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Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) declares spiritual independence from the Church of England.
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The Nigerian Church rejects Bishop Sarah Mullally’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury over her support for same-sex marriage.
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Primate Henry Ndukuba affirms commitment to GAFCON and vows to defend biblical authority.
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially declared spiritual independence from the Church of England, following the appointment of Bishop Sarah Mullally as the new Archbishop of Canterbury.
In a strongly worded statement signed by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, the Church described the appointment as a “devastating and insensitive” move that further exposes the moral and doctrinal decay within the global Anglican leadership.
“This election is a double jeopardy. First, it disregards the conviction of the majority of Anglicans who cannot accept female headship in the episcopate; and second, it is more disturbing that Bishop Sarah Mullally is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage,” the statement read.
According to the Nigerian Church, the Church of England’s decision to elevate a woman who publicly supports same-sex marriage is a sign of moral decline and rebellion against biblical teaching.
The Church recalled Bishop Mullally’s 2023 remarks in which she welcomed the Church of England’s vote to bless same-sex couples, describing it as “a moment of hope.”
“It remains to be seen how the same person hopes to mend the already torn fabric of the Anglican Communion by the contentious same-sex marriage, which has caused enormous crisis across the Communion for over two decades,” the statement added.
The Church warned that such actions would continue to tear at the unity of the global Anglican Communion and undermine the faith of millions who still uphold scriptural authority.
Declaring that the Anglican Church in Nigeria would no longer recognise the spiritual leadership of Canterbury, Primate Ndukuba reaffirmed allegiance to the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) — a conservative movement defending orthodox Anglican doctrine.
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“On our part, as a member of the GAFCON family, the Church of Nigeria affirms the GAFCON position unreservedly and reaffirms our earlier stance to uphold the authority of the Scriptures, our historic creeds, evangelism, and holy Christian living, irrespective of the ongoing revisionist agenda,” the statement said.
The Church urged conservative Anglicans in England and other parts of the world to remain steadfast in upholding biblical truth and resisting what it termed “ungodly teachings” infiltrating modern Christianity.
“We encourage all faithful brothers and sisters in the Church of England who have consistently rejected the aberration called same-sex marriage and other ungodly teachings by contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints,” the statement concluded.
The Church of England announced on 3 October 2025 that Bishop Sarah Mullally, former Bishop of London, would succeed Archbishop Justin Welby as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, making her the first woman in history to hold the position.
Her appointment, however, has intensified long-standing divisions within the global Anglican Communion especially across Africa and Asia where churches remain staunchly opposed to same-sex marriage and liberal theological reforms.
