About St Lawrence
A place of prayer, worship, fellowship, and service in Paiko–Idimu.
Our Story
From the humblest of beginnings as a Small Christian Community, to a Mass Centre, an Out Station, a Quasi-Parish, and finally to the dedication of our church building to the glory of God — the history of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Paiko–Idimu, Lagos, is a testimony of faith, hope and uncommon generosity.
The Birth of a Catholic Community
Late Rev. Fr. John Hannon was the Parish Priest of St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, Boys Town, Ipaja, when the first seeds of St. Lawrence were sown. He welcomed the development and immediately responded by visiting Idimu in the company of Catholic faithful from the parish. On that visit, Fr. Hannon and his entourage discovered the nucleus of a Catholic community in the Idimu area — and the urgent need for a Catholic Church there, since none existed at the time.
Fr. Hannon immediately commenced the process of acquiring land. He mandated parishioners from St. Ferdinand — including Late Sir A. A. Ajayi, Late Mr. H. B. Adesina, Prince A. K. Adeshina, Late Sir Da Silva, Mr. Odusanya (then Chairman of Idimu Road Catholic community), and Late Pa Paul Oyerinmade Adisa Ojo — to approach Archbishop Emeritus Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie concerning this positive development.
They found an expanse of land at Paiko — the present location of the Church — and engaged the owners, who agreed to sell. Cardinal Okogie responded favourably and released the funds for the purchase, even though the land was quite a distance from St. Ferdinand. The land was bought from the family of Pa Ogongo through Alhaji Waidi Ewenla (Ebedi) and Alhaja Mutiatu Hassan (the Iya Oba of Idimu) at the time.
Development did not begin immediately due to lack of funds. However, when His Eminence Cardinal Okogie visited the site, he stressed the need to take full possession by fencing it against trespassers. On his way, he stopped at the palace of the late Oba Onidimu, Oba Saula Rufai. The Oba, appreciative of the visit, mandated Pa Olorunfunmi to give a piece of land at Liasu to His Eminence — where St. Francis Catholic Church, Idimu and its Secondary School stand today.
St. Lawrence as a Mass Centre
In 1992, Rev. Fr. Hannon was transferred from St. Ferdinand, which delayed early development. His successor, Rev. Fr. Anthony Fadairo (now Episcopal Vicar for Ikeja Region), replaced him and began work on the site. The land was cleared, and he inaugurated the site as a Mass Centre under St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, Boys Town, Ipaja.
He celebrated the first Mass on this land on Palm Sunday of 1995, with a joyful procession from Isheri roundabout, singing and dancing to the church site. The spiritual exercise created widespread awareness and drew many Catholic faithful in the community to the new church.
On His Eminence’s pastoral visit to St. Ferdinand, he named the church St. Lawrence Catholic Church, in memory of the late Msgr. Lawrence Layode, who for many years was Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Idumagbo, Lagos. Mr. Alakaloko led evangelization through the Legion of Mary, going from home to home. In the process, five Catholic families were discovered — the families of Messrs. Matthew Enoh, Anthony Osaigbovo, Elias Mbah, Vincent Ogunoba, and Dr. & Mrs. Frank — who formed the Tuesday evening prayer meeting led by Brother Matthew Ajayi of St. Ferdinand.
Mr. Omotayo and late Mr. Anagaba taught catechism classes, while P.A. Ojo trained the altar servers. Rev. Sisters Pauline and Bibiana assisted in communion services whenever the priest was unavoidably absent.
St. Lawrence as an Outstation
Rev. Fr. Joseph Yemi Akinlotan, as Parish Priest of St. Ferdinand, started the skeletal structure of the church with strong metals and roofing before his transfer. Rev. Msgr. Christopher Edema Boyo came onboard with his associate, Rev. Fr. Jude Anyaehie, and continued the good work. Monsignor Boyo constituted the first church council to manage the affairs of the church under his guidance and chairmanship. He also started the Sunday Mass and Wednesday evening Mass/confessions, which contributed to the rapid growth of the faithful.
Late Monsignor Peter Oke took over as Parish Priest of the mother parish and was zealous to complete the church building. On his assumption of office in early 2002, he reorganized the church and identified the need to speed up construction. Under him, St. Lawrence witnessed spiritual, structural and physical development.
During his tenure, he embarked on the pillar project to support the galleries and strengthen the entire structure. The old roofing was pulled down and replaced with steel and aluminum roofing. Aluminum windows and metal doors were installed, and the entire flooring was completed. A modern altar was constructed with marble and tiles, sponsored by the family of Mr. & Mrs. Michael Oladeinde Akintola. Used pews were obtained from St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, to replace wooden benches. Sacred vessels and sacramentals were purchased, and the land for our multi-purpose hall was acquired. The ground floor of the Reverend Father’s house was completed, furnished and made habitable; power and water supply were also connected.
The community remains grateful to Late Monsignor Peter Oke and his associates for their outstanding contributions to the development of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Paiko–Idimu.
Under the Vincentians as an Outstation
Towards the end of 2009, the outstation was transferred to Christ the King Catholic Church, Akowonjo. Late Rev. Fr. Cyril Mbata CM was deployed as Priest-in-Residence. He immediately commenced construction of the upper floor of the Reverend Father’s house, taking it to lintel level before his sudden transfer after two years. During his short stay, he also tackled the construction of the pavilion, partitioning of the Catechist office, tiling of the Reverend Father’s office, housing of the Blessed Sacrament, and purchase of a Monstrance and tabernacle.
Rev. Fr. Gregory Ndaeyo CM took over in December 2011. He completed the upper floor of the Father’s House, and under his stewardship the roofing and ceiling, electrical installation, plumbing, plastering, aluminum windows and doors, and the Marian grotto were completed. Major ongoing projects at the time of his transfer included the construction of new pews and purchase of musical equipment for the choir.
Rev. Fr. Henry Duru CM took over in October 2013. He completed the tiling and painting of the Father’s House, continued the construction of pews, started the filling and landscaping of the entire church premises, and introduced two Sunday Masses at 6:30am and 9am.
St. Lawrence as a Quasi Parish
On 4 September 2014, His Grace Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, elevated St. Lawrence Catholic Church to the status of a Quasi-Parish during the Priestly Ordination at St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, Ipaja.
On 2 October 2014, Rev. Fr. Cosmas Mordi resumed duties as the first Priest-in-Charge, ending our status as an outstation of Christ the King Catholic Church, Akowonjo. The parish was inaugurated on 30 November 2014 by the Dean of Ipaja Deanery, Rev. Fr. Stephen Enearu. Apart from sustaining the two Sunday Masses, Fr. Mordi introduced two Masses on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday before the evening Mass.
Fr. Cosmas Mordi is associated with many achievements: filling and landscaping the church premises with interlocking pavers (completed in 2015); renovating and furnishing the Reverend Father’s house and offices; carving out and furnishing the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration; installing PVC ceiling, painting the exterior and interior, tiling and reconstructing the parish toilets.
About mid-2015, a landed property comprising several plots was identified for sale. The purchase process started in 2017 and was completed, including a building on the land. On 1 July 2018, at the invitation of Fr. Cosmas, Archbishop Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins administered the Sacrament of Confirmation and dedicated the Chapel, sponsored by the family of Chief & Lolo Solomon Ilaya.
On the pastoral and liturgical front, Fr. Mordi introduced Retreats, Fasting & Prayer programmes, the yearly Parish Feast Day of our Patron St. Lawrence in August, the reconstitution of the Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Laity Council and Parish Finance Council, and the yearly Galilee Day celebration on Easter Mondays. Several priests assisted him during this time, including Rev. Fr. Chris Ndukuba, Rev. Fr. Dickson Oforjebe, Rev. Fr. Jerome Omoregbe, Rev. Fr. Cyriacus, and Rev. Fr. Ejike, among others.
On 22 July 2020, Rev. Fr. Cosmas Mordi was transferred and replaced by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Iheanacho. Upon resumption, Fr. Gabriel started the tiling of the entire church building walls inside and outside, tiling of the fence, and the building of the Parish Multipurpose Hall sponsored by the family of Engr. & Mrs. Moses Agbonhese.
Present Day
Since November 2022, work has continued in several areas: renovation of the Father’s House, tiling of the gallery floor, construction of a new Sanctuary, refurbishment of the temporary Parish Office, cladding of the entire church building, improvement of drainage systems within and outside the church, complete overhaul of the public address system, purchase of a new piano, total renovation of the grotto of the Blessed Virgin Mary, renovation of the Sacristy, complete POP work within and outside the church building, construction of a new public toilet, completion of the Parish Hall, and general upgrade of the entire church.
While all these were ongoing, resources were also gathered to pay back the abandoned land loan taken years earlier. In summary, the story of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Paiko–Idimu, is that of a humble beginning, driven by hope, unity, uncommon generosity and God’s divine plan, to attain the level of the blessing of the dedication of the church building on this special day, 22 February 2025.
All glory be to God.
Welcome to St Lawrence
Whether you are a parishioner, a first-time visitor, or someone seeking to know more about our faith and parish community, we are delighted to have you with us at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Paiko–Idimu. Our doors — and our hearts — are open.
Vision
At St. Lawrence Catholic Church, our vision is “One Family in Christ Jesus.”This reminds us that regardless of our backgrounds, we are united as one body in Christ, called to love God wholeheartedly and one another as Christ has loved us.
Mission
To evangelise, form disciples and serve the community through the Sacraments, sound catechesis and works of mercy.