Christianity in the Gambia

Saint Mary's Anglican Cathedral in Banjul

Christians in The Gambia constitute approximately 8 percent (~136,400) of the country's population (1,705,000^[1] - 2009 est.)

The government did not establish a state religion^[2], 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.^[3]

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.^[2] 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.^[2] In some areas, Islam and Christianity are syncretized with animism.^[2]

Roman Catholicism

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Banjul (the building with red roof)

Interior of Trinity Methodist church, Serrekunda

Main article: Roman Catholicism in The Gambia

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%)^[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.

Anglican

The Anglican Diocese of Gambia and the Rio Pongas 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.^[5]

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.

External links

• The Catholic Diocese of Banjul
• Anglican Diocese of Gambia

Christianity portal

See also

• Religion in The Gambia
• Islam in The Gambia

References

1. ^ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009) (.PDF). World Population Prospects, Table A.1. 2008 revision. United Nations. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf. Retrieved 2009-03-12. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} International Religious Freedom Report 2007: Gambia. United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (September 14, 2007). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
3. ^ "CHAPTER IV - PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS". Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia. 1997. http://www.commonlii.org/gm/legis/const/1997/5.html. Retrieved 2009-01-14. 
4. ^ http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbnjl.html www.catholic-hierarchy.org
5. ^ http://geoconger.wordpress.com/category/anglican-church-news/church-of-the-province-of-west-africa