Podcast Episode 27
Absalom Jones
with Dr. Jennifer Woodruff Tait & host Nick Walters
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This episode of This Week in Christian History features an interview with Nick Walters, founder of the Center for Christian History at Mississippi College, as he continues the mission of connecting listeners with the people, movements, and turning points that have shaped the Christian story. Each week, the series highlights the global reach of Christianity across centuries and cultures, demonstrating how individuals and communities lived out their faith in ways that still influence the church today. In this episode, the focus turns to one of the most significant milestones in early African American religious history: the ordination of Absalom Jones.
Jones, born into slavery and later freed, became a pivotal figure in the spiritual life of early Black Christians in the United States. His ordination marked a historic moment in the Episcopal Church and reflected a broader story of resilience, discipleship, and leadership emerging within Black church communities during the post-Revolutionary era. His life continues to have a lasting impact on Christian history, African American religious life, and ongoing conversations about ministry, justice, and the work of the church in public life.
This week’s Deep Dive interview features Dr. Jennifer Woodruff Tait, Senior Editor of Christian History Magazine. Dr. Tait’s expertise and scholarship in American religious history and Christian practice help illuminate the wider historical context surrounding Jones’s ordination, offering viewers valuable insight into how the church has grown and changed through the courageous leadership of believers across generations. Though the conversation is rich with historical reflection, this episode description does not summarize the interview content. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of Absalom Jones within Christian history and invites viewers to explore the full interview for deeper understanding.
The episode also includes two historical highlights drawn from this same week in Christian history. These segments expand the listener’s perspective on the diverse people and events that have shaped global Christianity.
Highlight One: August 11, 1872
Dr. Lowell Mason, later known as the Father of American Church Music, died on this date. Mason began his professional life far from the world of music, working as a bank clerk in Savannah, Georgia. Over time, however, he emerged as one of the most influential musical figures in American Christianity. His leadership as president and conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston elevated sacred music and brought new rigor and excellence to church hymnody. Mason composed or arranged many of the most widely loved hymns in the English-speaking world, including Nearer, my God, to Thee and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. His work laid a foundation for modern Protestant church music and continues to influence how congregations worship today.
Highlight Two: August 17, 1761
This date marks the birth of William Carey in Northamptonshire, England. Carey’s early life in rural England gave little indication of the global missionary impact he would later have. After developing a passion for languages and evangelism, he traveled to India, where his decades of ministry transformed Christian outreach across the region. Carey founded schools, seminaries, and mission stations, advocated for social reform, and translated the Bible into numerous Indian languages. His pioneering work earned him the title Father of Modern Missions. His legacy is honored around the world, including through William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Together, these elements provide a wide-ranging look at significant Christian figures who shaped the church through worship, missions, and faithful leadership. By connecting the ordination of Absalom Jones with the lives of Lowell Mason and William Carey, this episode underscores how different strands of Christian history intersect through time to influence the global church.
Image Credit: Portrait of Absalom Jones, 1810. Raphaelle Peale. Public domain via the Delaware Art Museum / Wikimedia Commons.
