OUR HISTORY
1821 at the request of His Excellency Sir Charles Mac Carthy, Governor of Sierra Leone and administrator of the newly founded colony of Bathurst, who, when on furlough to England has asked the Wesleyan Missionary Society to send personnel to the Gambia, shortly afterward he was joined by the Rev. John Baker and Rev. William Bell. Temporary buildings housed the mission for four years.
In 1825 the present mission here was built in Dobson Street with the upper story used as quarters for the missionary and the grand floor for Day School and for service of worship and Christian institutions. On the 8th March 1821, they planned to start a mission station in Tendaba. Morgan spends this time waiting by going around Bathurst, reaching and making contacts. The arrival of Baker caused some disarray with regard to the planned proceeding. Baker had worked with liberated Africans in Sierra Leone. Some of them had either voluntarily or enforced by the government – moved to The Gambia. When Baker was walking in The Streets of Bathurst, some people recognized him as their former Pastor from Sierra Leone. They invited him to come and preach at their homes.
1824’s In 1824 The Methodist Church began its work at Mc Carthy Island (Now Janjangbureh), where the mission station also was seen as a suitable and fertile spot for an agricultural mission and a place where education could be offered for the Liberated Africans from Sierra Leone, whom the Government intended to settle. The Church/Office was built in 1824.
In 1824. Miss Gordon stayed for three years at a salary of £ 7.10s a quarter. It was about this time that the mission legally acquired property at Cape Point.
1830’s William Fox arrived and found that even for five a.m. Prayer Meeting the Existing Premises were not large enough. At the time of writing to London for building permission, there were eighty members and more worshippers: When he started building there were over three hundred members.
1840’s The first district meeting (later to become synod) took place in these early days it was only the staff that attended but at this time these included two Gambians, Pierre Sallah, and John cupidon. The meeting was held on Mc Carthy Island and while Sallah attended John cupidon supervised the work in Bathurst.
1850’s The first unmarried woman missionary arrived. She was to teach in the girl’s school that had been taken over from the Quakers by Mrs. Hawkins
1860’s Work that had been started at nyanibantang, kaur albreda, and other kombo villages was now closing down because of shifting population, shortage of staff, and the fact that all the services had been in English.
1890’s Stanley street Chapel was re-opened in November
1894. Repairs had been started in the early 1880s but war, plague, and locusts had interfered with money-raising and work had been suspended. The Chapel, on completion, was regarded as the finest building in Bathurst
1900’s At a time when work outside Bathurst was virtually none existent the Rev. C. C.L. Leopold came straight from college to take charge of the Boys High School. He did all the teaching himself and saw the numbers increase from eighteen to sixty before he left. Since he took over the school has never closed. The 1910s
In 1915 The Gambia became a separate district under the chairmanship of the Rev. P. S. Toye. It was his wife who began the Girls High School in what used to be the old dobson street church under the present mission house.
1920’s Mrs. Toye had to close the school two years later because of ill health but it was re-opened in 1921 under the care of Mrs. Rebecca Savage as Headmistress and Mrs. Ruth Carrol as her assistant.
In 1921 The Methodist Boys High School was refurbished.
In 1926 Edna Green started a mother and baby clinic in Bathurst.
1930’s Rev. G.S. Treleaven (1931 – 1945) just arriving in The Gambia saw himself confronted with a financial deadlock: either the schools had to be closed or there had to be severe salary cuts. Teachers took a salary cut to save the schools.
The 1940s In 1940 the Synod expressed that they were ‘deeply concerned at our failure to find a candidate for the ministry.
In 1944 there were reports of a ‘possible candidate Boys’ High School pupil, Ernest Stafford.
In 1948 he was proposed as a ministerial candidate.
1950’s The Baldwin Report of 1951 led to the merger of the Methodist Boys High School and The Methodist Girls’ High School into The Gambia High School in 1959. 19 1960’s Methodists were actively involved with Anglicans and Roman Catholics in the founding of the Gambia Christian Council in1966. Methodists started their work in Marakissa with the health care service, and with the first baptism at Marakissa in 1964.The names of Reverend Ian Roach, Bro. Emmanuel Rendall, Bro. Charles Mendi, Bro. W. Bankole Coker and Sis. Esther Sarr are connected with these early years of Methodist outreach in Marakissa
PRESIDING BISHOP
The Most Revd Bannie E F Manga
The Revd Bannie E F Manga celebrates his birthday on the 25th day of June which day he also celebrates his ordination as a Methodist Presbyter. Born to Joseph A. Manga and Madeline B. Sambou, Bannie grew up in Dippakunda where he did most of his childhood days.
He was Baptized and Confirmed a member of the Bethel Methodist Church, Stanley Street, Banjul. He was always in the enjoyed company of his late paternal grandmother, Hannah Caroline Briggsman, who always dragged him to church. Bannie schooled at the prestigious Ndows Comprehensive High School in Kanifing. He was a school prefect and pioneer leader of various Christian organizations within the school. Here he gradually developed and nurtured some of his leadership skills and potentials. His encounter and growth in the love of and for Jesus could be pivoted around July 1994, two months after his Confirmations at the Wesley Circuit, now Wesley Cathedral. Bannie served as youth leader in Bethel Methodist Church for many years and thereafter at the connexional Levels.
Bannie offered for the Methodist Local Preachers in June 1997 and completed his local preachers at the Cliff College, Derbyshire, UK. He was commissioned as a Lay Preacher at the Bethel Methodist Church in November 2000 and proceeded for ministerial training at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Accra, Ghana.
In Trinity Theological Seminary, Bannie completed the Diploma in Theology program of studies in June 2003 and proceeded to do the Bachelors of Divinity program of Studies, completing in June 2005 with a Second Class Honors Degree. He was commissioned as Methodist minister at the the Ebenezer Methodist Church, Medina, Accra on 8th June 2003. After his commissioning, Bannie was stationed to the Accra New Town Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana where he was circuit minister with 7 societies to administer.
In July 2005, Bannie returned to The Gambia and was stationed at the Serekunda Circuit as Circuit Minister. He serve under the superintendency of the Revds W. Bankole Coker and Willie Carr from 2005 to 2008 respectively.
In 2008, Bannie was awarded a Chevening Scholarship from the British government to pursue a Master of Arts in Applied Theological Studies at the University of Birmingham. He graduated in 2009 with the aforesaid degree in Merit. He returned home to The Gambia and was stationed to the Kombo Western Circuit. First he served as Circuit minister from 2009 to 2010 where he was made Superintendent Minister. He served in this post till 2015 and was reinstated in September 2020. Bannie enjoys the honor of being the only Gambian Minister who served in most if not all portfolios associated with ministerial offices in the Methodist Church The Gambia. He served as Circuit Minister, Youth Minister, Assistant Synod Secretary, Synod Secretary, Assistant Secretary of Conference, Superintendent Minister and Secretary of Conference. Revd Bannie is also privileged to serve in shaping and forming Christian Religious Educators at The Gambia College from September 2009 to date. He also participates in shaping minds and thoughts at the University of The Gambia from 2016 to date. Bannie had and continues to serve in various Boards and Committees of the Methodist Church The Gambia. He also serves in various secular and national boards and committees as he shares his gifts and graces. Bannie is married to Jainaba and they are blessed with three children – JAINIE, JAINABA, and JOE.
LAY PRESIDENT
SIS. MATILDA JOHNSON
LAY PRESIDENT`S ADDRESS TO CONFERENCE -2022
The Presiding Bishop, Secretary of Conference, Assistant Secretary of Conference, Revd. Ministers, Members of Conference, I Greet you all in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I feel humbled by the honour and privilege given to me to stand before this august Conference after election into office as Lay President designate on Friday 29th May 2021 at Janjangbureh Methodist Church, CRR. I never dreamt in my life that I would ever stand to address esteemed leaders like you- the Decision-making body of our Church, in such a priviledged position.
I believe that it is by divine intervention and God’s grace that I am part of the leadership of this Connexion, going forward.
Christian friends, little did I know I was being fashioned, moulded, mentored, prepared for a greater leadership role and ministry in the Methodist Connexion. Little did I know that our World Federation theme for 2016-2022 – ‘Chosen people, called to proclaim’ [1st Peter 2: 9], is going to be manifest in me. I can proudly say I am indeed Chosen, and Called, to Proclaim Christ.
As I stand here before you all today, I renew my commitment to Christ our Lord and declare that “I surrender all to Him” As Ecclesiastes 3: 1 states: ‘For everything its season, and for every activity under heaven its time’. I believe this is my season, my time.
You may be wondering what the role of a Lay President is. I perceive it to be the liaison between the laity and the clergy, working to create an effective partnership for leadership of the Church at the Society, Circuit and Connexional levels of the Methodist Conference; to equip, empower and inspire the laity to make Christ known through transformation and outreach; to provide organization, direction and support for the growth of our Church leaders; to develop leadership programmes for spiritual development to strengthen the Church.
Presiding Bishop, Secretary of Conference, Assistant Secretary of Conference and all Revd Ministers, I hereby pledge to work amicably with you all, with the sole aim of promoting God`s mission at all times and avoid bringing God and the Methodist Church The Gambia in dispute. My plea therefore is for us to always remind ourselves that we are Methodist Christian leaders assigned with leadership roles and functions in the church of God. We must at all times be disciplined Methodist leaders, expected to act responsibly at all times within the Church and outside, in the corridors of society. In 2nd Corinthians, 5: 17 St. Paul says “ when anyone is joined to Christ, he has become a new being; the old is gone, the new has come”. Let us remind ourselves that we need to demonstrate a Christ-like leadership character and not be afraid to take difficult decisions and stand by them, as long as they advance God’s work in His vineyard. When we do so we will be emulating our Lord Jesus Christ.
However, we must also be mindful that there will be criticisms, backbiting and rumour mongering, but we must never be afraid to stand up, speak out and face the fight against the wolves in sheep’s clothing, wicked spiritual forces, the principalities and powers of darkness. In Ephesians 2: 10, St Paul says, ‘we need to remind ourselves that we are God’s people and as Christians, He has destined us for good things’. Therefore, we need to walk in the light, so that all may see our good deeds and give glory to our Father in heaven.
On this note, Christian friends, Let us give thanks in everything. God bless us all. Amen.
SECRETARY OF CONFERENCE
THE REVEREND RODNEY LOUIS PROM
Reverend Rodney Louis Prom born on the 27th day of August 1983 is the second child of Mr. Leon Francis Prom of blessed memory and first of twins to Mrs. Vera Angela Prom. He received his baptism at the Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, Hagan Street,
Banjul and confirmed his faith in Bethel Methodist Church, Sagarr Jobe street, Banjul, The Gambia. He is a Gambian, married to Mrs. Madline Rebecca N. Prom. He attained his early childhood, secondary and high school education in The Gambia.
His ambition was to become a pilot and an aeronautic mechanical engineer but received the call to ministry which he answered to, starting with the local preacher ministry and was fully accredited in April 2005 at Wesley Methodist Church The Gambia.
In September 2005 he enrolled in the Trinity Theological Seminary in East Legon, Accra, Ghana and gained a Diploma in Theology in 2007. He was commissioned a Probational Minister in 2007 in Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Sekondi, Ghana. After which he then served as a Society Minister of Ebenezer Down Methodist Church Dansoman, Accra. In 2009 he completed his undergraduate studies and obtained a Bachelor of Theology Second Class Upper Honours Degree.