James Johnson (Reverend)
Encyclopedia
James 'Holy' Johnson was a prominent clergyman and one of the first African members of Nigeria
's Legislative Council
.
in 1836 to liberated African parents of Yoruba
origin.
He enrolled in a Church Mission Society
(CMS) school, then went on to Fourah Bay Institution
, graduating in 1858. He was a school teacher until 1863, when he entered the ministry.
The CMS was impressed by his potential, and sent him to their Yoruba mission in Nigeria, first in Lagos
and then in Abeokuta
. He was unsuccessful as a missionary, perhaps due to his rigid morality, and in 1880 was instead appointed pastor of the Breadfruit Church in Lagos.
When Lagos Colony was separated from the Gold Coast
in 1886, the legislative council of the new colony was composed of four official and three unofficial members. Governor Alfred Moloney nominated two Africans as unofficial representatives, James Johnson and the trader Charles Joseph George
.
In 1890 Johnson became assistant Bishop of the Niger Delta
and Benin
territories, holding this post until his death in 1917.
Johnson believed in a puritan
, evangelistic Christianity, but was hostile to other aspects of European culture which he felt were not suitable to Africa.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
's Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
.
Early Life
James Johnson was born in Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
in 1836 to liberated African parents of Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
origin.
He enrolled in a Church Mission Society
Church Mission Society
The Church Mission Society, also known as the Church Missionary Society, is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Communion and Protestant Christians around the world...
(CMS) school, then went on to Fourah Bay Institution
Fourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
, graduating in 1858. He was a school teacher until 1863, when he entered the ministry.
The CMS was impressed by his potential, and sent him to their Yoruba mission in Nigeria, first in Lagos
Lagos Colony
Lagos Colony was a British colonial possession centered on the port of Lagos in what is now southern Nigeria. Lagos was annexed on 6 August 1861 and declared a colony on 5 March 1862....
and then in Abeokuta
Abeokuta
Abeokuta is the largest city and capital of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria and is situated at , on the Ogun River; 64 miles north of Lagos by railway, or 81 miles by water. As of 2005, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 593,140....
. He was unsuccessful as a missionary, perhaps due to his rigid morality, and in 1880 was instead appointed pastor of the Breadfruit Church in Lagos.
When Lagos Colony was separated from the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
in 1886, the legislative council of the new colony was composed of four official and three unofficial members. Governor Alfred Moloney nominated two Africans as unofficial representatives, James Johnson and the trader Charles Joseph George
Charles Joseph George
Charles Joseph George was a successful SaroA "Saro" was a freed slave who had returned to Nigeria. trader who was appointed a member of the Legislative Council of the Lagos Colony from 1886 onwards.-Church leader:...
.
In 1890 Johnson became assistant Bishop of the Niger Delta
Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
and Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
territories, holding this post until his death in 1917.
Johnson believed in a puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
, evangelistic Christianity, but was hostile to other aspects of European culture which he felt were not suitable to Africa.