Clarence Whylie: An Outstanding Servant of God

Clarence Whylie

Devon in Manchester is the place where Clarence George Whylie was born to Alexander and Charlotte Whylie (nee Taylor) on March 29, 1909. With his parents, he attended the Devon Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, which was led by Rev G. H. A. McClare.

His father, was a Revenue Collector, whose service as Sunday School Superintendent, alongside his wife Charlotte as a Sunday school teacher, was deeply appreciated by the Devon church. Death robbed Alexander of his wife, Charlotte, when she was still in her forties. Eventually, Miss Agnes Bateman became Alexander Whylie’s second wife and she was a faithful and loving wife and step-mother. Whylie was raised in an atmosphere of Christian love and active Christian service.  He received his education at the Devon Elementary and Manchester Secondary schools. After passing the Junior Cambridge Examinations, he entered Calabar High School where he passed the Senior Cambridge Examinations. A member of the Calabar Orchestra, he served as school organist.

Rev. G. H. A. Clare administered Whylie’s baptism in 1917 in the Devon Church. Whylie answered the call to the Christian ministry, and began his formal preparation at Calabar College in 1928, with sponsorship by American Baptists. This resulted from the initiative of Ernest Price, Calabar’s principal, who had come to know Whylie as a student at Calabar High School.

On completing the course of preparation at Calabar, Whylie assumed the pastorate of the Warsop circuit in Trelawny on January 1, 1934, succeeding Rev. E. B. Heighington. He spent three years in the circuit, serving with diligence and enthusiasm despite the considerable challenges the circuit posed. His next pastorate was in St James, where he spent nine years in the Maldon and the Bassgrove Churches. He served with zeal, planting a new church at Hutchins Hill and leading the churches in a massive building programme, which included a new mission house at Bassgrove.

In 1939, Second (now Calvary) Baptist Church was the venue for the wedding of Clarence Wylie and Nellie Christine Johnston from Montego Bay. Officiating was Rev. Glaister Knight, assisted by the Revds. R. A. L. Knight, J. T. Dillon and W. D. Brown. The wedding featured a choir of 40 voices drawn from the Second Baptist and Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Presiding at the organ were Mr. Lance Henry and Rev. Ivan Parsons, with Mr. F. A. Johnson playing the violin.  The union of the Whylies produced six children, Shirley, John, Clarence, Lilieth, Cheryl and Paul. They have continued the tradition of fostering, among other things, a strong music tradition in the churches where they are members.

On September 29, 1946, the members of the Bassgrove Church said farewell to one whose sermons they described as “always refreshing and full of spiritual uplift.” Whylie had endeared himself to the people through his gentle demeanour, large vision and effective leadership. In his response at the farewell service, Whylie said that “it was his daily prayer that God would send a new shepherd to his flock” at Bassgrove.

Whylie spent the last 29 years of his active ministry as the Pastor of the Savanna-la-mar circuit of Baptist Churches in Westmoreland. He succeeded Rev O. T. Johnson   These were very productive years. Whylie was active in church and community life. He was a member of the Westmoreland Rent Assessment Board and of several school boards. He also served as chairman of the Board of Managers for the Mannings High School. His ecumenical commitment revealed itself in his active participation in the life of the Sav-la-mar Ministers Fraternal. For his contribution to civic and community life in Westmoreland, the Rotary Club and the Jaycees of that parish honoured Whylie.

 Beyond his circuit and parish commitments, Whylie made an outstanding contribution to the work of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) and the Jamaica Baptist Missionary Society (JBMS).  Elected as JBMS Secretary in 1942, he served as such until 1957. In this capacity, he represented the JBU in deputation work among Baptist Churches in Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Cayman Islands, the Turks & Caicos Islands and the United States of America. He aroused such interest in  mission among the JBU churches that their giving through JBMS increased six-fold over the years of Whylie’s stewardship.

Whylie was, for many years, a member of the JBU Executive Committee and he was elected JBU Chairman (now President) for 1950 -1951.

In 1975, Whylie retired from the Savanna-la-Mar circuit and as a Minister of the Jamaica Baptist Union at the age of 64. This enabled him to enjoy more than a decade in retirement.

Whylie fell ill and died in the Savanna-la-mar Hospital on Saturday, August 19, 1989. A Thanksgiving service for his life was held at the Savanna-la-mar Baptist Church on Thursday August 24, 1989. In place of floral tributes, the family requested an offering as a contribution to the Sav-la-Mar Baptist Church fund. Whyle’s mortal remains were interred in the Tate Cemetery.

 An outstanding servant of God had completed his earthly journey.