Nigeria has the largest Christian population till date compared to any country with Christians in Africa with more than 70 million persons in Nigeria belonging to the church with various denominations. Christianity in Nigeria was introduced by Portuguese traders in the 15th Century. This was the first attempt at planting Christianity in Nigeria. The Gospel was preached then in Benin and Warri but the Portuguese traders did not succeed partially because their commercial interest superseded their evangelistic commitment. The abolition of slave trade in 1807 in England gave Africans sold into slavery the opportunity to regain their freedom. the exercise of this freedom led to the resettlement of the freed slaves in Freetown, Sirrea Leone. some of the slaves later returned to Badagary in today's Lagos State among whom was James Ferguson. ferguson, having tasted the goodness of the LORD and being in the light appealed to Rev. Thomas Dove, a Methodist Minister in Freetown. he wrote a letter dated 2nd March, 1841 to Rev. Dove to send a missionary for the purpose of leading the people to the saving grace in Jesus. warraru, the King of Badagary, countersigned the letter which content reads;

I am now in a place of darkness where no light is. i know that i was once under light and now i am in darkness. it is to bring our fellow citizens into the way which is right, and to tell them the goodness of Jehovah, what he had done for us... and as i know better than them... into the way which is right...so i humbly beg of you that be good and kind, and take pity on us, and send us one servant of Christ to instruct us...Sir, the Governor of Badagary sends compliment to you and he is very glad to hear the word of God...Please let nothing delay you except sickness.

The letter of Ferguson recieved positive response when Thomas Birth Freeman was sent to Nigeria. freeman arrived Badagary on the 24th Septmber, 1842 with two devoted African helpers, Mr. & Mrs William DeGraft. Freeman and his helpers had a warm welcome at Badagary.

The initial problem the missionary encountered was accomodation. this was solved as Freeman decided to live in his compact travleing tent temporarily, while the De-Grafts squeeze themselves into bamboo store of captain parson of Gold Coast (now Ghana) a trader in Badagary. the next day was Sunday, there was no conveinent place to hold service, but a handful of "English" Africans gathered round the missionaries and they managed to have a fellowship in Freeman's tent. the LORD made the ministry of Freeman to bear fruit as He continued to add to the number of believers, "those who were being saved", to the extent that Freeman's tent did not contain the members. the increase in number of Worshipers made the members to hastily build a bamboo cottage. this became the first church in Nigeria.