The origin of the Archdiocese of Lagos dates back to the effort of Irish and French missionaries of the Society of African Missions (SMA) to plant the seed of Catholicism in West Africa.

The first venture by SMA to establish an African Mission in West Africa began in 1858 under the leadership of a Lyon based father, Melchior Joseph de Marion Bresillac.

[1] In November 1858, when the first batch of missionaries sailed for West Africa, the location was changed to Sierra Leone as Dahomey was considered too dangerous.

By 1868, land had been secured for a Lagos mission, construction of a bamboo church and residence began at the present location of the Holy Cross Cathedral.

However, West Africa was treacherous for the missionaries, one out of four died as a result of malaria or Yellow Fever In 1870, the name of the Dahomey mission became Apostolic Vicariate of Bight of Benin.

The land was severe for the missionaries and the conditions of operations was not helped by the Franco-Prussian War which affected SMA's supplies and communication to West Africa.

In 1891, after letters by Lagosians to have their priest promoted, the Pro-Vicar of the Lagos mission, Jean Baptiste Chausse attained the title of Vicar Apostolic (similar to a Bishop).

Due to a swamp close to Igbosere in Lagos Island, a Holy Rosary Confraternity was established as a second base for mass.

[3] The propagation of the faith in Lagos and in the hinterland was effective through the provision of education to children as adults were not too impressed to drop their traditional values.

But lack of further cooperation from the Catholic community who were just Church attending Portuguese speaking people did not make the project a sustainable effort.

Between 1912 and 1929, Ferdinand Terrien was bishop; during this period, three Africans from Oyo and Ibadan, Julius Oni, Lawrence Layode and Stephen Adewuyi were consecrated as priests in 1929.