UEC Brief History
BRIEF HISTORY OF UEC CHURCH DENOMINATION
On 14th September, 1887, Samuel Alexander Bill, then 23 years, set sail from Belfast for Ibuno. He arrived Calabar on 6th October 1887, and was first received by Mr. Foster of the Presbyterian Church, the man who forwarded the letter of request from Ibuno people. Mr. Bill stayed two weeks in Calabar with the Presbyterian Missionaries, who taught him the local language and the customs of the people. On 1st December, 1887, he arrived Ibuno and was treated to a rousing welcome. He settled in a two-room apartment the Chiefs and the people built for him on the bank of Aqua Obio River.
A few months later, the natives built a mud and wattle thatch house which became the first church building of his mission. Thus, the mustard seed was sown. Samuel Bill went straight into teaching the "hungry people" about Jesus Christ. He had initial difficulties but the divine care over him never failed. Psalm 23 which he often recited proved a source of encouragement and inspiration to him. He usually got his provision through a launch that sailed between Calabar and Eket. Mr. & Mrs. Williams often accorded him warm hospitality. Constantly too, the people of Ibeno sent him yams and fowls.
It was a great task learning to live as a white Christian missionary in pioneering conditions, and learning a new language in a trying climate.
But he knew that the one who called him was with him, and that he would guide him in bringing the light of the gospel to these people who had requested a teacher. He set up a little school at the verandah of his house where boys learned to read, and where he learned the sounds and meanings of the Efik language.
His first converts included David Ekong, a young boy of fourteen, who later became Samuel Bill's house boy and interpreter, and who later still became the first Pastor of the Qua Iboe Church, now United Evangelical Church (QIC). His conversion was a remarkable asset to the church. Next in the line of conversion was a woman called Mma Etia, a woman of forty. Then came an influential man, Chief Egbo-Egbo, a gin trader who later abandoned his trade on becoming a Christian. Chief Egbo-Egbo's daughter, Mary, became the wife of David Ekong.
Archibald Bailie, Samuel Bill's boyhood friend, joined him in Nigeria in 1888. Both Sam and Archibald committed their lives to Christ at a Moody and Sankey campaign in the 1870's, and were trained at the same college. It was a great day for Samuel when Archie Bailie joined him at Ibeno, and there seemed no end to the possibilities stretching before them. Both of them worked with untiring effort, and soon began to see the fruit of their labour.
The first baptism included the first woman convert, Mma Etia, and the first male convert, David Ekong.
On 29th December, 1889, the second baptism of 5 persons was held. Six weeks later, on 18th February 1890, the first communion service took place. Eleven communicant members participated among whom were David Ekong, Mma Etia, Chief Egbo-Egbo, John Nwaining, Equolo, and two elderly wives of a heathen Chief. Archie Bailie gave the message from Isaiah 53 while Sam Bill listened with keen interest. About 100 persons attended the service.
