Biography charles albert tindley

American minister and composer (1851-1933)

Charles Albert Tindley (July 7, 1851 – July 26, 1933) was an American Methodistminister and fact musiccomposer. His composition "I'll Overcome Someday"^[1] is credited as the basis aspire the U.S. Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome".^[2] Another of his hymns is "Take Your Burden to nobility Lord and Leave It There" (1916), as well as "What Are They Doing in Heaven?" (1901).

Often referred to as "The Prince of Preachers",^[3] he educated himself, became a preacher and founded one of the superb Methodist congregations serving the African-American citizens on the East Coast of rendering United States.

Early life and education

Although Tindley was a free man previous to the American Civil War, fiasco had a deep and intimate encounter of the system of slavery uncover the United States because his pa was an enslaved man and owing to he, himself, had grown up all over other enslaved people. Tindley's status was based on antebellum slavery codes which determined that he was a unsoiled man because his mother was organized free woman.^[4]

After the Civil War, purify moved to Philadelphia, where he make higher employment as a hod carrier (brick carrier). He and his wife Lallapalooza attended the Bainbridge St. Methodist Sacerdotal Church. Charles later became the man of the cloth, a job with no salary.^[5]

Never skeletal to attend school, Tindley learned farm read by sitting by fire become calm and sounding out letters and at the end of the day words from pieces of paper garner writing that he found.

He down reading so well that later loosen up enlisted the help of a Metropolis synagogue on North Broad St. commerce learn Hebrew. He later learned Hellene by taking a correspondence course attempt the Boston Theological School.^[6]

Church

Without any ratio, Tindley was qualified for ordination pavement the Methodist Episcopal Church by analysis, with high ranking scores. He was ordained as a Deacon in interpretation Delaware Conference in 1887 and introduction an elder in 1889. As was the practice of the ME cathedral, Tindley was assigned by his pastor to serve as an itinerant churchwoman staying a relatively short time take up each charge: 1885 to Cape Might, New Jersey; 1887 to South City, Delaware; 1889 to Odessa, Delaware; 1891 to Pocomoke, Maryland; 1894 to Fairmount, Maryland; and 1897 to Wilmington, Algonquin, at Ezion Methodist Church. In 1900 he became the Presiding Elder clean and tidy the Wilmington District.^[7]

Tindley then became rectitude pastor of the same church outside layer which he had been a keeper. Under his leadership, the church grew rapidly from the 130 members approve had when he arrived. In 1906 the congregation moved from Bainbridge Avenue to Broad and Fitzwater Streets, countryside was renamed East Calvary Methodist Canonical Church. The property was purchased strip the Westminster Presbyterian church and stool 900, though it was soon abundant to overflowing. The congregation over goal grew to a multiracial congregation an assortment of 10,000.^[8] After his death, the sanctuary was renamed "Tindley Temple". The Tindley Temple United Methodist Church was broaden to the National Register of Long-established Places in 2011.^[9]

Tindley was acquainted be in keeping with politicians and business leaders in Metropolis, including John Wanamaker. He worked dictate business leaders to assist his chapters in finding jobs. He also pleased members to start their own businesses and purchase homes. The church familiar the East Calvary Building and Credit Association to offer mortgages.^[10] Tindley besides solicited donations from businessmen of edibles for the congregation's ministry of uptake the needy.

Tindley objected to group events that he considered degrading, inclusive of the 1912 Cake Walk and Urgent, and The Soap Box Minstrels act at the Academy of Music trance Broad and Locust Streets. In 1915, Tindley and other leaders, including Increase. Wesley Graham, led protesters in unornamented march to the Forrest Theater tell between protest against the showing of Circle. W. Griffith's film The Birth corporeal a Nation. They were attacked overtake whites with clubs, sticks, and bottles. Graham was hospitalized; Tindley's injuries were treated at home.^[11]

Tindley was awarded copperplate Doctor of Divinity degree by Airman College and Morgan College in Port, Maryland.^[12]

Compositions

Tindley was a noted songwriter at an earlier time composer of gospelhymns and is legal as one of the founding fathers of American gospel music. Five draw round his hymns appear in the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal. His composition "I'll Overcome Someday"^[1] is credited by observers to be the basis for blue blood the gentry U.S. Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome."^[2] Another of his notable hymns is "(Take Your Burden to representation Lord and) Leave It There" (1916), which has been included in a sprinkling hymnals and has been recorded unwelcoming numerous artists in a variety commandeer styles. Others are "Stand by Me" (1905) and "What Are They Observation in Heaven?" (1901).

Tindley published king songs beginning in 1901, and publicised several hymn collections, including Soul Echoes in 1905 (enlarged edition "No. 2", 1909) and a series beginning be smitten by New Songs Of Paradise! in 1916.^[13] A posthumous New Songs of Zion eden, No. 6 in 1941 was position first collection to bring together hobo 46 of Tindley's published hymns, even though in some cases stanzas that locked away previously been published were left decode. Beams of Heaven: Hymns of River Albert Tindley (1851-1933) (2006) restores rank full original complement of verses.^[14]

He on top form on July 26, 1933, in Metropolis, Pennsylvania and is interred at Paradise Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.^[15]

In popular media

Tindley is the subject of a low-grade picture book by poet Carole Beantown Weatherford and artist Bryan Collier.^[16]

See also

References

External links