Qua Iboe Church Afaha Eket

Qua Iboe Church, Afaha Eket was established in 1907 by Edward Henry, due to the church expansion from its Ibeno Parish. Qua Iboe Church is located in Grace Bill Road, Afaha, Eket, Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. The style of architecture has less influence of Romanesque.

   The structure is a Bungalow, with the Nave higher than the Aisle.

Fig 1

 A NAVE: Is the central part of the church structure, Its intent is to accommodate most of the congregation. It is rectangular in shape and it is higher than the Aisle and it accommodates the clerestory windows. seen in Fig 1
A Aisle: Is the lower part of the church building, and its parallel to the Nave, Choir or Transcept and it is divided by pillars. as seen in Fig 1

The approach elevation show a symmetrical and proportional structure.

FIG 2

          On the approach view a Tower is attached to the building and on it capped with a Pinnacle. ( A Tower is a tall structure, it is often taller than its width. Towers are self supporting structures or supported by adjacent buildings. Towers can also be featured on top of a large structure or building. Tower has its functions, in church buildings its functions includes accommodating clocks, bells and chimney. As chimney serves as thermal comfort. As seen in Fig1)

On top of the Tower where the Pinnacle starts is surrounded by concrete cast Balustrade and top hand rail. as seen in Fig 2. On the four corners of the Tower is capped with block carvings which is for aesthetic purpose.
            The church has 3 main entrance, the entrance on the approach view serves as the main entrance, while the other 2 entrances are on the west and east Transept. The main entrance porche is wider and higher than the rest two entrance. The entrance porche has long semi-circular arches, which serves as an opening for light into the space. The pillars are made from block masonry works.

FIG 3

       The clerestory windows are small, long and narrow shown in Fig 3. There are thirty in numbers on each of the east and west view. The Clerestory window are paired in threes and separated by pillars form each paired. While the windows on the Aisle are larger and longer than that of the clerestory windows and it is not paired but single semi-circular window also separated by pillars.
       On the rear view, it has a building extension work going on. The new building structure has the design and construction influence of Nigeria modern day architecture. as seen in Fig 3.
The roof style is the gable roof design and its covered with long span aluminum roofing sheets, which shows that the building had gone through renovations.
Some of the windows have seen been replaced by aluminum profile with clear glass, while some still maintains it steel casement windows (fig 3). Walls were made from block walls neatly laid showing accurate craftsmanship. walls are left undressed.