Founding Story
The Birth of St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church
25th May, 1980 — A Whit Sunday
On 1st May, 1980, at an Ogoloma District Church Council (DCC) Meeting held at St. James' Anglican Church, Ogoloma, it was agreed to open a new Church at Fimie/Somiari — to serve Anglican faithful who trekked long distances to Bethel Anglican Church. On 18th May, 1980, Revd. Christian K. Erekosima (now Venerable), Vicar-In-Charge of Ogoloma District, came to Bethel Church and announced that all worshippers from Fimie/Somiari should go home and await his coming.
He arrived at 2:15 pm with Catechist B. T. S. Okujagu, Late Chief E. K. T. Amadi, Mr. Ephraim T. Nemi (then Pastor's Warden) and Chief E. A. G. Inimgbatuboni II. The gathering was held in Chief Jonah Fimie's parlour. Mr. Ephraim Nemi donated ₦50,000 for benches. Bethel Church approved five hymnals for the new Church to take off. Full service started the following Sunday, 25th May, 1980 — a Whit Sunday — with Revd. C. K. Erekosima officiating morning and evening. Sir Dr. Lawrence O. Nemi donated ₦100.00 for more furniture.
The Church moved through several temporary accommodations — from Chief Jonah Fimie's parlour, to Kingsley A. Somiari's house, to Pa George Job Fimie's new house, and finally to Mrs. J. I. S. Alatoru's spacious hall, where it worshipped for seven years until moving to its permanent site on 15th March, 1987.
The Church Buildings
First & Second Church Buildings
The foundation of the first church building started in 1981 after land was donated by Fimie Community through Chief Jonah Fimie. Block work was completed in 1985. In 1986, a launching was chaired by Hon. Dr. D. Olunwa JP for the roofing. The first church building was dedicated on Sunday, 16th February, 2003 by Rt. Revd. Gabriel H. Pepple.
Under Revd. Godwin Tamunotonye Iringe-Koko, a poultry farm was built for income, and the new Church building foundation was laid in 2006. Work proceeded through successive vicars. Major donors to the new building include Sir Dr. Lawrence Nemi Foundation (roofing, tiling, chancel altar, pulpit, lectern, baptismal font, windows and altar windows). Sir Ibifubara D. Kalio donated 70% of the ceiling, and Sir Chief Ibigonibo W. Fimie singlehandedly built the Church Belfry.
The dedication of the new church building was done on 24th August, 2020 by his lordship Rt. Revd. Tubokosemie Robinson Abere JP.
Pioneer Building Oversight Members (1980–1987)
- Mr. Samuel O. Fimie
- Elder Wilfred W. Fimie
- Elder I. W. Fimie
- Elder Kingsley Somiari
- Elder Festus Fimie
- Madam Moli Somiari
- Mrs. Blessing Abbey-Kalio
- Elder Mark Nuue (aka Ebechinkedi)
- Elder Pious Tubobereni
- Sir Dr. Lawrence Nemi
Recent Achievements
Works Completed (2017 – Present)
1
Security post built by Sir Ibifubara D. Kalio
2
70% of Church ceiling done by Sir Ibifubara D. Kalio
3
Church pews provided by Fimie Community under King Dr. Benard I. Fimie
4
Public conveniences built by the Parish Church Council under Revd. Colenus Amietubodie
5
Church dedicated 24th August 2020 by Rt. Revd. Tubokosemie Robinson Abere JP
6
Women's Kitchen roofed — under Revd. Abere Okuru (succeeding Ven. Dr. Mina Aprioku)
7
Three-Storey Building dedicated under the same incumbent
8
Musical instruments purchased worth ₦2,000,000
9
LED Screen installed in the church
Leadership History
Church Workers, 1988 – Present
| # | Name | Period | Remarks |
|---|
| 1 | Revd. Can. Olunwa | Aug 1988 – 1989 | Retired; did not reside |
| 2 | Cate. J. I. D. Ibiayemie (now Ven.) | Jan – May 1990 | |
| 3 | Agent T. T. Abereoku (now Ven.) | Dec 1990 – 1994 | |
| 4 | Cate. H. T. Sokinimiye | 1994 – 1995 | |
| 5 | Cate. E. P. Okuru | 1995 – 1996 | |
| 6 | Revd. S. D. Ogan (now Ven.) | 1996 – 1998 | |
| 7 | Cate. F. G. Atelibo | 1999 – 2001 | |
| 8 | Cate. J. N. Okujagu | 2001 – 2002 | |
| 9 | Revd. P. P. Amadi (now Nyanaboibi) | 2002 – 2004 | |
| 10 | Revd. G. T. Iringe-Koko (now Ven.) | 2005 – 2007 | |
| 11 | Revd. Can. I. I. Lawrence | Jan 2007 – Aug 2012 | |
| 12 | Revd. I. H. Inichinbia | Sept 2012 – Aug 2015 | |
| 13 | Ven. G. A. Eche | Sept – Dec 2015 | |
| 14 | Revd. Can. Samuel Tamunokuro (Late) | Jul – 2017 | |
| 15 | Revd. Amietubodie | 2016 – 2017 | |
| 16 | Ven. I. T. Davids | Apr 2017 – 2021 | |
| 17 | Revd. Can. I. R. Daka (now Ven.) — Curate | Apr 2017 – 2021 | |
| 18 | Ven. Dr. Mina Aprioku | 2021 – Aug 2024 | |
| 19 | Revd. Damiete Martyns Yellowe — Curate | 2021 – 2022 | |
| 20 | Revd. Boma Kalaiyo — Curate | 2022 – 2024 | |
| 21 | Revd. Abere F. S. Okuru | Aug 2024 – Present | |
| 22 | Evang. Tamuno Brown Walter | Aug 2024 – Present | |
Milestones
Permanent Site & Parish Status
Permanent Site: Seven months after the Church took off, Chief Jonah Fimie donated a parcel of land to the Church in November, 1980 on behalf of the Fimie Community.
Parish Status: At a PCC meeting on 3rd March, 2001, a letter was agreed upon. The application was forwarded through the District Church Council and Okrika North Archdeaconry Board, approved at the Niger Delta Diocesan meeting at Peterside Bonny on 15th October, 2001. A three-man verification team (Dame G. A. Semenitari, Chief F. O. Agala, Revd. Canon T. R. Abere) visited on 15th November, 2001. Inauguration as an Autonomous Parish took place on 16th February, 2002 by Rt. Revd. Gabriel H. Pepple Dip. TH. (WAATI) JP.
St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church, Fimie/Somiari-Ama
Okrika North Archdeaconry
Diocese of Okrika, Anglican Communion