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Rev Andrew Bryan

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Rev Andrew Bryan

Birth
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA
Death
12 Oct 1812 (aged 74–75)
Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA
Burial
Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA
Memorial ID
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Religious Leader. Slave and minister who organized one of the oldest African-American congregations in North America. In 1782, after being baptised, he began preaching in Chatham County in Georgia. In 1788 he purhased his freedom and formed a congregation in Savannah, Georgia, which was chartered under the name of Bryan Street African Baptist Church. On September 4, 1793 he obtained the lot where the church now stands. By 1800, when the congregation had grown to about 700, they reorganized themselves as the First African Baptist Church. Later in 1832 a dispute over doctrine caused the church to split. The second church became known as First Bryan Baptist Church. Both congregations are descendants of Bryan's original congregation. The congregation of First African Baptist Church were significantly involved in the affairs of the African-American community of Savannah. Andrew Bryan died in Savannah in 1812.
Religious Leader. Slave and minister who organized one of the oldest African-American congregations in North America. In 1782, after being baptised, he began preaching in Chatham County in Georgia. In 1788 he purhased his freedom and formed a congregation in Savannah, Georgia, which was chartered under the name of Bryan Street African Baptist Church. On September 4, 1793 he obtained the lot where the church now stands. By 1800, when the congregation had grown to about 700, they reorganized themselves as the First African Baptist Church. Later in 1832 a dispute over doctrine caused the church to split. The second church became known as First Bryan Baptist Church. Both congregations are descendants of Bryan's original congregation. The congregation of First African Baptist Church were significantly involved in the affairs of the African-American community of Savannah. Andrew Bryan died in Savannah in 1812.

Inscription

Sacred to the memory of ANDREW BRYAN
pastor of the First Colored Baptist Church in Savannah.
God was Pleased to lay his honour near his heart
and impress the worth and weight of souls upon his
mind that he was constrained to Preach the Gospel
to dieng world, particularly to the sable sons of
Africa though he labored under many disadvantage
yet thought in the school of CHRIST, he was able
to bring out new and old out of the treasury and he
has done more good among the poor slaves than
all the learned Doctors in America, He was impris
oned for the Gospel without any ceremony was
severely whipped but while under the lash he told
his prosecutor he rejoiced not only to be whipped
but he was willing for to suffer death for the cause
of CHRIST. He continued preaching the Gospel
until Oct. 6 1812. He was supposed to be 96 years of
age, his remains were interd with pecu
liar respect an address was delivered by the Rev. Mr Johnson
Dr. Kolluck Thomas Williams and Henry Cunningham
He was an honour to human nature an ornament
to religion and a friend to mankind. His
memory is still precious in the hearts of the living.
   Afflicted long he bore the rod
   With calm submission to his maker God.
   His mind was tranquil tranquil and serene
   No tenors in his looks was seen
   A Saviours smile dispelled the gloom
   And smoothed the passage to the tomb.
I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the
dead which die in the Lord from henceforth! Yea saith the Spirit that they
may rest from the labours.
This stone is erected by the First Colored Church
as a token of love for their most faithful pastor.
A.D. 1821.

Gravesite Details

Brick tomb with engraved stone lying flat on top. The stone has been broken in half but cemented together. The inscription is weathered, nearly unreadable without further reference. A plaque has been fixed in recent years to the front of the tomb.

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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Curtis Jackson
  • Added: Oct 2, 2002
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6817327/andrew-bryan: accessed ), memorial page for Rev Andrew Bryan (1737–12 Oct 1812), Find a Grave Memorial ID 6817327, citing Laurel Grove Cemetery South, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.