St. Peter's Cathedral, Okrika as it is known today is the forerunner of Christianity in Okrika nation and other ethnic nationalities such as Eleme, Etche, and Apara and Evo (of Ikwerre). Christian Religion was brought to Okrika in 1878 by Chief Atorudibo (Chief and Head of Okomakiri House, Bulomebiri and Chief Priest of Odobiri Deity) on his return from Bonny on a Business expedition. This new religion was fiercely opposed by the worshippers of Odobiri Deity and others. The time Christianity would have enjoyed the benefits of a Church Station was spent in opposition to Christianity by subjecting the founder (Chief Atorudibo) to ridicule.
However, with the strong support of Chiefs Inyanaboitamuno George and Ilalamaoku Ogan, whose houses were used for prayer sessions, the new religion gained grounds and established in Okrika. The first Chapel to be used was a big room in Ogan Compound, Okrika donated by Chief Ilalamaoku Ogan, and the second Chapel measuring 52ft by 19ft that could accommodate about 700 worshippers was allocated on site also in the compound of Chief Ilalamaoku Ogan.
As more and more people embraced the new religion, the private homes of the chiefs could no longer accommodate the new converts for prayer sessions and Sunday services. Therefore, Chief Fiberesima donated a parcel of land for a church building to worship God. At the invitation of Rt. Revd. Ajayi Crowther, in company of his son Archdeacon Dandeson Coates Crowther who visited Okrika in May 1881, and under the auspices of King Ibanichuka, Bishop Crowther inspected the land donated by Chief Fiberesima and described it as "quite an open and good high ground." The Bishop formally established the Church in Okrika and gave the name "ST. PETER."
Change is a constant phenomenon in every aspect of life and in this wise, change affects both animate and inanimate objects. This was the case with St. Peter's (Ang.) Church, Okrika, as she underwent four translations in fourteen (14) decades. From being a Station, it translated to a Parish and District, and eventually an Archdeaconry. With the establishment of St. Peter's (Ang.) Church and the building of the Magnificent Cathedral — "as different from the colonially assembled one; 'for the people had a mind to work,' said to be initiated in 1923 through the instrumentality of the influential chiefs of that age, led by the Paramount Ruler, Chief Daniel Oju Kalio and completed in 1924 — was dedicated and consecrated by Bishop A. W. Howells on Saturday 12th January, 1929." Between 1923 and 1924, she became a District Church and begat several churches, notably St. Cyprian Church, Port Harcourt in 1916. In 1983, the status of St. Peter's (Ang.) Church, Okrika was translated to an Archdeaconry as Okrika Archdeaconry, by Rt. Revd. S. O. Elenwo in the Niger Delta Diocese.
November 16th, 2023, was yet another remarkable day for the journey of Christianity in Okrika, as the Diocese of Okrika was birthed. With this development, St. Peter's (Ang.) was once again translated into St. Peter's Cathedral and became the headquarters of the newly created Diocese of Okrika. Change seems synonymous with St. Peter's (Ang.) Church, Okrika as she was pronounced Cathedral Archdeaconry on 1st May, 2022 at the 1st Session of the Seventh Synod at Abam Deanery, and inaugurated on 30th June, 2022 by his Lordship Rt. Revd. Enoch Atuboyedia, JP.
