Bamenda, Thursday, August 21, 2025 – In the sidelines of the 78th Ordinary Meeting of the Bishops of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province (BAPEC), the Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Andrew Nkea, led a guided tour of the heavily transformed Metropolitan Cathedral in Big Mankon, Bamenda.
He was accompanied by the Bishop of Buea, His Lordship Michael Bibi, and the Bishop of Mamfe, His Lordship Aloysius Abangalo. The prelates were shown the ongoing works to give the iconic building a new facelift as over a dozen workers race to complete the project before the end of the year.
During the tour, Archbishop Nkea explained to his fellow bishops the architectural and religious significance of the renovations. He began with the magnificent ceiling, which is adorned with various coats of arms, including those of Pope Paul VI who created the Bamenda Archdiocese, Pope John Paul II, Pope Leo, as well as all past and present Archbishops of Bamenda.
Constructiuon works ongoing outside the Metropolitan cathedral, Bamenda
The ceiling also features engraved peace plants, which Archbishop Nkea described as a reminder that the Eucharist is a sacrifice of peace. He further explained the modifications made to make the tabernacle more visible while preserving the originality of the cathedral’s structure.
Arcbishop Nkea walks the Bishops of Mamfe and Buea around the cathederal
The bishops also visited other sections of the church, including the sacristy, Where the Archbishops would be buried and observed modifications to the windows designed to improve ventilation and lighting.
Sacristy under Reconstruction
The cathedral, rich in Catholic symbols and steeped in history, is being transformed into an architectural masterpiece that blends tradition with modern enhancements to serve the faithful for generations to come.
