John Bryan Small Explained

John Bryan Small
Birth Date:14 March 1845
Birth Place:Saint Joseph, Barbados
Death Place:York, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation:Clergyman
Education:Codrington College
Signature:Signature of John Bryan Small (1845–1905).png

John Bryan Small (March 14, 1845 – January 15, 1905) was a Barbadian-American bishop in the AME Zion Church.

Biography

John Bryan Small was born in Saint Joseph, Barbados on March 14, 1845.[1] He was educated at St. John Lodge, and graduated from Codrington College with A.B., S.T.B., and A.M. degrees.[1] He joined the British Army as a clerk and was stationed in the Gold Coast for three years, resigning due to British aggression towards the Asante.

In 1871 he travelled to the United States, becoming a preacher with the AME Zion Church.[1] He married Mary J. Blair on October 23, 1873.[1]

In 1896 he was elected AME Zion bishop to Africa, where he concentrated his work in the Gold Coast, training indigenous African church leaders including James E. K. Aggrey by sending them to Livingstone College.

Small returned to the US in 1904. He died at the Episcopal residence in York, Pennsylvania on January 15, 1905.[2] His deathbed words were "Don't let my African work fail."[3]

Publications

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans . IX . Rossiter . Johnson . John Howard . Brown . The Biographical Society . Boston . . 1904 . 2022-05-28 . Internet Archive.
  2. News: Death of Bishop J. B. Small . Harrisburg Telegraph . 5 . 1905-01-16 . 2022-05-28 . Newspapers.com.
  3. Book: Jacobs, Sylvia M.. African-American Experience in World Mission. African Missions and the African-American Christian Churches. 35.