Existing Materials, Current Style and Ecclesiastical Architecture in Nigeria

Existing building materials coupled with the current style factor has been identified as one of the predominant determinants of ecclesiastical architecture. This study examined various emerging materials and architectural styles with a view to identify how and why these factors have affected the emergence and development of ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria. The study area was Lagos State because of many reasons. Lagos State was noted as the cradle of Christian evolution and growth in Nigeria. It was a place that pioneered ecclesiastical architecture in Nigeria. Lagos State was arguably one of the most Christian religious cities in the world having a long history of Independent African Churches dating back to the time of the great influenza epidemic of 1918. Since this study was a theoretical research and historical in nature, qualitative methods in form of literature, unstructured interview and non-participant observation were employed to gather the data and analysis was done by description and content analysis. The study found that building materials and the architectural styles carried theological, liturgical and spiritual meanings of the Church at different times and in different denominations. Each Church determined the choice of materials and style to augment the preached word. This study concluded that these factors carried meanings that were capable to fulfil the mission, vision and the aspirations of various Churches at various times.