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History of the Independent Baptist Movement in Jamaica with Pastor Leroy Thompson
If you are a person of truth you should not fear history. All that history does, if recorded accurately, is to relate the truth about the past. Relating the documented history of the Independent Baptist Movement in Jamaica should do a number of things:
1. Answer the many questions posed by the new generation of Christians who attend our churches.
2. Instill a sense of holy and humble Christian pride in our churches, seeing that our assemblies have been raised up by God to preserve and propagate truths that are fundamental to the gospel message in the last days.
3. Recognize that the Independent Baptist Movement was born out of an effort to fulfill the scriptural injunction to "contend for the faith, which was once delivered to the Saints."
4. Highlight the fact that the Jamaica Independent Baptist position and belief is consistent with authentic historic Baptist position worldwide.
The Baptist Movement in Jamaica started in Kingston with the preaching of the Rev. George Lisle in 1783. George Lisle was an ex-slave from the State of Georgia in the United States of America. Having gained freedom from his white master, Henry Sharpe a deacon in his home church of Kiokee Burke County, he fled to Jamaica to escape re-enslavement by his former master's relatives. Lisle was not only an experienced Pastor, Church Planter and Evangelist when he came to the Island. He was also an ordained Minister having being ordained by the Rev. Matthew Moore, a white man and his home Pastor of their Baptist Church in Burke County Georgia in 1775. Before he fled the United States, the Rev. Lisle organized the first black church in America. Hence this man of God was a seasoned campaigner for his Savior when he arrived in Jamaica.
Lisle's success in ministering the gospel to slaves and freedman in Kingston led to the organization of Baptist Churches, which consequently gave birth to the Baptist Movement on the Island. The Jamaica Baptist Union was later to be incorporated from this vibrant and ever increasing group of believers in the mid 1800's.
"Through many dangers toils and snares I have already come." These words of the Hymn "Amazing Grace" epitomize the persecutions and struggles of the early Jamaican Baptist Christians who were predominantly slaves. Therefore an invitation was sent by another ex-slave and Pastor, (Moses Baker who was a convert of Rev. Lisle), to the Baptist Missionary Society in London, England to help with this work of God in Jamaica.
In the words of the Rev. Sam Cummings, in his article on the history of the Independent Baptist Movement in Jamaica: "...Baptist missionaries came from England from the early nineteenth century and began establishing churches and schools throughout the island. They did an outstanding work, especially in being foremost in persuading the Parliament of England to abolish slavery, however, the early fervor did not continue. By the beginning of the twentieth century the Higher Criticism Movement began breathing its cold breath over Theological Colleges. Spiritual life weakened in the churches, and as run down soil succumbs to the growth of weeds so a great build up of cults took over.
It was in such climate that the Independent Baptist Movement was born. Several men were used of God to pioneer this venture. They were the Rev. G.W. Smith, Dr. J.W. Knight, Dr. A.L. McKenzie and Rev. S.I. Cummings.
George Wilfred Smith came to Jamaica in October 1928 with the support of the Regular Baptist Missionary Board of Canada. He was a member of the Jarvis Street Baptist church, Toronto, Canada. As a result of meeting in Toronto with the Rev. W.J. Mornan, who was then a Baptist Pastor and Inspector of Schools in Jamaica living at Rockcliffe. He became the Pastor of two Jamaican Baptist Union churches, namely Nightingale Grove and Hewitts View Baptist churches in St. Elizabeth. It was not long after his coming that the trend in Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) toward modernism became evident to the young missionary pastor. He wrote home on April 10,1929 : "That accursed thing Modernism is raising its head in the denomination here..."
G.W. Smith soon made his presence felt at the JBU Ministers' Conferences. He proposed that all ministers be required to sign a statement of faith, which was turned down as unnecessary. He was dubbed "Heresy Hunter".
After being with the JBU for about two years, G.W. Smith withdrew from the body, because of the rejection of two of his motions - that a certain professor be disciplined for his liberal views and that a certain pastor be disciplined for immorality. This meant that the two churches had to make a decision whether to stay with the JBU or withdraw with their pastor. They opted for the latter. Thus begun the Independent Baptist Movement in Jamaica between 1931 and 1932. The first churches were the Nightingale Grove Baptist Church and Hewitts View Baptist Church.
In 1932, G.W. Smith and his wife Dorothy returned to Canada where they had three sons: Roland Leonard, James Wilfred and Maurice Fred. It was not until 1938 that they returned to Jamaica. About this time certain events were taking place at the Mount Peto Baptist Church in Hanover, where the Rev. S.I. Cummings was the pastor. The story of the conflict between Mount Peto Baptist Church and the JBU is contained in the article "History of Independence Hall Baptist Church", written by Sam Cummings.
The Independence Hall Baptist Church came into being as a result of a deadlock between the JBU and the pastor of Mount Peto Baptist Church. The principles of the independent government of Baptist churches were the main cause of this deadlock. The JBU insisted it had the to choose pastors and oversee the affairs of each local church; never the less the Mount Peto Baptist Church took the initiative to call a pastor who was not a member of the JBU. For this they were not forgiven. The JBU finally declared itself head of this local church. At a special meeting of the Mount Peto Baptist Church on June 12, 1941, the members passed a resolution to withdraw from the Union as of that day.
The treasurer of the JBU became the pastor of the dissidents. This made it so difficult for Pastor Cummings and his congregation to meet in the church that the police had to intervene. In order to meet without molestation, the Pastor along with the congregation moved to another location and built the Independence Hall Baptist Church.
In 1929, another missionary family came, the Rev. John Knight and his wife Georgiana. They were also from the Jarvis Street Baptist Church in Toronto, Canada. Rev. Knight became the pastor of Clarksonville Circuit of the JBU. It was in the middle of the 1940's that churches in the circuit joined the growing band of Independent Baptist Churches.
Around 1953, the Buff Bay Baptist Church took a firm stand when the JBU tried to remove Dr. Austin McKenzie from the Buff Bay Circuit of Baptist Churches. After some rather unsavory ways of trying to accomplish their objective the matter came before the court, however, the JBU was not successful. The judge declared, "This case, as I see it, is entirely a moral issue. I grant every point to the Rev. A.L. McKenzie."
The JBU did not give up, between 1954 and 1958; they made it difficult for the dissenting churches to obtain their title deeds, and threatened to take over their properties. The case was heard at Gordon House, and the JBU was again defeated.
On December 1, 1959, the Rev. G.W. Smith went home to be with the Lord. At his funeral the Rev. James T.M. Green referred to him as "The Wilberforce of Jamaica". His body was laid to rest beside the Macfield Baptist Church in the parish of Westmoreland.
Upon his death, the five churches he pastored: Macfield; Bird Mountain; Hewitts View; Providence; and Sellington Baptist churches were turned over to the Baptist Mid Missions (BMM). Pastor R. Clubine was the assigned pastor of these churches. T he work of BMM has played an important part in the Independent Baptist Movement in Jamaica. In 1946, when the Smiths went home to Canada on furlough, the Rev. James T.M. Green came to take over the work; others joined the team until at one time there were twenty BMM missionaries working in Jamaica. As a result of their efforts, several churches were established.
Fellowship
On February 3, 1961, the following pastors met in the manse of the Clarksonville Baptist Church. The Rev. John Knight of the Clarksonville Circuit of Independent Baptist Churches, The Rev. S.I. Cummings of the Independence Hall Baptist Church, the Rev. Austin McKenzie of the Buff Bay Circuit of Independent Baptist Churches, Rev. James T.M. Green and Pastor Robert Clubine, both of BMM.
The following resolution was presented and passed: "Be it resolved that we as Baptist ministers representing our groups of churches here and now organize into an association of Independent Baptist Churches."
Pastors Green and Clubine were asked to draft the constitution and statement of faith of the Jamaica fellowship of Independent Baptist Churches. Subsequent to this, the Association of Independent Baptist Churches was officially formed in 1962."
The newly formed Independent Baptist movement gave rise to fresh new missionary endeavors throughout the Island. The old churches of the new movement were encouraged in missions and strengthened in the historic Baptist position. At the same time, new efforts were made by missionaries and churches to aggressively spread the Gospel in areas where there were no fundamental Baptist witnesses.
The Independent Baptist Movement today stands as a beacon of hope for "the faith, which was once delivered to the saints."
Pastor Leroy Thompson
1. Answer the many questions posed by the new generation of Christians who attend our churches.
2. Instill a sense of holy and humble Christian pride in our churches, seeing that our assemblies have been raised up by God to preserve and propagate truths that are fundamental to the gospel message in the last days.
3. Recognize that the Independent Baptist Movement was born out of an effort to fulfill the scriptural injunction to "contend for the faith, which was once delivered to the Saints."
4. Highlight the fact that the Jamaica Independent Baptist position and belief is consistent with authentic historic Baptist position worldwide.
The Baptist Movement in Jamaica started in Kingston with the preaching of the Rev. George Lisle in 1783. George Lisle was an ex-slave from the State of Georgia in the United States of America. Having gained freedom from his white master, Henry Sharpe a deacon in his home church of Kiokee Burke County, he fled to Jamaica to escape re-enslavement by his former master's relatives. Lisle was not only an experienced Pastor, Church Planter and Evangelist when he came to the Island. He was also an ordained Minister having being ordained by the Rev. Matthew Moore, a white man and his home Pastor of their Baptist Church in Burke County Georgia in 1775. Before he fled the United States, the Rev. Lisle organized the first black church in America. Hence this man of God was a seasoned campaigner for his Savior when he arrived in Jamaica.
Lisle's success in ministering the gospel to slaves and freedman in Kingston led to the organization of Baptist Churches, which consequently gave birth to the Baptist Movement on the Island. The Jamaica Baptist Union was later to be incorporated from this vibrant and ever increasing group of believers in the mid 1800's.
"Through many dangers toils and snares I have already come." These words of the Hymn "Amazing Grace" epitomize the persecutions and struggles of the early Jamaican Baptist Christians who were predominantly slaves. Therefore an invitation was sent by another ex-slave and Pastor, (Moses Baker who was a convert of Rev. Lisle), to the Baptist Missionary Society in London, England to help with this work of God in Jamaica.
In the words of the Rev. Sam Cummings, in his article on the history of the Independent Baptist Movement in Jamaica: "...Baptist missionaries came from England from the early nineteenth century and began establishing churches and schools throughout the island. They did an outstanding work, especially in being foremost in persuading the Parliament of England to abolish slavery, however, the early fervor did not continue. By the beginning of the twentieth century the Higher Criticism Movement began breathing its cold breath over Theological Colleges. Spiritual life weakened in the churches, and as run down soil succumbs to the growth of weeds so a great build up of cults took over.
It was in such climate that the Independent Baptist Movement was born. Several men were used of God to pioneer this venture. They were the Rev. G.W. Smith, Dr. J.W. Knight, Dr. A.L. McKenzie and Rev. S.I. Cummings.
George Wilfred Smith came to Jamaica in October 1928 with the support of the Regular Baptist Missionary Board of Canada. He was a member of the Jarvis Street Baptist church, Toronto, Canada. As a result of meeting in Toronto with the Rev. W.J. Mornan, who was then a Baptist Pastor and Inspector of Schools in Jamaica living at Rockcliffe. He became the Pastor of two Jamaican Baptist Union churches, namely Nightingale Grove and Hewitts View Baptist churches in St. Elizabeth. It was not long after his coming that the trend in Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) toward modernism became evident to the young missionary pastor. He wrote home on April 10,1929 : "That accursed thing Modernism is raising its head in the denomination here..."
G.W. Smith soon made his presence felt at the JBU Ministers' Conferences. He proposed that all ministers be required to sign a statement of faith, which was turned down as unnecessary. He was dubbed "Heresy Hunter".
After being with the JBU for about two years, G.W. Smith withdrew from the body, because of the rejection of two of his motions - that a certain professor be disciplined for his liberal views and that a certain pastor be disciplined for immorality. This meant that the two churches had to make a decision whether to stay with the JBU or withdraw with their pastor. They opted for the latter. Thus begun the Independent Baptist Movement in Jamaica between 1931 and 1932. The first churches were the Nightingale Grove Baptist Church and Hewitts View Baptist Church.
In 1932, G.W. Smith and his wife Dorothy returned to Canada where they had three sons: Roland Leonard, James Wilfred and Maurice Fred. It was not until 1938 that they returned to Jamaica. About this time certain events were taking place at the Mount Peto Baptist Church in Hanover, where the Rev. S.I. Cummings was the pastor. The story of the conflict between Mount Peto Baptist Church and the JBU is contained in the article "History of Independence Hall Baptist Church", written by Sam Cummings.
The Independence Hall Baptist Church came into being as a result of a deadlock between the JBU and the pastor of Mount Peto Baptist Church. The principles of the independent government of Baptist churches were the main cause of this deadlock. The JBU insisted it had the to choose pastors and oversee the affairs of each local church; never the less the Mount Peto Baptist Church took the initiative to call a pastor who was not a member of the JBU. For this they were not forgiven. The JBU finally declared itself head of this local church. At a special meeting of the Mount Peto Baptist Church on June 12, 1941, the members passed a resolution to withdraw from the Union as of that day.
The treasurer of the JBU became the pastor of the dissidents. This made it so difficult for Pastor Cummings and his congregation to meet in the church that the police had to intervene. In order to meet without molestation, the Pastor along with the congregation moved to another location and built the Independence Hall Baptist Church.
In 1929, another missionary family came, the Rev. John Knight and his wife Georgiana. They were also from the Jarvis Street Baptist Church in Toronto, Canada. Rev. Knight became the pastor of Clarksonville Circuit of the JBU. It was in the middle of the 1940's that churches in the circuit joined the growing band of Independent Baptist Churches.
Around 1953, the Buff Bay Baptist Church took a firm stand when the JBU tried to remove Dr. Austin McKenzie from the Buff Bay Circuit of Baptist Churches. After some rather unsavory ways of trying to accomplish their objective the matter came before the court, however, the JBU was not successful. The judge declared, "This case, as I see it, is entirely a moral issue. I grant every point to the Rev. A.L. McKenzie."
The JBU did not give up, between 1954 and 1958; they made it difficult for the dissenting churches to obtain their title deeds, and threatened to take over their properties. The case was heard at Gordon House, and the JBU was again defeated.
On December 1, 1959, the Rev. G.W. Smith went home to be with the Lord. At his funeral the Rev. James T.M. Green referred to him as "The Wilberforce of Jamaica". His body was laid to rest beside the Macfield Baptist Church in the parish of Westmoreland.
Upon his death, the five churches he pastored: Macfield; Bird Mountain; Hewitts View; Providence; and Sellington Baptist churches were turned over to the Baptist Mid Missions (BMM). Pastor R. Clubine was the assigned pastor of these churches. T he work of BMM has played an important part in the Independent Baptist Movement in Jamaica. In 1946, when the Smiths went home to Canada on furlough, the Rev. James T.M. Green came to take over the work; others joined the team until at one time there were twenty BMM missionaries working in Jamaica. As a result of their efforts, several churches were established.
Fellowship
On February 3, 1961, the following pastors met in the manse of the Clarksonville Baptist Church. The Rev. John Knight of the Clarksonville Circuit of Independent Baptist Churches, The Rev. S.I. Cummings of the Independence Hall Baptist Church, the Rev. Austin McKenzie of the Buff Bay Circuit of Independent Baptist Churches, Rev. James T.M. Green and Pastor Robert Clubine, both of BMM.
The following resolution was presented and passed: "Be it resolved that we as Baptist ministers representing our groups of churches here and now organize into an association of Independent Baptist Churches."
Pastors Green and Clubine were asked to draft the constitution and statement of faith of the Jamaica fellowship of Independent Baptist Churches. Subsequent to this, the Association of Independent Baptist Churches was officially formed in 1962."
The newly formed Independent Baptist movement gave rise to fresh new missionary endeavors throughout the Island. The old churches of the new movement were encouraged in missions and strengthened in the historic Baptist position. At the same time, new efforts were made by missionaries and churches to aggressively spread the Gospel in areas where there were no fundamental Baptist witnesses.
The Independent Baptist Movement today stands as a beacon of hope for "the faith, which was once delivered to the saints."
Pastor Leroy Thompson
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