdiction of Anglican Diocese of Gambia comprises the Republics of The Gambia, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, and Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
.
In 2000 the Church of the Province of West Africa adopted legislation permitting women priests, but only Liberia and The Gambia have passed enabling legislation and ordained women clergy.
Bishop Solomon Tilewa Johnson (b. 27.02.1954, Bathurst) is the current Anglican Bishop of Gambia and is the first Gambian national to hold the post.