Charles Price Jones
Encyclopedia
Charles Price Jones, Sr. (December 9, 1865 - January 19, 1949). He was a religious leader and hymnist. He was the founder of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
.
Jones was born in Floyd County, Georgia
. He became a missionary
Baptist
preacher
in Jackson, Mississippi
, where he met Mason in 1895. In 1896, Jones, Mason, and two other radical preachers held a faith healing
revival
in Jackson. The doctrine of sanctification
that was presented at this revival was not approved of by Jones' church. In 1897, he and Mason were both thrown out of their church for their beliefs in the holiness movement
and abstinence
. They started their own church, first preaching in supporters' homes and eventually in a former gin house.
Jones is the author of over 1000 hymn
s. Some of his known hymns which are still sung around the world are Deeper, Deeper, I Will Make the Darkness Light, Come Unto Me, Where Shall I Be, I'm Happy With Jesus Alone and Jesus Only. He pastor
ed churches in Arkansas
, Mississippi
, and California
.
In 1907, he split with Charles Harrison Mason over the doctrine of speaking in tongues
as an evidence of the Holy Spirit
. In 1909, the Christian
Women Willing Workers (CWWW), now the United Christian Women’s Ministries (UCWM) was established upon the recommendation of Sis. Maria Williams. Jones made his first
trip to Los Angeles
in 1915 to conduct a revival for Bishop William A. Washington and helped him organize and incorporate the Bethel Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. Also, in
1915, Elder Charles Mason, who became Bishop Charles Mason, incorporated the Church of God in Christ which he founded. Conflicts caused the holiness movement to separate into many denominations. It was first called 'the movement', and later Church of God, Church of Christ,
Church of God in Christ, and Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
In 1916, Bishop Jones wife Fannie Brown died in Little Rock, Arkansas. He moved to Los Angeles in 1917 and organized Christ Temple Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. in an upstairs hall at Washington and Central. Jones married Pearl E. Reed on January 4, 1918 to this union
three sons were born, Charles Price Jones Jr., Vance Reed Jones and Samuel Sherman Jones. In 1921, the first property bought for Christ
Temple was on 37th and Naomi. Then in 1926, a church and parsonage was purchased for $18,000 on the corner of 54th and Hooper.
In 1922 the church created a council of Bishops in the national convocation and he was chosen to be the first Senior Bishop. He actively
maintained the spiritual leadership and operated as Senior Bishop of the church until he fell ill in 1943 and underwent major surgery. Because
of his declining health, he attended his last convention in 1944 in Chicago, Illinois where he was elected Senior Bishop and President Emeritus
of the National Convention for life. Jones died in Los Angeles on January 19, 1949: his homegoing service was held at Christ Temple Church (54th and Hooper) on January 25, 1949 at 1:00pm. He is buried with his wife Pearl,
who died on August 13, 1972, at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles. He was succeeded by Bishop Major Rudd Conic who in 1967
relocated Christ Temple Church to its current location on 54th and 10th Ave.
Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
The Church of Christ U.S.A. is a Holiness body of Christians headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2010, there were 14,000 members in 154 churches.- History :...
.
Jones was born in Floyd County, Georgia
Floyd County, Georgia
Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 90,565. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 95,618...
. He became a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, where he met Mason in 1895. In 1896, Jones, Mason, and two other radical preachers held a faith healing
Faith healing
Faith healing is healing through spiritual means. The healing of a person is brought about by religious faith through prayer and/or rituals that, according to adherents, stimulate a divine presence and power toward correcting disease and disability. Belief in divine intervention in illness or...
revival
Revival meeting
A revival meeting is a series of Christian religious services held in order to inspire active members of a church body, to raise funds and to gain new converts...
in Jackson. The doctrine of sanctification
Sanctification
Sanctity is an ancient concept widespread among religions, a property of a thing or person sacred or set apart within the religion, from totem poles through temple vessels to days of the week, to a human believer who achieves this state. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity,...
that was presented at this revival was not approved of by Jones' church. In 1897, he and Mason were both thrown out of their church for their beliefs in the holiness movement
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
and abstinence
Abstinence
Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstention from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or practical...
. They started their own church, first preaching in supporters' homes and eventually in a former gin house.
Jones is the author of over 1000 hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s. Some of his known hymns which are still sung around the world are Deeper, Deeper, I Will Make the Darkness Light, Come Unto Me, Where Shall I Be, I'm Happy With Jesus Alone and Jesus Only. He pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
ed churches in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
In 1907, he split with Charles Harrison Mason over the doctrine of speaking in tongues
Glossolalia
Glossolalia or speaking in tongues is the fluid vocalizing of speech-like syllables, often as part of religious practice. The significance of glossolalia has varied with time and place, with some considering it a part of a sacred language...
as an evidence of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. In 1909, the Christian
Women Willing Workers (CWWW), now the United Christian Women’s Ministries (UCWM) was established upon the recommendation of Sis. Maria Williams. Jones made his first
trip to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1915 to conduct a revival for Bishop William A. Washington and helped him organize and incorporate the Bethel Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. Also, in
1915, Elder Charles Mason, who became Bishop Charles Mason, incorporated the Church of God in Christ which he founded. Conflicts caused the holiness movement to separate into many denominations. It was first called 'the movement', and later Church of God, Church of Christ,
Church of God in Christ, and Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A.
In 1916, Bishop Jones wife Fannie Brown died in Little Rock, Arkansas. He moved to Los Angeles in 1917 and organized Christ Temple Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. in an upstairs hall at Washington and Central. Jones married Pearl E. Reed on January 4, 1918 to this union
three sons were born, Charles Price Jones Jr., Vance Reed Jones and Samuel Sherman Jones. In 1921, the first property bought for Christ
Temple was on 37th and Naomi. Then in 1926, a church and parsonage was purchased for $18,000 on the corner of 54th and Hooper.
In 1922 the church created a council of Bishops in the national convocation and he was chosen to be the first Senior Bishop. He actively
maintained the spiritual leadership and operated as Senior Bishop of the church until he fell ill in 1943 and underwent major surgery. Because
of his declining health, he attended his last convention in 1944 in Chicago, Illinois where he was elected Senior Bishop and President Emeritus
of the National Convention for life. Jones died in Los Angeles on January 19, 1949: his homegoing service was held at Christ Temple Church (54th and Hooper) on January 25, 1949 at 1:00pm. He is buried with his wife Pearl,
who died on August 13, 1972, at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles. He was succeeded by Bishop Major Rudd Conic who in 1967
relocated Christ Temple Church to its current location on 54th and 10th Ave.
External links
- Charles Price Jones biography at BlackHistoryReview.com
- Hymns of Charles Price Jones
- Charles Price Jones at Find-A-Grave