Ajayi Crowther was born in Osogun (now Nigeria), where slave traders from a neighboring tribe kidnapped him after ransacking his village. He was sold to the Portuguese and cargoed on a slave ship, bound for the New World. En route, the ship encountered the British Royal Navy, which was enforcing the new British ban on the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Ajayi and his fellow slaves were liberated by the British and resettled in Sierra Leone. There, Ajayi learned English and adopted the name “Samuel Crowther.” Ajayi embraced the Christian faith and was ordained an Anglican minister. Fascinated by languages, Crowther received a doctoral degree from Oxford University and translated the Book of Common Prayer and Scripture into the Yoruba language. According to Ajayi,”Any successful evangelization of inland Africa must be carried out by Africans speaking African languages.”He served as a pioneering missionary to the Yoruba people in Nigeria, where he encountered indigenous religion and Islam. Ajayi ministered with patience, noting that God may “easily remove” any obstacle “when He pleases.” After many decades of ministry, Ajayi was ordained a bishop, the first native-born West African in this role in any Christian tradition. As bishop, he was exposed to the British political system. Once again, Ajayi exhibited profound patience as his ministry was treated with racism and bigotry, this time by those in the church. Ajayi’s example of humility and commitment continues to point Christians to Jesus today.

O God, our heavenly Father, you raised up your faithful servant Samuel Ajayi Crowther to be a Bishop and pastor in your Church and to feed your flock: Give abundantly to all pastors the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that they may minister in your household as true servants of Christ and stewards of your divine mysteries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Art & history by Ben Lansing

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