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| Morehouse College https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49386541 |
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| Terrence Duncanson |
Born
to Thomas and Bernice Duncanson in Duanvale, Trelawny on August 14, 1886,
Terrence Haddon Duncanson, 1886-1969, is remembered primarily for the ministry
he carried out as an agent of the Jamaica Baptist Missionary Society in Panama.
Terrence’s mother was from the distinguished Fuller family of missionaries originating in Spanish Town, some of whom, notably Joseph Jackson Fuller, accompanied John Clarke when he left Jericho in 1843 to start Baptist witness in Fernando Po, an island off the coast of Cameroon. Bernice’s father migrated to South America for economic reasons but left without his family members.
Terrence’s father was shaped by the Mico Teachers’ College from which he graduated in 1877 with honours, after which he taught at James Phillippo’s Metropolitan School in Spanish Town. Eventually, Thomas became headmaster of Wesley Mount Methodist School at Williamsfield, Manchester, and later of Bethel Methodist School in Hopewell, Hanover. His last appointment was in Bermuda to which he migrated and where he became the minister and teacher at the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bermuda was his final resting place.
When he left school aged 14 years, Terrence worked as an apprentice at Bernard’s Coach Building Works, while taking private lessons for his educational development. When he attended Wesley Methodist Church on Charles Street, Terence was introduced to the Christian Endeavour Movement – a worldwide Christian youth movement. Soon, he was benefiting from voice training from the choirmaster and organist at the East Queen Street Baptist Church, where the first CE branch was established in Jamaica.
In 1907, Terrence was working at the Railway Stock Yards, when a massive earthquake struck, destroying much of Kingston. While some of his co-workers perished, Terrence escaped without injury. Not long after this cataclysmic event, Terrence’s faith in God deepened and he was baptized at East Queen Street Baptist Church, where he became a member. Much to his annoyance, certain East Queen Street members, including Deacon Higgins, kept suggesting he should consider becoming a minister. Higgins introduced Terrence to the story and writings of Booker T. Washington. In 1910, Terrence migrated to USA in hopes of studying at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. After an unpromising start at Tuskegee, Terrence registered in the Phelps Hall Bible School. After satisfactorily completing the Phelps course, he commenced study at the Atlanta Bible College, whose name was later changed to Morehouse College. Terrence gained a Bachelor of Divinity degree from the college, graduating as the valedictorian in 1913. He was the first Jamaican Baptist minister to obtain a degree in ministerial studies.
After his Morehouse years, Duncanson answered the call of
the Jamaica Baptist Missionary Society (JBMS) to serve as missioner to Panama.
Ellis Fray, Jr. JBMS Secretary, wrote to advise Duncanson that he had been
accepted as the Society’s agent in Changuinola and Sixaola districts of Bocas
del Toro.
Duncanson was ordained to the ministry and valedicted as a JBMS missioner at East Queen Street Baptist Church on June 25, 1913 and, ten days later, on July 5, he departed Jamaica for Bocas del Toro, as successor to Rev. Felix Veitch, who had returned to Jamaica to serve in the Lucea circuit of churches in Hanover.
A visionary, Duncanson extended Baptist witness in Panama when, in 1914, he planted a church at Almirante, the planned site of swamp reclamation by the United Fruit Company. In addition, the retirement of Ernest Nottman, long-time BMS missionary to Panama, resulted in Duncanson taking responsibility for the churches his former colleague served.
Soon, however, Duncanson sought reprieve from the demands of the disease-infected area in which he served. He returned to Jamaica on an extended leave of absence. It was during this time that Duncanson met and married Alice Maud Clarke of East Queen Street Baptist Church. She was from Alexandria in Hanover, had been baptized at the Mt Peto Baptist Church, was a graduate of the Shortwood Teachers’ College and was serving on the staff of Calabar Elementary School. Soon, she became principal of the Windsor Castle Elementary School in Portland. East Queen Baptist Church was the place where the nuptials between Terrence and Alice Maude Clarke took place on March 8, 1915.
When
the couple arrived in Almirante, a newly built residence was waiting for them.
Mrs. Duncanson started a school in the veranda of her home. Recognizing her
gifts, the United Fruit Company created a new position of Supervisor of Schols
and appointed Mrs. Duncanson to the position.
Bocas del Toro, Almirante, Changuinola, and several small churches on the Panamanian and Costa Rican banks of the Sixaola River, were among the places where the Duncansons ministered. The churches on the Costa Rican side were eventually incorporated into the Port Limon witness.
The churches and schools for which the Duncansons had responsibility were centres of influence and formation for the young. The work entailed much travel, sometimes by train or boat or on foot. The Duncansons encountered many challenges, but faced them bravely.
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| Duncanson family |
On July 6, 1940, as he waited to preach at the funeral arranged after James Blake’s sudden death, Duncanson was pained to receive a telegram advising of the unexpected passing of his wife, Alice. He had to make fresh plans for the future, especially bearing in mind the children Alice had left behind.
Mrs. Duncanson’s funeral took place at the Jones Town Baptist Church on July 6,
1940. The Gleaner of July 13, 1940 reported:
“The entire Baptist Community in Jamaica and a very large circle of friends outside of it are saddened by the sudden death of Mrs. Alice Maude Duncanson, wife of Rev. T. H. Duncanson of Bocas-del-Toro, which occurred at her residence at 11 West Race Course, while she was engaged in fixing up the accounts of the Children's Lunch Room, which she managed ever since its inception.
“Mrs. Duncanson got up alright on Saturday morning July 5, and after breakfast, sat at her desk working, when she suddenly collapsed and died…. The Rev. Mr. Sawyers, minister of the church, told briefly the effects of the staggering blow on the Church at Jones Pen and on the much larger community. By the death call, the church had lost its Secretary; the Junior and Senior Girls Auxiliary, their Leader; the Women's Meeting, its Secretary; and the Junior Choir, their Leader and himself, a second mother, a counsellor, and a true sincere friend.”
Duncanson
returned to Jamaica, a widower, overcome with grief and disappointment that
were temporarily eased by his visits to his wife’s tomb at the May Pen Cemetery
in Kingston. Before leaving Panama in 1944, he negotiated Southern Baptist
Convention’s assumption of full responsibility for the JBMS work in Panama and
arranged for Rev. W. D. Morgan’s assumption of pastoral charge at Bocas del
Toro.
Duncanson’s 31 years of service at Bocas del Toro were filled with committed work in the service of the Lord and his church, respected contribution to education, the establishment of a banking service for migrants and other contributions to community development.
Duncanson and his children had to make a new start. After conducting deputations to the Baptist churches in Jamaica, on behalf of the JBMS, he received a call to the pastorate of the Linstead circuit of churches, as successor to Rev. L. M. Beverley, a former JBU chairman. He commenced serving there on the first Sunday in 1945, overseeing the work of two churches – Linstead and Bethel (Bog Walk) and encouraging those associated with the class houses at Bowerswood, Buxton and Giblatore. His years there were filled with hard work, challenges met and overcome, including overseeing a robust building programme.
Meanwhile, Duncanson found time to develop loving relations with Hildred Evelyn Leslie. Hildred was from Bethel Town, Westmoreland, and she grew up in the Baptist Church where Welshman, Phillip Williams, who was, for many years, a distinguished JBU secretary (now, general secretary), was pastor. Duncanson and Leslie got married on July 9, 1946, in a service where F. Cowell Lloyd officiated. Hildred was the principal of the local elementary school.
During his Linstead years, he was chairman of the Hospital Visiting Committee for many years, Secretary to the St Catherine School Board. He was also acting chaplain of the St Catherine District Prison, when Rev J. J. Carter Henry was on a leave of absence from his duties there.
After 13 years of service in the Linstead circuit, Duncanson retired. In retirement, he and Hildred established a Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Linstead, whose services included counsel and support for young unwed mothers.
On December 31, 1969, Duncanson breathed his last. One year later, his children placed the following memorial in the Gleaner newspaper:
“In loving memory of a devoted father and grandfather who was called to Higher Service on the 31st December 1969.
‘Tis hard to take the burden up
When these have laid it down;
They brightened all the joy of life.
They softened every frown.
But oh 'tis good to think of them,
When we are troubled sore:
Thanks be to God that such have been.
Though they, are here no more
Sadly missed, by:—
Children: Howard, Sylvia, Grace and Frank: grandson, Donald
For his part, Duncanson’s brother memorialized him in the following words:
“In loving memory of a devoted brother who passed on to be with His Lord on the 31st December, 1369.
"Life's work well done
Life's race well run
Life's crown well won."
Sadly missed by Manville (U.S.A.)
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