Catholic Church Architecture in Ibadan, Nigeria after Vatican II: Lessons for Modern Church Designers.

This article examines the evolution of 20th-century Catholic Church architecture in Ibadan, Nigeria, highlighting two distinct phases aligned with liturgical and architectural developments. Early 20th-century church buildings in Ibadan adhered to the traditional Catholic design principles summarized by Charles Borromeo (1538–1584), emphasizing features such as prominent siting, cruciform or basilica plans, and specific interior arrangements consistent with pre–Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) liturgy. Following Vatican II and influenced by modernist architectural functionalism, later 20th-century church buildings in Ibadan adopted new forms—such as diamond, fan, semi-circular, and circular plans—to foster active congregational participation and accommodate liturgical reforms, while employing contemporary materials and construction methods. These later churches reflect guidance from post-Vatican II documents like *Environment and Art in Catholic Worship* (EACW, 1978) and *Built of Living Stones* (2000), balancing innovation with continuity in Catholic architectural tradition. The study is based on archival records, oral histories, and field investigations, contributing to a previously underexplored aspect of Ibadan’s religious and architectural history.