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The Rev Christopher Lipscombe Barnes
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'The fact is established that a black clergyman, Ceteris paribus [other things being equal], is as respected in Jamaica as
any exotic of Circassian blood.'
Jamaica Post November 11 1889, p3 col 2
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[Unfortunately no picture/photograph of the Rev C L Barnes has so far been found]
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A History
of the Diocese of Jamaica, E. L. Evans, 1975?
[A section dealing with the 'pre-history' of the Church Theological
College.]
p95
The Committee then
decided to use St. George’s Church Commercial and Middle Grade School in Kingston for the ‘literary training’
while other more advanced lectures would be given by the members of the Committee in the St. George’s Vestry. The Committee
would have the power to object to any ‘extreme views’ of the lecturers; perhaps one can see the hand of Nuttall
in this caution! In January 1872 three applicants replied to an advertisement, Vaz. Barnes and A. F. R. Mudie. Other catechists who could not attend were lent books for study at home. In March
1872 two more students, S. G. Shrimpton and Whittle, attended.
[However in Theological Education
in a Multi-Ethnic Society, 1998, page 149, Dr Edmund Davies has stated 'Between
1858 and 1904, no black candidate was admitted to the college. A few applied for admission but were all rejected on grounds which may be interpreted primarily as ethno-cultural.'
The presence of C L Barnes in these early classes seems
to contradict this statement.]
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Jamaica
Church Chronicle
1872 - Jan 17 p6 col 1 Lay Representatives to
Synod -
Woodford, St Andrew C L Barnes
1875 - Dec 1, p92 col 1 Barnes ordination as
deacon
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Daily Gleaner, 1875 12 03 p2
ORDINATION.
On Sunday, the 28th November, His Lordship the Bishop of Kingston, held an Ordination of Deacons at Mandeville. The candidates
for Holy Orders were Messrs J S Fraser and C. L. Barnes. The Rev. Mr. Deurwaarder, was also to have been admitted to the Priesthood,
but he took suddenly ill and was unable to undergo his examination, in consequence of which His Lordship thought it advisable
to postpone his ordination. Mr. Campbell of Chantilly, passed a very satisfactory examination, but as his testimonials were
not quite ready his admission to the Diaconate was also put off. A large congregation was assembled to witness the solemn
and interesting service which commenced at the usual hour of Divine Service. At the close of the Morning Prayers His Lordship
ascended the Pulpit and preached a practical Sermon from Ephesians IV Chap. II. 12. vs. Immediately after His Lordship again
went within the rails, and the Ordination Service was proceeded with. The Rev. Mr. Sutherland presented the Candidates to
the Bishop. The Oath of the Queen's Supremacy was administered by Lionel Isaacs, Churchwarden. The Rev. Mr. Drought of the
Mile Gaily District, read the Epistle, and one of the newly Ordained, (the Rev. Mr. Fraser) the Gospel. The Clergy present
partook of the Holy Eucharist, the Bishop being Celebrant. We understand the two gentlemen are to be retained at the Stations
where they had been labouring as Catechists, the Rev. Mr. Fraser at Nain, St. Elizabeth; the Rev. Mr. Barnes at Pratville,
Manchester. COMMUNICATED
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Jamaica
Churchman
1881 - Mar 15 p2
First ordinations by Nuttall; big service at
Kingston Parish Church – new priests
include Christopher Lipscombe
Barnes
and Charles C Douce
Click on link below to view page of newspaper: Jamaica Churchman March 15 1881
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Church of England, Jamaica - Synod Reports:
1871 - County of Surrey -
- a lay representative
- C Barnes
1874 - p xxx-xxxii catechetical stations
Mr C L Barnes Pratville £80
Appendix H p xlix - li
Catechists –
4 Barnes, C L Pratville, Manchester,
licenced 30 Jan 1873
1875 - Appendix O plxxiv List of clergy -
80 Barnes, Chris.Lipscombe ordained
[deacon] 28 Nov 1875
1877 - p6 Clergy present
2 Barnes, C L
Appendix I - clergy with PO addresses -
Barnes, C L Newport
1880 - Appendix O - list of clergy [in seniority]
Barnes no longer listed as
deacon (some later on list so
listed)
1881-5 not seen
1886 - Barnes present
1887 - p 77 Addresses
- 5 Barnes C L St Margaret's Bay
Hope Bay PO - p 111 Maximum
salaries
- C L Barnes St Margaret's Bay £ 80
1889 - C L Barnes died in November
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1889
Jamaica Post, Nov 12 p2 col 3
Died: At the Rectory St Margaret's Bay on the 4th inst after a short illness, The Revd Christopher Lipscombe Barnes
in his 48th year. He was ordained in 1875 and entered his present cure about three years ago. Sincerely and deeply regretted.
He leaves a large family and numerous friends to mourn their loss.
Gall's News Letter, Nov 13 p2 col 4
Died
BARNES - At the Rectory, St Margaret's Bay, Nov 4th inst Christopher Lipscombe Barnes, aged 48. Leaving a young
and loving family, many dear friends and a large congregation to mourn an irreparable loss.
'Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'
The Jamaica Churchman
1889
Nov 21 p81 col 2
Died November 4 The Rev C L Barnes, Rector of St Margaret's Bay.
1889 Dec 11 p92 col 3
Diocesan
Council: the Bishop reported the death of C L Barnes. 'It was agreed to make a grant to the children, if necessary, for travelling
expenses from St Margaret's Bay to their friends in Kingston or Westmoreland. the grant to come out of the Voluntary Branch
of the Widow's and Orphan's Fund.'
p93 col 1
Church News: The Rev Christopher Lipscombe Barnes, incumbent of St
Stephen's Church, St Margaret's Bay and Superintending Clergyman of the Mission Station at Moore Town died on the 4th November.
1890 Aug 15 p2 col 3
Moore Town - The Rev C L Barnes, Superintending clergyman, died in November [1889]
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Jamaica Post 1889 November 11, p3
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Jamaica Post 1889 November
20 p3
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- Letters in the Jamaica Post shortly after the
death of the Rev C L Barnes show the strong feelings that existed, both for him personally, and because of perceptions that
he had been neglected in his last days.
- The Rev Mr Glasspole, who is mentioned in one letter,
was the Rev Theo Glasspole, the father of the late Governor General.
- Click on the extracts for a larger view.
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NOTES
- Except at the time of his death, in the items in the Jamaica Post, there is
never any mention of the fact that the Rev Mr Barnes was a Black man; this policy of not mentioning the colour of persons
mentioned in publications makes the identification of Black Jamaicans in public life in that period an on-going process.
- It is of interest that in his first ordination of candidates for the priesthood in 1881,
Bishop Nuttall (consecrated bishop in 1880) ordained, for certain, two Black men, Barnes and Douce. This appears to contradict
the Rev Dr Davis' stricture on Nuttall, 'But not even the great Enos Nuttall had the wisdom to see that the black man could
be trained to fill the vacant churches.' (Roots and Blossoms, Edmund Davis, Cedar Press, Barbados, 1977, p35)
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An example
of his influence
Jamaica Times August 6 1910 p21
Dr.
R. M. Stimpson
Whilst attending school he had been a special pupil of the late Rev.
C. L. Barnes, Rector of Pratville Church.
(Dr R M Stimpson
was a prominent Black doctor, Anglican layman and local political figure in Manchester in the first half of the
20th century.)
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The family of the Rev C L Barnes
The information I have found on the family of the Rev C L
Barnes is very limited, but certainly further research in the records of births, marriages and deaths for the relevant period
will yield more facts.
I have found no record of his birth (c 1841), but on December
10, 1873, he married Matilda Elizabeth Jacobs, of Kingston. The marriage was performed by the Rev G W Downer and the witnesses
were George A Barnes (presumably a relative, possibly a brother) and R M Whittle (perhaps a fellow student mentioned by Evans).
I have found record of the births of three children in Pratville,
in Manchester: Matilda Elizabeth Ann on March 7 1879; twin boy and girl on August 27, 1885, the witness to their birth being
Joseph I Barnes, possibly an uncle.
It is clear that Barnes' wife had died before his death
in 1889. (There is an item listed in the National Library of Jamaica, Nuttall Collection, which I have not been able to see:
it is noted in MS 209 Typed list of items - box 2: p7 357 letter from C L Barnes re his wife August 1886
[possibly referring to her death])The account in the church newspaper indicates a large family of children
to be provided for.
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| Daily Gleaner 1918 January 7, page 7 |
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- One of the Rev C L Barnes' sons was almost certainly Prof Christopher
Lipscombe Barnes a prominent Black musician and business man, who died in 1965.
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