The year was 1843 and in London Queen Victoria was planning her maiden state visit to Paris. In Russia the effect of the decree, which abolished slavery, a year before it was being felt. A year earlier in 1841 to be precise, the Efik Kings and Chiefs had equally signed a treaty with the British Government to also abolish slavery. This was a milestone in History. But the greater milestone came in 1843 when our dignified men of history, King Eyo Honesty II of Creek Town as well as King Eyamba V and his seven (7) Principal Chiefs (then Captains now Etuboms) of Duke Town, made history in their popular letters to Queen Victoria through Commander Raymond of the ship, Man-of-War spy.
Those letters sought to restore human dignity lost in centuries of slavery and slave trade and ushered in our age of enlightenment. The letters requested the Queen to send investors so that our people could have decent means of livelihood. The letters requested Queen Victoria to send us people to train and educate our children so that we too could develop and be like them. Above all, those letters requested Queen Victoria to send missionaries to teach our people about God and to worship God in the white man's fashion.
It was these requests and follow-up negotiations that brought Church of Scotland Missions (later Presbyterian Church) to Calabar on the 10th of April 1846 led by Rev. Hope Masterton Waddle. The Kings and Chiefs provided them accommodation as well as that unique Efik hospitality. Thus the Efik nations/Kings became the first members of the Comity of Christian Kingdoms in the entire West Africa Sub-region. There is also no record of missionaries being invited by any other ancient Kings of that era in the whole of West Africa. Accordingly, in 1862 the New Testament in Efik was published and by 1868 the complete Efik Bible was published. Thus, the Efik language became the first indigenous language on the West Africa Coast, which the Bible was translated into. The Church Hymnary was also translated into Efik about the same time. Naturally, the rich Efik language became the medium for trade, education and evangelization throughout the entire South Eastern Nigeria even up to the Cameroon as well as the offshore Island of Fernando Po, now Equatorial Guinea.
And as evidence of our acceptability into the Comity of Christian Kings of the world. Queen Victoria in 1878 presented through Consul Hopkins to our King Archibong III a Royal Robe, a Scepter, an Orb, a Crown, a Gilded Throne and a copy of the Holy Bible. Accordingly, King Archibong III became the first to be crowned in the Duke Town Presbyterian Church on the 6th of September 1878 where he subscribed to the Christian Oath as partner with the Monarch of England in defense of the Christian faith. I, as a successor to King Archibong III was also crowned in Duke Town Presbyterian Church where I subscribed to the same Christian oath.
The news of the success and unique acceptability of the Church of Scotland Mission in Calabar spread far and wide and other missions were encouraged and they also came to Calabar as well as other parts of Nigeria. Even up till today, the new generation Churches do not consider themselves successful enough until they have their presences in Calabar. It is this unique initiative and the great achievements of our forebears in religion and Christianity, education and civilization that we are celebrating today the 159th anniversary of the arrival of Church of Scotland Mission on our soil. I therefore pray the Almighty God to continue to bless our people and our land for He has been the God of our forebears and is continually our God in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.