Bryant Theological Seminary, Fitzgerald

One of the light posts in front of J. M. Benton Hall was donated by the Fowltown Women’s Convention, “In Memory of the Founders”: Mrs. L. M. Mathis, Pres., Mrs. W. A. Danforth, V. Pres., Mrs. B. J. Marshall, Sec’.”

Bryant Theological Seminary is an historic African-American Bible college and seminary, a part of the General Missionary Baptist Convention. It was founded in 1937, at the height of the Great Depression. The Reverends I. B. Harmon and G. P. Haynes, on behalf of the Willacoochee Missionary Baptist Association, which owned about ten acres of land and two wood frame buildings here, offered the land for such use if the GMBC would pay off the debt owed by the association.

The seminary has grown extensively in its nearly 75 years of existence, and today features modern dormitories, an auditorium, and research facilities.

Peter James Bryant. Public domain image (cropped) via Find a Grave. No attribution. No known restrictions.

The seminary was named for Dr. Peter James Bryant (1872-1929), pastor of the Wheat Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, and his wife Sylvia. In 1920, Wheat Street Baptist was described as having the “largest Negro congregation in America” with over 5000 members, grown from just 1600 when Rev. Bryant assumed the pastorate in 1898.

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