Founding and heritage

The Cathedral Church of St. John, Iloro stands in the heart of Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria. Its roots reach back to 1872, when the Owa Obokun Ofokutu of Ijesaland granted land at Iloro for the building of an Anglican church. The original church building from that era still stands today beside the current cathedral, a living witness to more than 150 years of gospel ministry in Ijesaland.

The present cathedral structure was built and dedicated in 1959, and over the decades it has been the mother church of the Diocese of Ilesa within the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). It also gave rise to the Iloro Schools, extending the cathedral’s mission into Christian education for generations of Ijesa children.

The diocese

St John’s is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Ilesa, part of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). The diocese serves Ijesaland and neighbouring communities across Osun State. The current Bishop of the diocese is Rt Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Dapo Folorunso Asaju.

Our crest

The cathedral crest carries our identity at a glance. The bishop’s mitre sits above a shield containing the dove of the Holy Spirit, the open Bible of God’s Word, the palm tree of Ijesaland, and the anchor of our hope in Christ: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19)

Our mission

Our mission is to uphold the teaching of the Holy Scripture within the Anglican tradition, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism, and to demonstrate God’s love through the care of the elderly and the mentoring of young people toward maturity and responsible Christian living.

Our vision

Our vision is to be a dynamic, Spirit-led Anglican church devoted to the teaching of the Holy Scripture, the demonstration of God’s love, and the manifestation of His saving grace through Jesus Christ, drawing all people into the fullness of life in the Kingdom of God.