Ebenezer Methodist Church like many other churches in the country and elsewhere started with a few dedicated, devoted and selfless men and women who have been converted to the Christian faith. This account is presented in two phases;
- The Catechist’s Era and
- The Ministerial Era
The founding fathers were all members of the Wesleyan Church at Adum near the Prisons. They trekked in the mornings and the evenings to Adum for church service. The shortest possible route to Adum was through “soldier line” that is currently the Uadarra barracks. Apart from trekking or the distance, they were frequently harassed by the soldiers as well as the recruits especially in the evenings.
On many occasions, they had to mention the name “Kwame Kyem” who was then Bantamahene in order to secure easy passage through the barracks to Adum.
The establishment of a branch church was the main solution to the problems enumerated above. A formal application to this effect was submitted through Rev’s Bartels and Addo to the then Superintendent Minister in charge, Rev. Walter Worth.
When approval was given, Mr. Abraham Morton was appointed as the caretaker. The founding fathers were the following;
- J.S Tuffour
- Mrs. Asante
- J.E Bordor
- Hannah Osei
- Agya Gyau
- Elizabeth Abijah
- Agya Barnie
- Rebecca Frimpong
- Christian Amoah
- Mary Attakora
- James Asante
- Mercy Awuah
- Robert Penny
- Mary Ansah
- Nelson
- Elizabeth Asante
- Abraham Morton
- Felicia Borbor
- Mary Akawo
- Elizabeth Tonte
- Rebecca Yeboah
- Mary Asante
- Madam Ama Sei
The branch started as a cell until Nana Ataa-Osekye of Apemanim offered her house as a place of worship. The house was adjacent to the Bikai Pharmaceutical factory. Church services were held for about seven years. A larger place of worship in a form of a store-room was offered by the head of the Ankrah family.
This building is opposite to Bantamahene’s Palace. Church services and meetings took place here for about ten years. At this point in time, the number of the congregation was quite large and therefore the church moved into a rented abandoned corn mill opposite the old Bantama Market. The chapel building until recently served as Mr. Anaman’s workshop.
This chapel once again could not accommodate the growing numbers of the congregation. The church moved to the then Methodist Primary School at Abrepo Junction in 1952.
In 1931, Mr. J.S Obeng was appointed as the first Catechist. Other Catechists who served at Bantama were the following:
- Mr. Ernest Abeka
- Mr. M.C. Baiden
- Mr. Abeka Mends
- Mr. D.A Agyarkwa
- Mr. J.B Pianim
- Mr. J.B Baiden
- Mr. Adu Gyamfi
The church moved to its present premises when a more spacious and modern chapel was built in 1963. The Foundation Stone was laid by Catechist J.B Baiden and completed during the term of office of Catechist Adu Gyamfi. Rev. J. Fredrick Bart Addison chairman of Kumasi district dedicated the chapel in November 11th, 1963. He was supported by the late W.K Anin. Soon after the chapel was built, a Manse was constructed single handedly by the late Mr. W.K Anin.
