A Leading Pioneer in the Development of The Gambia: The Very Reverend John Colley Faye 

Patience Sonko-Godwin

Description

This work, A Leading Pioneer in the Development of The Gambia: The Very Reverend John Colley Faye, offers inspiration to upcoming generations along the axes of the clarity of vision, commitment, effort and sacrifice, orientations that could help The Gambia chart a beneficial path forward.

Sujets

• Historical
• Lettres et linguistique
• Biography
• Autobiography

Informations

• Publié par: Sunrise Publishers
• Date de parution: 29 août 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789983942439
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

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A LEADING PIONEER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GAMBIA

A LEADING PIONEER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GAMBIA The Very Reverend John Colley Faye

Patience Sonko-Godwin

Patience Sonko-Godwin

A Leading Pioneer in the Development of The Gambia The Very Reverend John Colley Faye Patience Sonko-Godwin Sunrise Publishers Banjul, The Gambia

All rights reserved.

Published by Sunrise Publishers P. O. Box 955

Banjul, The Gambia

© Patience Sonko-Godwin, 2020

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

First Published 2020

Cover Illustration by Modou Camara: Portrait of John Colley Faye, with the political symbol of the Gambia Democratic Party on the left and the Anglican Church on the right. Politics and Religion were very important to him.

ISBN: 978-9983-9900-8-9

This Book is dedicated to my Grandchildren, Patience, Robert and Nathan & My Editors, Mr. Georgie Thomas and Rev. Willie E. E. Carr, friends and brothers who worked conscientiously with me during my writing career, especially in the production of this book. Rev. Willie E. E. Carr unfortunately passed away on the th 26 April 2020.

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Table of Contents List of Interviewees.......................................................................................VII List of photos and illustrations .................................................................... VIII Acronyms ....................................................................................................... IX Preface............................................................................................................. X Acknowledgements .......................................................................................XII 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 2. The Development of Education in The Gambia:.................................... 12 The Role of John Colley Faye........................................................................ 12 3. The Establishment of The Diocese of The Gambia and Rio Pongas and the Activities of Bishop Daly and Mr. John Colley Faye .............................. 29 4. The Ethnic Groups and the Anglican Mission in the ............................. 38 Upper River Division ..................................................................................... 38 5. Mr. John Colley Faye in Kristi Kunda in the ......................................... 46 Upper River Division ..................................................................................... 46 6. Mr. John Colley Faye and the People of the .......................................... 65 Upper River Division (URD) ......................................................................... 65 7. Kristi Kunda after the Departure of Reverend John Colley Faye .......... 68 8. Mr. John Colley Faye: the Agriculturist,................................................ 79 Farmer and Trader.......................................................................................... 79 9. Social Activities of Reverend John Colley Faye.................................... 87 10. Reverend John Colley Faye in the...................................................... 99 Political Field ................................................................................................. 99 11. The Reverend John Colley Faye: The Anglican Church and the Promotion of Christianity............................................................................. 151 References.................................................................................................... 191 Glossary........................................................................................................ 205 Bibliography................................................................................................. 210 INDEX ......................................................................................................... 214

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List of Interviewees Alhaji A. E. Cham Joof, 15/07/2005, Banjul), 10/10/2007, (Banjul), 28/05/ 2008 (Bakau), 22/02/10 (Bakau) Hon. Assan Musa Camara, 28/07/05, 07/04/08, 22/11/2009, 14/06/2012 (Banjul). Dr. Samuel James Palmer, 29/07/05, 12/06/2007, 06/08/07 (Fajara) Mr. Sam Jones 03/03/2007, 15/10/2007 (Fajara) Mrs. Adele Faye-Njie, 22/02/2007, 12/9/2007 (Fajara) Mr. Georgie Thomas, 10/09/2008, 14/10/2012 (Fajara) Mrs. Mary Chapman, 15/11/2007, 12/07/2009 (Kanifing) Mrs. Ya Jay Jobe, 16/10/2008 (Banjul), 15/01/2009 (Kotu) Mr. Baaba Sillah, 22/1/2008 (Kotu) Reverend Willie E. E. Carr, 15/04/2009, 20/11/2016 (Fajara) Reverend Anthony Gabisi, 14/10/2016 (Kololi) Mr. Femi Peters, 18/4/2016 (Bakau) Mr. Joseph Sonko, 12/09/2009, 14/09/2009, 22/09/2016 (Talinding) Mr. Modou Secka, fisherman, 15/03/2009 (Bakau) Mr. Modou Jallow, wrestler, 24/04/2009 (Brikama)

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List of photos and illustrations Page 1. Left section of the Methodist Boys’ High School completed and inaugurated in 1921.10 Mr. J. C. Faye - As Graduate of Southampton College -1938.14 3Dr. Samuel James Palmer.16 4.Alhaji A. E. Cham Joof.18 5.The Parsonage NurserySchool Building.23 6.Reverend J.C. Faye and the staff &pupils of the Parsonage NurserySchool.23 7.The Very Reverend John. Colley Faye, Chairman, Board of Anglican Training Centre addressing guests and well-wishers during the inauguration of the school. 25 8.Reverend John Daly, the first Bishop of the Dioceses of Gambia and Rio Pongas. 28 9Anglican Church, Bathurst (Banjul) in 1902.28 10.Mr. Assan Musa Camara.32 11.Artist impression of Kristi Kunda in the Early 1960s.68 12.Reverend John Colley Faye taking a kick off to the Football match between The Gambia & Sierra Leone.87 13.Leaders of the DCA/PPP Alliance: I. B. M. Garba-Jahumpha, Reverend John ColleyFaye. and D, K. Jawara.121 14. Some members of DCA /PPP Alliance.121 15. Reverend John Colley Faye & Guests in his office in London, Kensington duringthe Gambia’s National Daycelebration.134 16. Mr. John Colley. Faye on ordination dayas a Deacon in 1947.146 17. Reverend John ColleyFaye as a Deacon in 1948.146 18.Reception held in honour of Reverend John Colley Faye, first Provost of the Anglican Church.171 19. Provost John ColleyFaye and some members of the Anglican Cathedral.172

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Acronyms A. C. P. A.Y.P.A AFPRC APRC BATC BCC BUDC BYMS CFAO CMS C.P.A. CPP CPP CRR DCA ECOWAS GCP GDP GMC GMDMU GNP GOMB GPPA GRC GTTI GWU IPPF M.R.M. MID NCBWA PEA PEA PPP PPS PWD RPA SPG UAC UN UNICEF UP URD URR WHO WMMS

Associate of the College of Preceptors Anglican Young Peoples’ Association Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction Bathurst Advisory Town Council Bathurst City Council Bathurst Urban District Council Bathurst Young Muslim Society Compagnie Française de l’Afrique Occidentale Church Missionary Society Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Convention People’s Party Common People’s Party Central River Region Democratic Congress Alliance Economic Community of West African States Gambia Congress Party Gambia Democratic Party Gambia Muslim Congress Gambia Motor Drivers’ and Mechanics Union Gambia National Party Gambia Oilseeds Marketing Board Gambia Planned Parenthood Association Gambia Representative Committee Gambia Technical Training Institute Gambia Workers’ Union International Planned Parenthood Federation Moral Re-Armament Movement MacCarthy Island Division National Council of British West Africa Prayer, Endeavour Assistance Prayer, Example and Action Protectorate People’s Party Protectorate People’s Society Public Works Department Bathurst Rate Payers Association Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts United Africa Company United Nations United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund United Party Upper River Division Upper River Region World Health Organization Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society

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Preface This book is the result of a painstaking research that started as far back as 2005. It was indeed a difficult and challenging task. Therefore, it is with deep gratitude that I thank GOD for taking control and for enabling me to complete the task of producing a book on the Very Reverend John Colley Faye, an icon, who indeed has left much cherished memories and indelible footprints in the history of The Gambia. During his lifetime, he was called by different names, such as Mr. Faye, Father Faye, Uncle Faye, Reverend Faye, Reverend J. C. Faye, and J. C by many of his contemporaries and close friends. Finally, he was designated ‘Very Reverend’ John Colley Faye when he became the first Provost of the Anglican Church. No doubt, a lot has already been written about the Very Reverend John Colley Faye. However, I took up the task of researching about his life and contributions to the development of The Gambia in 2005 when his daughter, Mrs. Adele Faye-Njie, approached me and expressed her desire to have me carry out research on him. This gave me the opportunity to interview people whom he inspired and worked with, like Alhaji A. E. Cham Joof, Hon. Assan Musa Camara, Dr. Samuel James Palmer and Mrs Mary Chapman, who knew him since their childhood days for they were all excited about the prospect of having his biography. Thus, these people willingly spent several hours with me at various times just reminiscing about this great man who was their father, teacher, friend and mentor. Indeed, they looked forward to having such a book in their hands. Unfortunately, this dream never came to pass because many of them passed away before this publication about him. These included Alhaji A. E. Cham Joof, Hon. Assan Musa Camara, Dr. Samuel James Palmer, Mrs. Mary Chapman, Ms. Yai Jay Jobe, Mr. Sam H. M. Jones and Mr. Femi Peters. I take this opportunity to thank them posthumously, but especially to thank their families for allowing me to have had access to their much appreciated and unique contributions. Many of my research activities were carried out in the archives of the Anglican Church where, come rain or sun, I spent almost six to seven months of 2009 and 2010, examining past documents of the church. During this time, I was especially supported and encouraged by The Rt. Reverend Dr. Solomon Tilewa Willie Johnson, the Bishop of the Anglican Church and Archbishop of the Province of West Africa, who sadly passed away on the 21st January 2014. He allowed me to use the conference room in Tilewa House, Bishops Court, Banjul. The big round table in the room made my work much easier. I thank him from the bottom of my heart as my research in the Anglican Archives accorded me much valuable information on the Very Reverend John Colley Faye. I also thank the staff of this archive, but especially Mrs. Vera Prom, for their patience and understanding. Of equal importance was the staff of the Gambia National Archives, Banjul, especially Mr. Abdou Manka, who assisted me during my research. I thank them all for their prompt delivery of the documents that I needed. I thank the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), especially the staff of the Research and Documentation Division (RDD) who assisted me with photographs and valuable information on Reverend Faye. Special thanks go to the family of Alhaji A. E. Cham Joof, for providing many of the photographs in the book. The staff of The Gambia National Library cooperated with me and helped with books that increased my knowledge, not only of the Very Reverend John Colley Faye,

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but about The Gambia in the colonial, post-colonial and independence periods. I thank them for the assistance. My six weeks visit to the British National Archives, Kew Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, England in May 2013 further augmented my information on Reverend Faye, other individuals and activities of the Colonial and Independent Gambia. Travelling regularly by train from Chalk Farm to Richmond and back, from about ten or eleven o’clock in the morning to closing time at six o’clock, four days a week, was initially a challenge for me. However, I soon got used to the idea and later enjoyed the journeys. Many thanks go to the staff of the National Archives at Kew, for their assistance and services. Admittedly, the publication of this book is long overdue, because of circumstances beyond my control. However, the research and writing of this book has also led me to portray and bring out information about the activities of the many ‘unsung’ contributors, Gambian and non-Gambian, whose input to the development of the country might never have been heard of and consequently side-lined. As the Very Reverend John Colley Faye had acknowledged, a lot of his success was also due to the rallying forces around him. I therefore salute them for their immense contributions and sacrifice. My unreserved gratitude to all, especially my interviewees, editors, proof- readers, illustrator, designer, children both biological and adopted, friends, relatives and other supporters, who encouraged me to forge on with my research and writing. I pray for success in their entire endeavour. Patience Sonko-Godwin 2020

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