THE ARK:
FROM THE LARGEST GRASS CATHEDRAL TO THE LARGEST CHURCH STADIA:
A RECORD BREAKING CHURCH ERECTS THE LARGEST CHURCH BUILDING IN HISTORY WITHIN 4 YEARS
History is happening right under our noses.
From 1506 to 1626, a period of 120 years, the St Peters Basilica was built and that awesome structure dedicated by Pope Urban VXIII which is said to be built over the tomb of Apostle Peter and considered the greatest building ever constructed immediately became the largest church in the world.
By 1985, President Felix Houphoet-Boigny of Côte d’Ivoire signaled the commencement of Our Lady of Peace Basilica at a conservative cost of about $175 million which by its dedication in 1989 by Pope John Paul II became the largest church in the world built within 4 years according to the Guinness Workd Records even though many have simply refused to accept till today.
In 2021, a Nigerian Pentecostal Bishop, David Olaniyi Oyedepo from a corner of Ota in a corner of Africa took a step that is changing the face of Christianity.
He held a groundbreaking ceremony for what will shortly become the largest church ever built in Christendom in just about 3 years from commencement date.
As wonderful as this sounds, many have again begun to dispute and this has not gone unnoticed. The Church undertaking this project is obviously not interested in discussions like this.
However, Church Gist again in our usual manner is out to set the records straight in an article by Daniel Breakforth with the above title on Friday 22 December 2023.
However before that day, please whet your appetite with a few statistics:
1. Building Footprint
A. St Peters -21,000 Sqm
B. Basilica of our Lady-30,000 sqm
C. The Ark-66,753 sqm
2. Capacity
A. St Peters-60,000 (Including Square)
B. Our lady of Peace-17,000
C. The Ark-109,000
Dome Span.
A. St Peters-41m
B. Our Lady-90m
C. The Ark-318m (longest span in history)
Make it a date on Friday 22 December 2023.
#ChurchGist
