The (C & S Movement Church, Surulere District) Church Wardens came into being in 1971 upon a spiritual utterance made by the General Leader, Special Apostle Prophet G. O. Fakeye during a service of the Church at Onike, Yaba, Lagos. In the revelation, God commanded the establishment of the Church Wardens and gave a clear description of their priestly garment specifying the use of yellowish colour for the design. God related the yellowish colour with the ‘gold angelic colour’ in heaven. Further, God gave the law that will guide the activities and operations of the Church Wardens.

Furtherance to the above revelation, in 1972, at a Bar Beach service, a spiritual utterance came through Prophetess Lara Oyeyemi, interpreted by then Prophet S. F. Korode that God has declared Surulere Branch Wardens as belonging to the third generation of Levites. What a great privilege and love from God!

UNIFORM
It is pertinent to note that in the first spiritual revelation, just as God gave specific instructions on the specification of the priestly garments in the time of Moses (Ex. 28), God gave a graphic impression of the design, colour and texture of the Church Wardens’ officiating uniform.

1. The material used for the Church Warden’s uniform must be pure white drill (at least, of medium thickness).
2. The uniform shall be a straight white cassock; adorned with yellow or red trimmings at the neck, bottom and wrist end of the sleeves and there shall be shoulder drop cape.
3. The yellow–trimmed uniform is for Sunday service, marriage ceremonies and birthday services, while the red trimmed uniform is for week-day; Lenten period and any other service which do not fall within the stated service under yellow uniform.
4. The cassock is to be made with front opening from the neck to the bottom with concealable white bottoms in front, while lapel at the back shall also run from the neck to the bottom.
5. Part of the Wardens uniform is yellow or red girdles, which must be of the same material with the trimming of the dress. The yellow or red trimming must be of washable non-fading colour.
6. The dresses are not to be worn outside the Church premises indiscriminately for other ceremonies except by the approval of the General Leader-In-Council.
7. A fully-dressed Warden must be equipped with a Holy Bible and/or his ordination staff.

MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to able-bodied males between 25 and 40 years of age. A full-fledged member of the church may be called to serve as a Church Warden by spiritual directives.

Other male members may apply through their Band Captains who will recommend such applicants as fit and proper to be admitted as Church Wardens. Thereafter they will undergo thorough screening, spiritual clearance, in-house tutorial and on-the-job training.

By spiritual directive, first male child of every Church Warden has been granted automatic membership. Such interested first sons now resume duty from Children Ministry, transferring to the Youth Fellowship Group and finally graduating to become full-fledged Church Wardens after further one-year formal tutorial.

ROLES AND DUTIES
The roles and duties of Church Wardens in the conduct of religious services in the C & S setting can be summarized as follows, among others:

• Attending to the physical, social, spiritual well-being of the congregation;
• Ensuring orderliness, safety, comfort, concentration and spiritual effectiveness during the various church services;
• Enforcement of Church norms, laws, rules, regulations and directives.

FUNCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL CLASSIFICATION 
In the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Church Wardens roles and duties are functionally grouped into the following five divisions:

1. ALTAR WARDENS – They are in charge of preparation and arrangement of the high and working altars for church services and they take care and/or assist the Ministers, Priests, Pastors and officiating elders in the inner altar in directing and coordination of services. Altar Wardens also include the Cross bearers and Incense burners.

2. CHURCH [GENERAL, HALL] OR PEOPLE’S WARDENS – They take care of the worshippers in the main Worship Hall during and after the church services. Their duties include running errands, controlling movements, mopping spillages, internal surveillance (for orderliness, safety and decorum), offering collections, leading Halleluyah chorus, and other service duties. Their other specific duties include:

• Keeping the church hall tidy and in appropriate state at all times especially before each service (pew must be well arranged/packed and clean, windows opened, lights, fans and other utilities switched on etc);
• Ensuring that equipment and fittings are in good working condition;
• Bell-ringing and time-keeping for and attending to enquiries on church services, and
• Making sure that Church Hall is securely locked after church services.

3. DOOR/GATE WARDENS – They handle the sentry duties in all the church entrances and are also in charge of receiving and initial caring for visitors and the safe-keeping of shoes especially for visitors.

4. COURTYARD WARDENS – Who take care of the churchyard and its environ before, during and after services. Their duties include traffic control, parking, external surveillance and security and offering collections outside the Church Hall.

5. BISHOP’S, PASTOR’S OR LEADER’S WARDENS [OR CURATE] – They take care of Church Elders in the inner altars and their movements during services. This category of Church Wardens includes Church properties’ Stewards in charge of the custody and maintenance of church movable and immovable property.