James A. Ranaldson
Encyclopedia
James A. Ranaldson was a Baptist missionary who was active in the Mississippi Baptist Association and one of the founders of the Alabama Baptist Convention.
Ranaldson was born in Brunswick County, North Carolina
in 1789.
He became a Baptist minister around 1812.
Moving to New Orleans, Louisiana
in 1817, he worked for several months as a missionary in the Indian territories of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Later that year he founded Shiloh Church in Feliciana, Mississippi, and became a teacher to cover his expenses, establishing the Society Hill Academy in 1818.
In October 1817 the Mississippi Baptist Association appointed him to a committee to create a plan for an educational fund for pious young men, and to prepare an address to churches on the subject.
In October 1818 the report was received and he was made Secretary of the Mississippi Baptist Education Society for three years.
He was an active member of the Mississippi Baptist Association until 1829, preaching in different churches and serving at different times as a messenger, clerk and secretary.
Ranaldson founded a Baptist church in St. Francisville, Louisiana
in 1823.
The same year he assisted in the formation of the Alabama Baptist Convention, arranging for a meeting of Baptist leaders in October 1823 at Greensboro, Alabama
. Along with Dempsey Winborne and Hosea Holcome he prepared the plan for a constitution, and his address (after revision by Winborne and Alexander Travis
) was printed for distribution to the churches of Alabama.
Charles Crow was appointed president of the new Convention, and Ranaldson secretary.
Ranaldson moved to Jackson, Louisiana
around 1831, where he founded a school.
After briefly associating with the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement
and becoming a farmer, he returned to the Baptist faith and founded a church at Port Hudson, Louisiana
, where he died on June 17, 1849.
Ranaldson was born in Brunswick County, North Carolina
Brunswick County, North Carolina
-External links:*******....
in 1789.
He became a Baptist minister around 1812.
Moving to New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
in 1817, he worked for several months as a missionary in the Indian territories of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
Later that year he founded Shiloh Church in Feliciana, Mississippi, and became a teacher to cover his expenses, establishing the Society Hill Academy in 1818.
In October 1817 the Mississippi Baptist Association appointed him to a committee to create a plan for an educational fund for pious young men, and to prepare an address to churches on the subject.
In October 1818 the report was received and he was made Secretary of the Mississippi Baptist Education Society for three years.
He was an active member of the Mississippi Baptist Association until 1829, preaching in different churches and serving at different times as a messenger, clerk and secretary.
Ranaldson founded a Baptist church in St. Francisville, Louisiana
St. Francisville, Louisiana
St. Francisville is a town in and the parish seat of West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,712 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
in 1823.
The same year he assisted in the formation of the Alabama Baptist Convention, arranging for a meeting of Baptist leaders in October 1823 at Greensboro, Alabama
Greensboro, Alabama
Greensboro is a city in Hale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,731. The city is the county seat of Hale County. It is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. Along with Dempsey Winborne and Hosea Holcome he prepared the plan for a constitution, and his address (after revision by Winborne and Alexander Travis
Alexander Travis
Alexander Travis was a Baptist preacher and a prominent member of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.His nephew William Barret Travis was Texas commander at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836....
) was printed for distribution to the churches of Alabama.
Charles Crow was appointed president of the new Convention, and Ranaldson secretary.
Ranaldson moved to Jackson, Louisiana
Jackson, Louisiana
Jackson is a town in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 4,130 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
around 1831, where he founded a school.
After briefly associating with the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
and becoming a farmer, he returned to the Baptist faith and founded a church at Port Hudson, Louisiana
Port Hudson, Louisiana
Port Hudson is a small unincorporated community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. Located about northwest of Baton Rouge, it is most famous for an American Civil War battle known as the Siege of Port Hudson.-Geography:...
, where he died on June 17, 1849.