The Rev. Augustus Cole
Augustus Cole was one of a small group of Black Anglican clergy ordained by Archbishop Nuttall in the later 19th century; others in this group were the Revs C. L. Barnes and C. C. Douce, while the Revs R. Taylor and T. Banbury had been ordained earlier. So far no pictures or photographs of these others have come to hand, though there is information on their careers in church and secular newspapers and periodicals of the time.
Augustus Cole was born in Kingston in 1851, and was brought up by his grandparents. He attended elementary school and then trained in foundry work, starting out at the West End Foundry of the extraordinary Charles P Lazarus. He also worked in the workshop of Louis McCormack, and the Central Foundry, where he was foreman for three years. While he worked in various foundries he continued to study, especially Theology with Archdeacon D H Campbell. From 1875 he worked as a teacher and catechist of the Anglican Church, serving in St Catherine, St Ann and Portland. In 1886 he entered the Theological College and was ordained deacon in 1888; he was ordained priest in 1890. In subsequent years he served in various churches, chiefly in St Thomas and Portland, finally being appointed by Archbishop Nuttall to St David’s, Yallahs, in 1897.
The West End Foundry, operated by C. P. Lazarus
In 1899 he resigned from the Diocese and went on a tour of the United States during which he preached in many of the biggest Churches there, and filled temporary appointments in several States. He was called to the Port Limon Episcopal Church in Costa Rica, but declined the position so as to be able to return to the Yallahs Cure, which he was offered again. He worked and raised up the Church from the ruins, justifying the words of the Archbishop: “There was hardly another man besides Mr. Cole that I could send there to build up the Church, and how well he materialised my hope.” He became known as one of the best preachers of the Anglican Church in Jamaica
His efforts were not confined to the service of the Church alone. He did much to develop the agricultural resources of the district and also worked in the cause of education. In the 1920s he was involved with the St David’s Citizens’ Association, of which Rudolf Burke was secretary. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1921. Declining health forced him to resign from St David’s in that same year after twenty years of service as an Anglican priest. Although retired he continued to be active in the church, acting on occasions for clergy who were on leave. He had married in 1878 and had five children, two daughters and three sons.
He died in August 1940, and at his funeral his friend and fellow Anglican priest, the Rev W A Burris, paid tribute to his many years of service to the church.
His efforts were not confined to the service of the Church alone. He did much to develop the agricultural resources of the district and also worked in the cause of education. In the 1920s he was involved with the St David’s Citizens’ Association, of which Rudolf Burke was secretary. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1921. Declining health forced him to resign from St David’s in that same year after twenty years of service as an Anglican priest. Although retired he continued to be active in the church, acting on occasions for clergy who were on leave. He had married in 1878 and had five children, two daughters and three sons.
He died in August 1940, and at his funeral his friend and fellow Anglican priest, the Rev W A Burris, paid tribute to his many years of service to the church.