Bryan, Andrew

1737-1812 · Contribution: 1788-1812

Baptist minister

Founded and pastored First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, for 24 years, building it from an initial 67 members in 1788 into a congregation of nearly 2,800 by 1831 despite enduring imprisonment and public whipping for preaching to enslaved people

Religious & Spiritual Leadership — collage image
Religious & Spiritual Leadership

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Quick facts

Born
1737, Goose Creek, South Carolina
Active since
1788
Category
Religious & Spiritual Leadership
Best known for
Founding and pastoring First African Baptist Church of Savannah

Impact on the world

Bryan sustained and grew one of the oldest Black congregations in North America through violent persecution, and the land he purchased in 1793 became among the oldest real estate continuously owned by Black Americans.

Sources

  1. New Georgia Encyclopedia

1 more sources and references are available to members.