The Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) is a Pentecostal denomination that grew out of the Aladura movement in West Africa. It was founded on September 29, 1947, in Porto-Novo, Benin, by Samuel Bilehou Joseph Oshoffa. Since then, the church has expanded across West Africa and into Europe and North America, with its largest following in Nigeria.
Oshoffa, born in Dahomey (now Benin) in 1909, came from a Methodist background and worked as a carpenter. According to church tradition, he received a divine revelation on May 23, 1947. Lost in the forest during a solar eclipse, he claimed to hear God’s call to heal the sick, raise the dead, and serve as a prophet. From that moment, he assumed the titles of Prophet, Reverend, Pastor, and Founder of the Celestial Church of Christ, positions he held until his death in 1985.
The name “Celestial Church of Christ” is said to have come to one of Oshoffa’s early followers, Alexander Yanga, who, while in a trance, saw it written on a rainbow. The church presents its teachings as firmly rooted in the Bible, rejecting animism and traditional African spiritual practices. However, critics say the CCC reflects a syncretic blend of Christianity and Yoruba traditional religion.
Members of the church, who are called “Celestians,” are required to follow strict prohibitions. They are forbidden to engage in idolatry, black magic, or the use of charms, and must also abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and pork. These rules are central to the church’s identity and discipline.
Celestians are also recognized by their distinctive dress during worship. They wear a single-piece white garment symbolizing purity, and remove their shoes before entering the church or wearing the garment. Rules of purity extend further: menstruating women and those who have recently given birth are considered ritually unclean and are barred from worship for seven days, after which a purification ritual restores their participation.
Worship in the Celestial Church is marked by vibrant and expressive practices. Services feature lively music, drumming, dancing, and spontaneous prayer. Men and women are seated separately, reflecting traditional divisions of space. Only men who have been formally “anointed” may approach the altar. Candles and perfumes are also used prominently in worship, symbolizing light and purification.
Every December, the CCC organizes its most important annual gathering, the Imeko Convocation, in Nigeria. Attendance is considered mandatory for members. The event commemorates Oshoffa’s declaration that Imeko should be the “New Jerusalem” of the church, a permanent spiritual center for worship and pilgrimage.
The church operates with a hierarchical structure. The Pastor is considered the supreme spiritual leader, guiding both doctrine and administration. This central authority has often been a source of conflict. After Oshoffa’s death in 1985, disputes over succession weakened the church, with a long-running schism between several claimants continuing to this day.
Alongside its rapid expansion, the Celestial Church has faced controversy. In France, anti-cult associations such as ADFI and CCMM have described the CCC as a personality cult. They cite the strong focus on Samuel Oshoffa’s divine authority, his claimed miracles of healing and resurrection, and the concentration of power in the office of Pastor. The church has also faced allegations of “cultic deviances” and connections to acts of violence.
One of the most serious cases occurred in 2005 in French Guyana. Four members of the church were convicted after an attempted exorcism of a 15-year-old epileptic boy ended in his death. The teenager, subjected to three days of abuse, was beaten, tied to a cross, and gagged. The case drew international scrutiny and raised questions about the limits of the church’s practices outside of Africa.
By 2001, the CCC was the second-largest denomination in Benin, with an estimated half a million members. The church has also embraced new tools for evangelism. Since the late 1990s, it has used the internet to connect its widespread congregations and maintain links across the African diaspora.
Key Sources:
Agbaje, A. A. (1986). The Celestial Church of Christ; The history of an independent African Church.
BBC News. (2021, May 10). Nigeria’s Celestial Church of Christ warns against spiritual perfumes.
Mary, A. (2002). Afro-Christianity and Identity Politics: Celestial churches compared. Archives De Sciences Sociales Des Religions.
Radio France Internationale. (2009, June 25). Church members jailed after exorcism kills teen.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 