Sydney Granville Elton: The Missionary Who Shaped Nigeria’s Pentecostal Movement

Sydney Granville Elton was a white missionary who mentored several notable men of God in Nigeria. He was sent as a missionary by the Apostolic Church headquarters in Penygroes, Wales, with the primary task of establishing and overseeing schools and churches in the name of the Apostolic Church Mission.

However, upon arriving in Nigeria in 1937, Elton became deeply involved in the revival sweeping through the nation—a revival that had begun in 1918 at the close of World War I and continued until the late 1930s. During this time, he formed a strong bond with Joseph Ayodele Babalola and became his mentor. In his effort to nurture Babalola’s spiritual growth, Elton translated Franklin Hall's book, Atomic Power with God Through Fasting and Prayer, into Yoruba, making it accessible to Babalola. The book profoundly influenced Babalola’s ministry.

After Babalola’s passing in 1959, Elton continued raising a new generation of leaders within the Nigerian Church. In the 1960s, he facilitated the ministry of American evangelists such as T. L. Osborn and Gordon Lindsay, who were seeking to carry out evangelistic work in Nigeria.

By the 1970s, Elton had become recognized as the father of the Pentecostal Revival Movement in Nigeria. He actively sought out young believers, particularly university students, encouraging them to embrace their divine destinies. He also helped connect some of them with top American evangelists, broadening their exposure to global ministry.

From the 1970s until his passing in 1987, Elton mentored several young men who would later become leading figures in Nigeria’s Pentecostal and Charismatic movements.

Some of the men Elton mentored include Archbishop Benson Idahosa, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Brother Gbile Akanni, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor W. F. Kumuyi, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, Dr. Mike Oye, Apostle Geoffrey Numbere, and many others. Pastor Enoch Adeboye frequently visited Elton at his residence in Ilesa every fifty days while serving as a mathematics lecturer at the University of Ilorin. Brother Gbile Akanni was also a frequent visitor.

It was Elton who introduced Benson Idahosa to American healing evangelists Gordon and Freda Lindsay, paving the way for his global ministry. Both Gordon Lindsay and Elton ordained Idahosa into ministry in 1971. When Idahosa decided to leave his theological studies at Gordon Lindsay's Bible college, Christ for the Nations Institute, in Texas, USA, he and Elton worked closely in evangelizing his hometown, Benin City. They organized large crusades in stadiums, drawing thousands to Christ.

Benson Idahosa passed away on March 12, 1998, at the age of 59.

A Legacy That Continues to Inspire

Sydney Granville Elton was not just a missionary—he was a spiritual architect who laid the foundation for the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements in Nigeria. His influence extended beyond his time, shaping the destinies of some of the most powerful men of God in the nation. Through his mentorship, he raised leaders who would go on to transform millions of lives, establish thriving ministries, and spread the gospel across Nigeria and beyond.

His life exemplified the power of discipleship, the importance of mentorship, and the impact of true kingdom service. He did not seek personal recognition but dedicated himself to empowering others to fulfill God’s call. The fruit of his labor is evident today in the ministries of his spiritual sons, whose voices continue to shape Christianity in Nigeria and around the world.

Though Sydney Granville Elton passed away in 1987, his legacy lives on, burning brightly in the lives of those he mentored and the countless souls they continue to reach. May we, too, be faithful in our generation to carry forward the gospel, raise new leaders, and impact the world for Christ.

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