Celestial Church of Christ UK’s First Centenarian
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Mother Celestial Esther Ayinke Alaba Soremekun clocked 100 years on Sunday 4th of February 2018. The century-old Grandma who has been a member of Celestial Church of Christ since 1984, celebrated her birthday in style at CCC Elephant and Castle Parish, London. Many guests came to celebrate with Mama Soremekun, such as those from The Holy Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, the Mayor of Southwark, the Mayor of Hackney, the head of UK and Northern Ireland Diocese Baba Fatunsin, MP Neil coil and many others.
During the thanksgiving service, the choir rendered an anthem and many of the guests said a few words. Anyone that reaches 100 years old receives a card from the Queen. The Mayor of Southwark kindly read out Mama Soremekun’s card to her. After listening to a brief life story of Mama Soremekun and learning about her love for particular Nigerian dishes, he said, “In [his] role [he] visits other people that reach 100 years old. Next month [he] is visiting someone that is 105 and [he] tries to find out the secret to living so long. [He] has now learnt that egg, rice and yams help.”
The President of the Council of African and Caribbean churches in the UK also attended the thanksgiving service along with the Archbishop of the Council of African and Caribbean Churches – They explained how they heard about her birthday and said they must go and congratulate her.
Mama Soremekun did not speak much on the day however her family members thanked everyone on her behalf. The service was followed by a reception at River of Life Hall, South Bermondsey.
Author: Damilola Bolaji
Cool, Favoured, Extrovert
