Today the Episcopal Church remembers Samuel Ferguson. He was the first Black person to be made a Bishop in the Episcopal Church. He was born on 1 January 1842 in Charleston, South Carolina, and he died on this day in 1916 in Liberia, Africa.
His mother was a Roman Catholic and his father a deacon in a Baptist Church. Samuel was quite sick when he was an infant, and his mother took him to the Episcopal Bishop Gadsden, who, at the time, was in Charleston, and had the Bishop baptize him.
Ferguson moved with his family to Liberia at age six. He was ordained a deacon on 28 December 1865 and a priest on 15 March 1868. He returned to the United States to be consecrated as bishop at Grace Church in New York City on 24 June 1885, Saint John the Baptist's Feast Day, becoming the first Black member of the House of Bishops. He married Mary Leonora Montgomery.
As Missionary Bishop of Liberia, he founded what is now Cuttington University College. He also established the Bromley Mission School. He remained in Liberia until his death in Monrovia in 1916.
Let us pray: Almighty God, we bless you for moving your servant Samuel Ferguson to minister in Liberia, expanding the missionary vision of your Church in education and ministry. Stir up in us a zeal for your mission and a yearning for your holy Word; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR NEWS
The UBE had to cancel its youth trip to Galveston scheduled for mid-August because conflicts arose for the two sponsors. Their trip to Galveston will be re-scheduled.
PRAYER MINISTRY
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List. John Wesley wrote: “I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.”
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
His mother was a Roman Catholic and his father a deacon in a Baptist Church. Samuel was quite sick when he was an infant, and his mother took him to the Episcopal Bishop Gadsden, who, at the time, was in Charleston, and had the Bishop baptize him.
Ferguson moved with his family to Liberia at age six. He was ordained a deacon on 28 December 1865 and a priest on 15 March 1868. He returned to the United States to be consecrated as bishop at Grace Church in New York City on 24 June 1885, Saint John the Baptist's Feast Day, becoming the first Black member of the House of Bishops. He married Mary Leonora Montgomery.
As Missionary Bishop of Liberia, he founded what is now Cuttington University College. He also established the Bromley Mission School. He remained in Liberia until his death in Monrovia in 1916.
Let us pray: Almighty God, we bless you for moving your servant Samuel Ferguson to minister in Liberia, expanding the missionary vision of your Church in education and ministry. Stir up in us a zeal for your mission and a yearning for your holy Word; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
CALENDAR NEWS
The UBE had to cancel its youth trip to Galveston scheduled for mid-August because conflicts arose for the two sponsors. Their trip to Galveston will be re-scheduled.
PRAYER MINISTRY
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List. John Wesley wrote: “I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.”
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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