Rt. Rev. Percival Williams
Gibson
August 26, 1893- April 3, 1970
Born to William George
Gibson and his wife Esther at Cavaliers, Waterworks,
Cross Roads, St. Andrew.
Baptised St. Luke's
Anglican Church, Cross Roads.
First school Mico Practising
School.
Entered St. George's
College 1907.
Attended the Jamaica
Church Theological College (Later to named St. Peter's
College)
In 1917 he gained his
Bachelor of Divinity, the first person to do so by studying
at St. Peter's College.
Percival Gibson was
made deacon on December 21, 1917 at St. Luke's.
December 21, 1918 ordained
priest at the Kingston Parish Church.
1919 appointed curate
of St. George's Church. (1919-1947)
1922 awarded the Musgrave
Gold Medal ( Jamaica highest cultural honour) for composing
and producing the pageant entitled " The Church".
Founding of Kingston
College 1925 (Headmaster 1925-1955)
In 1936 Kingston College
was placed on the Schools Commission list of first grade
schools and Rev. P.W. Gibson was awarded the King George
and Queen Mary Silver Jubilee Medal for his work at
Kingston College.
Consecrated Bishop Suffragan
of Kingston on May, 1, 1947 in the Cathedral Church
of St. Jago de la Vega, Spanish Town.
December 1955 elected
Lord Bishop of Jamaica.
Awarded the Keys to
the City of Kingston December 22, 1955.
On February 7th 1956
became the first Jamaican to be enthroned Diocesan Bishop.
An editorial
in the Daily Gleaner, commenting
on Bishop Gibson’s retirement, says in part:
We think his
retirement would cause widespread concern. Probably
every thinking man in Jamaica has at some time or the
other in violet disagreement with Bishop Gibson: but
that is because he fills a need – a very special
need of our time. There is in so many other leaders
too much evasion of the real issues, too little willingness
to speak out.
Gibson does not hesitate to form decided opinions and
then express them. For some years he sat in Legislative
Council, performing a public duly from which have shrunk.
He has never shirked his duly, and fearlessness and
conscientious performance of his task of witness have
made him a moral force ….
We have always rebutted the political and social heresy
(which we have sometimes and suspected Gibson of holding)
that the Anglican Church in Jamaica is a “National”
Church, a sort of establishment on the retired list
but entitled to its former rank. Nonetheless, we feel
that the resignation of Bishop Gibson its pre-eminently
a national question. His tasks and achievements have
been on the heroic scale. We still need such a man,
not as a figurehead of symbol, but as a force.
- The Daily Gleaner,
Sept. 2, 1966
For those today who
are too young to remember Bishop Gibson, there is little
better way to comprehend not only the love and respect
with which this man was held, but also the gratitude
of a nation, than to read some of these tributes at
his funeral on Monday, April 6, 1970.
The
Governor General, Sir Clifford Campbell:
Jamaica has lost one of her great sons with the passing
of Bishop Gibson … As the founder of
Kingston College, and as Bishop of Jamaica, He dedicated
his life to the educational and spiritual
advancement of our nation.
Many Jamaicans here and aboard sat at his feet and today
are filling positions of renown.
Bishop Gibson was a friend to all and his sympathy for
the poor was outstanding ...
The
Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Hugh L. Shearer:
Jamaica has lost one of its great leader. Thousand of
Jamaican will cherish his memory, primarily because
of the tremendous influence he exerted in his capacity
as founder and headmaster of Kingston College, during
their student years. Many others, however, will remember
him for his forthright expressions of the eternal truths
and for the inspiration he provided and example he set
as spiritual leader of the Anglican Church in
Jamaica.
We should look back at the greatness that was his life,
and seek from the source of his convictions –
the Father of all life. His personal work is finished,
but the purposes which motivated and influenced his
activities as Churchman, educator ,scholar, leader,
and patriot are everlasting, and our greatest tribute
to him would be to grasp these purposes and adopt them
as our own.
The Leader
of the Opposition, Mr. Michael Manley:
He was a great man.
He distinguished himself as a dynamic leader in an era
when Jamaicans started to
assert their right to lead in our country.
Dedicated to the cause of the spiritual and educational
life of our people, he brought his full gifts of
learning and his strong character to play and made a
great impact on our nation
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