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PERCIVAL WILLIAM GIBSON 1893-1970

A fiery servant - PERCIVAL WILLIAM GIBSON 1893-1970
The Gleaner - published: Wednesday | February 12, 2003

By Anthony S. Johnson, Contributor

1919: A young Percival Gibson held the post of Assistant Curate.

MAY 1, 1947 was a great day for all Jamaicans. In the Anglican Cathedral at Spanish Town, Percival William Gibson was consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Kingston, the first time the honour had been conferred on someone of African ancestry in almost one hundred years.

For Gibson it was merely another milestone in an illustrious career, which saw him proving beyond any doubt, the capacity of Jamaicans to achieve greatness. Most importantly, he demonstrated the practicability of living a clean, honest life, without any hint of scandal, while rising to the top ranks of civil and ecclesiastical life.

ACADEMIC HISTORY

Born September 15, 1893 to William and Louise Gibson at the Cavaliers Water Works in Kingston, he attended Mico Practising School and in 1907, won a scholarship to St. George's College. His parents could not have afforded the fees. Young Gibson never received less than 90 per cent in any subject during the four years before graduating and became one of the first black students admitted to St. Peter's Anglican Theological College, again on a scholarship. Through private study, he became the first Jamaican to gain the Bachelor of Divinity degree, later also gaining the B.A. and B.A. (Honours) degrees, all through external study. These were landmarks which inspired future generations of scholars at a time when the handful of black students who could qualify, studied either medicine, dentistry or law. And all had to travel overseas.

KINGSTON COLLEGE

As a young curate, he developed a reputation as a hell fire preacher, at St. George's Church on East Street, where he started outreach programmes among the youth. Percival Gibson then developed the goal of working for the City of God through the training of young men of character, who would lift up the morals and lifestyle of the City of Kingston. His inspiration was the book "The City of God" by St. Augustine, an African Father of the mediaeval Christian Church.

In 1925 his sister Gwendolyn and himself purchased the Rectory of All Saints Church on East Street, and on April 16, 1925, he enrolled the first 49 boys at the building which he renamed Kingston College. At the time, there were 20 high schools in Jamaica, with a total enrolment of about 1,000. By his death in 1970, Kingston College alone would have over 1,500 students enrolled.

From the beginning, Gibson made it known that the school was not 'exclusive', but would accept any boy whose parents could pay. Most of the other schools prided themselves on only taking 'the right kind' of students, which was a justification for the class and race prejudice of the day. Nevertheless, his reputation as the country's greatest classical scholar ensured a steady stream of students of all strata of society.

The first two decades of K.C were a struggle, buoyed only by the motto 'the brave may fall, but never yield'. From 1949 to 1957, the school would win the Jamaica Scholarship six times, and since it entered inter-schools sports in 1928 it has won over 100 titles while producing West Indies cricketers and Olympic medallists. Among other things, he proved that a 'down town' school, drawing heavily from the working class, could produce high-class scholars and sportsmen.

Despite the heavy teaching schedule, Gibson maintained his duties as a priest, so it was no surprise that the Anglican Diocese was unanimous in electing him to be the assistant Bishop of Jamaica in 1947 with the title Suffragan Bishop of Kingston. When the Anglican Bishops next met at Lambeth Palace in London, a black face appeared. It was the herald of the dawn of black men moving to centre stage in the world.


LORD BISHOP 1955-1967

In 1955, the Diocese was again unanimous in electing him as Lord Bishop of Jamaica, after a rump movement had withdrawn the plea that Jamaica needed the customary English Bishop. He developed a reputation as Jamaica's conscience, and was soon appointed to the Legislative Council, (the forerunner of the Senate). His theological brilliance flourished, and the Montreal Theological Institute made him a Doctor of Divinity. He was then the Rt. Rev. Dr. the Hon. Percival Gibson, D.D., C.B.E., B.D., B.A. (Hon), B.A, the first Jamaican to own these honours together. Gibson's term as head of the Jamaican Church was one of brilliant achievement as he tore himself away from his beloved K.C.

His main work was in expanding education in the island which became a state in 1962. He expanded all the secondary schools owned by the Anglican Church and in 1956 established the Diocesan Educational Trust headed by a big businessman, Eli Matalon, to spearhead the Church's outreach, especially in rural areas.

He also founded Bishop Gibson High School in 1962 and Glenmuir High School in May Pen in 1958. He also conceived an Anglican Teachers College, which became Church Teachers College in 1965, and encouraged the formation of basic schools. In his youth, Percival Gibson had been vitriolic in his sermons against other denominations, but as Bishop, he became a pioneer in the call for ecumenism. Perhaps the capstone of his effort was the founding of the Union Theological Seminary at the UWI, through the amalgamation in 1966 of the Anglican St. Peter's, the Methodist Caenwood, the Presbyterian St. Colme's and the Baptist Calabar Theological Colleges.

In 1958 he re-established the Church Army in Jamaica, as a militant lay force, especially to work in depressed areas, and re-established the Order of Deaconess in 1957.

Bishop Gibson became a national symbol during his lifetime. To the end his fiery sermons criticised any aspect of political, civil or social life which he felt was unbecoming. He was particularly harsh on immoral behaviour, and called for reform, often stating:

"Kingston is the wickedest city on Earth".

In his lifetime no one ever dared to challenge him, but he never received a Jamaican civil honour. He resigned his duties in 1967 and passed away on April 3, 1970.

Edited by: bloomy24 at: 3/1/03 10:22:16 pm
 
For Love Of KC
FOR LOVE OF KC

The sign above the young civil servant's desk read:
"There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who went to Kingston College, and those who wish they did!"
I laughed, fully in agreement, but wondered where this would place students who are still at KC. But the sign also set me thinking: what is it about this KC that generates such loyalty, such devotion, such love?

Perhaps love never really needs to be explained, and as KC Old Boys we should just leave it at that. But that would not be fair. It would not be fair to the earlier generations of KC Old Boys, foundation members, some of whom still turn up at school for Manning Cup matches clad in purple and white raiment.

Nor would it be fair to KC Old Boys, armed with life experience and technical skills, who continue to offer guidance to students on a regular basis through the adopt-a-form programme. And, indeed, it would be unfair to the many who offer a hand in training various school teams for football, cricket, table tennis, schools' challenge quiz, and so on. It would also be unfair to the many onshore and offshore alumni who, in the spirit of pure generosity, help financially to sponsor school programmes and students, often making their contributions quietly. Without fanfare, for the College.

So, let's be fair. Kingston College represents a noble idea, namely that social class should not matter in education. As a young man, you will be given guidance and support, you will be allowed to flourish (if you so desire), and no one will be concerned about whether you are from the north or south of Torrington Bridge.

This idea guided "Priest" in the early years, influenced "Dougs" when he took up the mantle, and has been passed on through to Wally Johnson and current members of staff. Perhaps then we love KC because KC has taught us to love equality.

Stephen Vasciannie 1971-1978
The Brave May Fall But NEVER Yield!! FORTIS!!!
 
 
Lennox "Billy" Miller
AN EXCELLENT HAND

They say the good die young. Well, Lennox Valencia ?Billy? Miller was as good as it gets; he was one of the best. Now he is gone, perhaps too soon, but not before leaving his impressive mark on the history of track and field in Jamaica and the world. I first became aware of him in 1959 when I started at Kingston College a year behind him. He lived in the Cross Roads area; his dad was a cop; he was a competent student and a talented runner. Within a few years, he had become heir apparent to a stream of sprinters at the school: Ventura, Burrell, Robinson, Headley. Most of these school champions also excelled at the Boys Championships. He took the mantle from them easily, perhaps because he was the best of them all. When his time came to reign over the Class 1 sprints at Champs, no one could live with him. Those who tried included Fray of St. Andrew Technical and Forbes of Kingston Technical, both of whom eventually became Olympians with him. However, he was just a little too fast for them. When he took the 100 and 200 meters at Champs in his first year in Class 1, that was almost anti-climactic. Anyone who had seen him run in Class 2 would have been convinced of his destiny. They say God gives you athletic talent or you don?t have it; Billy got it and he had it. He could have been a quarter miler, a half miler, or a miler. Many of his schoolmates who watched him win at every distance for Gibson House at KC?s weekly meets were convinced of that. But he chose to sprint. With all this success on the track, a schoolboy attracts a lot of attention to himself and must find a way to cope with it. But as his star rose in the firmament, he managed to keep his feet on the ground, and his head firmly screwed on. He duly passed his external examinations and went to sixth form, where he did science subjects. And when he accepted the inevitable track scholarship, he did so as a scholar in his own right. While I studied at St. Augustine, I met a chap from the Bahamas and we often talked about track and field. When we discussed sprinters, he often mentioned his countryman Tom Robinson and the hot lads from America, Jim Hines and Charlie Green. I remember telling him that there was a classmate of mine from high school who I was certain would eventually be able to beat anyone in the whole world. I told him to watch for the name Lennox Miller. Within two years, Lennox had taken the Olympic silver in Mexico City. The story of his exploits on the international track is a long and glorious one, which I leave for others to tell. Billy was not one-dimensional; there was a lot more to him besides track and field. He completed his university degree and practised dentistry in Southern California for some 30 years. He also passed the sprinting gene to his daughter and coached her to Olympic gold. I have watched his life and career with great interest, pride and admiration, mostly from a distance. The last time we talked was one night a few years ago at a New Kingston hotel, when I chatted with him after a Hall of Fame dinner. One of the things he said was that he had great respect for those of us who had decided to live and work on the rock, with all its problems. I am certain he would have done well here, as some of his contemporaries have, for the Lord dealt him an excellent hand. Lennox, my friend, rest in peace. Clive Nicholson, Ph.D.
The Brave May Fall But NEVER Yield!! FORTIS!!!