Venerable (Dr.) Stephen Adedotun Adesanya was born on August 9, 1957, in Okepo, Ijebu Imusin. He attended St. Mary’s Anglican Primary School, Okepo, Ijebu Imusin, from 1963 to 1968, and St. Anthony’s Grammar School, Esure, Ijebu Imusin, from 1970 to 1974. In 1977, he enrolled at Nikola Tesla College of Electro-Technology, Novi Sad, Serbia, studying from 1977 to 1980 and finishing with a Diploma in Plant Technology in 1980. In 1979, he won the award for the ‘Outstanding Engineering Student 1979’ in Mathematics. He completed his Higher Diploma in Electro-Technology at Higher Electro-Metallic College, Belgrade, Serbia, from 1980 to 1982 and concurrently completed a Bachelor of Theology, B.Th. at Evangel Theology Faculty, Osijek, Croatia. He returned to Nigeria to read Guidance and Counselling at Ogun State University (today Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State between 1995 and 1997, where he received a Master of Education degree in 1997. He carried out his doctoral work between 1999 and 2003 at the University of Ado-Ekiti and obtained his PhD in Guidance and Counselling.
Ven. (Dr.) Stephen Adedotun Adesanya began his working life with a stint as a Pupil Teacher at UNA Primary School, Omu-Ijebu, from 1974 to 1975. He left teaching to work as a Trainee Assistant Technical Officer (Photo-Lithography) with Federal Surveys, Lagos, between 1975 and 1977; and from 1985 to 1988, he was Assistant Project Manager at Tomol Ltd., supplying educational laboratory equipment and chemicals.
Until 1991, he was a team player for Teen Challenge and Refuge for the Homeless in Osijek, Croatia. While working with Teen and Refuge, he was involved in getting the addicts (drugs and alcohol) and the homeless off the streets and he took part in their rehabilitation. From 1992 to 1998, he served as Pioneer Diocesan Coordinator for the Social Concern Ministry, a pioneer ministry that caters to the masses on gender, sexual, and family issues and skills acquisition in Ijebuland.
Ven. (Dr.) Stephen Adedotun Adesanya has been Vicar in the plurality of the Benefices of St. Cuthbert, Burnley, and St. Luke the Evangelist, Brierfield in the Church of England in Lancashire, United Kingdom since 2013. Previously, he was Priest-in-Charge of the Benefice of Romaldkirk with Cotherstone and Laithkirk and the Benefice of Startforth, united with Boldron and Rokeby with Brignall and Bowes from 2009 to 2013. In this position, he had pastoral oversight of the 6 Church congregations in the 2 benefices of Lower Teesdale in the county Durham but located in the Diocese of Leeds. Before then, he served as Associate Priest at St. Mathew’s, Elephant and Castle, London, in the Southwark Diocese. Apart from his priestly roles, he was part of the team that cared for the homeless and he taught basic skills (2007 – 2009).
Back home in Nigeria, he was Vicar of Emmanuel Church, Italupe, Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Diocese, from 2003 to 2006, and at the same time the Archdeacon of Iwade Archdeaconry in Ijebu Diocese. In 2004, he became the Ijebu Diocesan Synod Secretary and Secretary to the Ijebu Diocesan Finance Board until 2006.
Before his secretarial appointments, he was a lecturer at Archbishop Vining College of Theology, Akure, teaching Pastoral Psychology Care and Counselling. He was the Acting Registrar before being made an Archdeacon (1998 – 2003). Previously, he was the Bishop’s Chaplain, St Paul’s Church, Igbaga, Ijebu Imusin (1991-1992); the Bishop’s Chaplain to Diocesan Bishop of Ijebu, The Rt. Rev. A. S. O Olowoyo (1992-1994); Vicar, All Saints Church, Igbeba, Ijebu Ode (1994-1995); Cathedral Chaplain, Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Ijebu-Ode (1995-1997); and Vicar, St John’s Church, Erinlu, Ijebu Ode (1998).
He has attended several international courses and training programs, including County Durham School Governors training (2009); Leeds Diocesan Leadership Program (2009-2011); Computer Skills Program, Leeds ( July 2010); Pre-Ofsted Training program (2010, 2012); Rural Ministry Course, Sowerby, Thirsk (September 2010); Prayer Ministry Course, Penrith, Cumbria (October 2010); Voice Coaching Course, Horsforth (November 2010); Effective Parish Communications, Leeds (January 2011); Governors Training for Effective School Management, Startforth (December 2012); Youth and Children in Worship, Leeds (January 2013); and Clergy Safeguarding Training program, Ripon (March 2013, 2014).
Ven. (Dr.) Stephen Adedotun Adesanya has been very active in many community organizations and has held various key leadership positions. He was Volunteer Chaplain at HMYOI, Deerbolt, Startforth, Barnard Castle, County Durham (2010 -2011); Trustee Governor and Chair of Governors at Blarton-Dent Charity Trust, Mickleton, Barnard Castle, County Durham (2009 – 2013); Trustee Governor of Bowes Hutchinson School House, Bowes, Barnard Castle, County Durham (2009 – 2013); Foundation Governor, Startforth-Morritt (Church of England Controlled School), Startforth, Barnard Castle (2009 – 2013); Foundation Governor, Bowes-Hutchinson (Church of England Voluntary Aided School), Bowes, Barnard Castle, County Durham (2013); to mention a few. He was simultaneously a member of Leeds Diocesan Rural Task Group and Leeds Diocesan Rural Theology Group from 2010 to 2013, creating ideas for community growth.
Ven. (Dr.) Stephen Adedotun Adesanya is the author of many Christian books and a Bible teacher. He was a regular contributor to the ‘Voice of Faith’ column in the weekly Newspaper ‘Teesdale Mercury’ (2009 – 2013). His success as a prolific writer is reflected by the publication of his numerous books on Christian religious topics including Fragmented Yet One: Insights from an Outsider (2014) (www.saadesanya.blogspot.com); A Shepherd’s Journey: A Narrative and Challenging Mission of the Church of Christ in our World as Experienced by an Anglican Priest (Xlibris Publishing, USA, 2012); Your Manifestation of Purpose (Danky Christian Publications, 2007); Marriage is a Nest, not Net (Danky Christian Publications, 2005); A New Understanding (Danky Christian Publications, 2003); A Useful Visit (Danky Christian Publications, 2001); The Sexes under God (Danky Christian Publications, 2000); and The Caring God (Danky Christian Publications, 1998).
He was ordained deacon at Epiphany Church, Erunwon-Ijebu in the Diocese of Ijebu, Nigeria in June 1991, and priest at Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Italowajoda, Ijebu Ode in the Diocese of Ijebu, Nigeria, in June 1992.
His fluency in five European languages assisted his ministry in England and other places in conducting bi-lingual services with the ability to further read and write using Cyrillic handwriting. He has successfully held various pioneer positions in the Church of England, becoming the first minority ethnic clergy to hold such positions in the Counties of Durham and Lancashire in the UK. He plays table tennis and walks for leisure. He is married to Mrs. O. Olubukunola Adesanya.
