As early as 1902, there were religious disputes btw Muslims & Christians in Benin. The 1st place of worship built in Benin city after the British took over in 1897 was a mosque in Lagos street built by hausa & yoruba soldiers of NCPF who fought alongside the British in d invasion
When the CMS Bishop James Johnson set up the 1st Anglican church in Benin in 1902, it was also at Lagos street. But they were forced to relocate because of the confrontations from the Muslim soldiers. In one occasion the soldier seized the Church Bell and Bibles for weeks.
In other occasions , these soldiers who were kept in Benin by the British District Commissioner, Crewe-Read to maintain British authority in Benin arrested and detained the church members while worshiping. CMS was later given a piece of land by the Ohuoba of Benin to build on.
Egiebor Ohuoba (19 yrs) & Arokun Ohuoba (wife of Oba Ovonramwen) who were christian converts & members of the new church had pleaded with their father & he gave CMS part of his palace land at Sokopba road where st Mathew's Cathedral, the 1st church after the invasion was built.
Chief Ohuoba of Benin Kingdom - the head of the Ewua guild of Ogbelaka was 1st appointed to assist the Roman Catholic Father in the 15th century by Oba Esigie & his descendent, Rev. Emmanuel Egiebor Ohuoba became 1st Benin indigenous Priest in the middle part of the 20th century.
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