A Journey of Faith & Service
THE HISTORY OF THE
Church of Pentecost
1900
CHURCH FOUNDED
The Church of Pentecost, like most great institutions, started in a small way. The Church’s beginnings are linked to the ministry of Pastor James McKeown (1900-1989); an Irish missionary, who was sent by the Apostolic Church, Bradford, UK, to the Gold Coast (now Ghana) to assist a group of believers led by Rev. Peter Newman in Asamankese.
1939
DOCTRINAL DIVISION
Due to doctrinal differences regarding divine healing, the group split in 1939 into the Christ Apostolic Church and the Apostolic Church, Gold Coast. The latter saw great expansion under Pastor James McKeown.
1935
CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS
In 1953, a constitutional crisis led to the founding of Gold Coast Apostolic Church lead by Pastor James McKeown.
1957
NAME CHANGE
On the attainment of independence by the country in 1957 and following the changes of its name to Ghana, the Gold Coast Apostolic Church was renamed the Ghana Apostolic Church. The split in 1953 did not end the crisis. New conflicts compelled the then President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, to advise the leadership of the Ghana Apostolic Church to adopt a new name in order to foster peace and harmony on the Pentecostal front.
1962
BIRTH OF THE CHURCH OF PENTECOST
On August 1, 1962, following advice from President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to foster peace and harmony in the Pentecostal community, the Ghana Apostolic Church was officially renamed to The Church of Pentecost.