- Brother Bryan
James Alexander Bryan, known as Brother Bryan, (
March 20 ,1863 , nearKingstree ,South Carolina –January 28 ,1941 , inBirmingham, Alabama ) was a well-loved pastor of Third Presbyterian Church inBirmingham, Alabama .Bryan came to Birmingham while he was still studying at
Princeton University to serve as part-time pastor of Third Presbyterian Church. After graduating in 1889, he was ordained and installed as the full-time minister on August 4. As a minister, he conducted large evangelistic andprayer gatherings with various groups across the city and region. and racial reconciliation in Birmingham. He is best remembered, however, for his tireless efforts to help the poor and homeless. It is said he would often arrive home at night without his overcoat because he had given it away to a stranger during the day. Though he was an ordained minister and honorary Doctor, he earned the title "brother" by addressing anyone he met as brother or sister. His life and ministry were recounted by author Hunter Blakely in the 1934 book "Religion in Shoes".A 1934 statue of Brother Bryan kneeling in prayer by George Bridges is one of Birmingham's best-known landmarks, although it has been moved several times: From Five Points South to
Vulcan Park to Magnolia Park, and back to Five Points South. The "Brother Bryan Mission" was founded in 1940 to continue his work with the less fortunate. The City of Birmingham renamed Magnolia Park as "Brother Bryan Park". Bryan Memorial Presbyterian church in suburban Birmingham is also named in his honor.He was elected in 2002 to the
Alabama Men's Hall of Fame .References
* Blakely, Hunter B. (1953) "." Richmond, VA: John Knox.
* Bryan, Rev. James A. (n.d.) "Sermons." Birmingham, AL: A. H. Cather.
* "Will Brother Bryan move again?" (March 3, 2004) "Birmingham News".
* "A Short History of Third Presbyterian Church 1884-2004"; pamphlet arranged for Third's 120th Anniversary serviceExternal links
* [http://www.birminghamart.org/brotherbryan.htm Brother Bryan statue] at Birminghamart.org
* [http://www.thirdpca.org 3rd Pres Website]
* [http://www.bhamwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Third_Presbyterian_Church 3rd Presbyterian on BhamWiki]
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