CROWTHER JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

The history of Church Fathers has been interpreted and examined from different perspectives in historiography. Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther has been examined by different eminent scholars from Afrocentric and Europeanised angles. Therefore, this research interpreted his ministry from both ways. The methodology adopted was historical. The primary and secondary methods of research were adopted. The findings indicate that some African scholars and elite saw him as a missionary who rose from grass to grace, a slave boy, who was captured in his village of Osogun, near Iseyin Oyo State. He was sold into slavery and landed in Sierra-Leone. He became a Christian and educated in Fourah Bay College. He was ordained into the Holy Order of the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S). He became a bishop in 1864 and died on 31st December 1891. His episcopacy as a bishop was shrouded in controversy by the work of some scholars, depending on interest and loyalty to the C.M.S. Of course, the Nigerian scholars saw him as an African personality that succeeded in mission work and in the field of education. Many churches were established by him in Lokoja area of Northern Nigeria, Niger Delta and Yorubaland. Whereas some white missionaries who were his contemporaries did not appreciate his contributions to evangelism and education because of racial discrimination. However, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has shown much interest in his mission and educational achievements which were neglected for decades. The research concluded that Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther was a man of great achievements in the area of mission and education.

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