The Reverend

Carl Henry Clerk
Carl Henry Clerk
Born(1895-01-04)4 January 1895
Aburi, Gold Coast
Died28 May 1982(1982-05-28) (aged 87)
Accra, Ghana
Nationality
Education
Occupations
Spouses
  • Juliana N. Nikoi
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1918; died 1919)​
  • Martha Ayorkor Quao
    ​
    (m. 1929)​
Children7, including Nicholas and George
Parents
Relatives
ChurchPresbyterian Church of Ghana
Offices held
Orders
OrdinationEbenezer Presbyterian Church, 1944

Carl Henry Clerk (4 January 1895 – 28 May 1982) was a Ghanaian agricultural educationist, administrator, journalist, editor and church minister who was elected the fourth Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast, assuming the role of chief ecclesial officer of the national church from 1950 to 1954.[1][2][3][4][5] Between 1960 and 1963, he was also the Editor of the Christian Messenger, established by the Basel Mission in 1883, as the newspaper of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.[2]

Early life and family

Carl Henry Clerk was born at Aburi, about forty-five minutes north-east of the capital city, Accra, on 4 January 1895.[2][6] He was born in the home of his paternal grandfather, Alexander Worthy Clerk (1820–1906). His father was Nicholas Timothy Clerk[7] (1862–1961), a Basel-trained theologian and missionary, was the first Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast from 1918 to 1932[2][8][9] and a founding father of the all boys’ boarding high school, the Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, established in 1938.[10][11] His mother, Anna Alice Meyer (1873–1934) was of Ga-Danish descent.[8][9]

According to the Swiss German church historian and theologian, Hans Werner Debrunner, Carl Clerk's father, Nicholas Timothy Clerk, contemplated sending his young son to (Germany) in 1899 so he could receive well-rounded training in his formative years.[2][9] N. T. Clerk was "worried about the possible effect of unsettled, isolated life confined to the interior" of the hinterlands, on his son's upbringing and development.[2][9] Besides, Clerk wanted his son "to be a missionary or an engineer in the service of the mission."[2][9] However, his Basel Mission colleagues strongly discouraged him, with the advice, "the best Christian education was the one given to a child by his own Christian parents."[2][9] C.H. Clerk's paternal grandfather, Alexander Worthy Clerk, a Jamaican Moravian missionary arrived in the Danish Protectorate of Christiansborg, now the suburb of Osu, in Accra, Gold Coast in 1843, as part of the original group of 24 West Indian missionaries who worked under the auspices of the Basel Evangelical Missionary Society of Basel, Switzerland.[8][9][12][13] A.W. Clerk was a pioneer of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and a leader in education in colonial Ghana, establishing a boarding middle school, the Salem School in 1843.[14] His paternal grandmother, Pauline Hesse (1831–1909) was from the Gold Coast, and was of Danish, German and Ga heritage.[15] His grandaunt was Regina Hesse (1832 ─ 1898), a pioneer educator and school principal.[15]

A third generation member of the historically notable Clerk family, Carl Clerk had 8 siblings.[6][7] His younger brother, Theodore S. Clerk (1909–1965) was the first Ghanaian architect who planned and developed the port city of Tema.[16][17][18] His younger sisters were Jane E. Clerk (1904–1999), a pioneer woman education administrator and Matilda J. Clerk (1916–1984), the second Ghanaian woman to become a physician and the first Ghanaian woman in any field to win an academic merit scholarship for university education abroad.[19][20][21] His maternal uncle was Emmanuel Charles Quist (1880–1959), a barrister and judge who became the first African President of the Legislative Council from 1949 to 1951, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Gold Coast from 1951 to 1957, and Speaker of the National Assembly of Ghana from March 1957 to November 1957.[22]

Education and training

He was educated at Basel mission primary schools in Worawora and Berekum where his father was working as a Basel missionary at the time.[23][2] He went to the boys' boarding middle school, the Salem School from 1908 to 1911, together with Max Dodu who became the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana from 1955 to 1958.[2][24][25] Clerk then attended the Basel Mission Seminary at Akropong (now known as the Presbyterian College of Education, Akropong) from 1912 to 1916, where he received training in pedagogy and theology.[2] The seminary was founded by the Basel Mission in 1848, as the second oldest higher educational institution in early modern West Africa after Fourah Bay College which was established in 1827.[26][27] He studied for his bachelor's degree in agricultural science at Tuskegee University (then known as Tuskegee Institute) in Tuskegee, Alabama, on a scholarship from the Phelps Stokes Fund, before being awarded a year-long postgraduate fellowship to study education, obtaining a professional teaching diploma, at the Teachers College, Columbia University in the City of New York in the 1920s.[2] At Tuskegee, Clerk studied the works of the American botanist, George Washington Carver who was then a research faculty member at the institute.[2][28][29] In his college yearbook, Clerk was nicknamed "The Prof" by his classmates, an allusion to his studiousness and erudite stature.[30] After completing his graduate studies at Columbia, Carl Clerk sailed to his homeland from the Port of New York, aboard the steamship, the TSS Tuscania anchor line, and via the Port of Glasgow in Scotland, according to a 1926-passenger manifest. He arrived in Glasgow on 26 March 1926.

Career

Teaching and education management

Clerk dedicated his entire life to public service.[2] He was a teacher at his alma mater, the Salem School (1917–1918) and school principal (1933–1935); the St. Thomas Infant School at Osu (1918–1922); Akropong Training College (1926–1932) and principal of Manyakpogunor Presbyterian School (1932 -1933).[2][31][32] From 1935 to 1944, he was appointed the general manager of Presbyterian Schools in the Ga-Adangme District covering modern-day Greater Accra and Eastern Regions. Within this period, he stayed at various stations: Kpong (1935–1936); Odumase-Krobo (1937); Somanya (1938–1939) and Osu (1940–1944). He later taught agricultural science at the O’Reilly Secondary School (1955–1959) and the Accra Training College (1964–1969).[2] Clerk served as the first Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Aburi Girls' Secondary School.

Pastoral work and journalism

He was a catechist in charge of the local church at Manyakpogunor (1926–1932). He was ordained a minister on 6 February 1944 at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, together with two other ordinands, Messrs. Cleland and Nartey.[2] Clerk's father who was then eighty-one years old, was among the ordination ceremony's officiating clergy.[2] Carl Clerk gave the inaugural sermon on behalf of the three newly installed ministers of the Gospel.[2]

C. H. Clerk served as a chaplain in local churches at Abokobi (1944–1946); Sekondi (1946–1947); Teshie (1948) and Osu (1949).[2] As a chaplain at Abokobi, he established the local middle school there.[2] At Odumase, he led the formation of the church choir and was its lead organist and first choirmaster.[2] Additionally, at Somanya, he acquired the building for the local Presbyterian chapel and founded and robed the church choir.[2]

Like his father before him, he was elected the fourth Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast, serving as the organisation's de facto chief administrator from 1950 to 1954.[1][2] As Synod Clerk and organisational head, Carl Henry Clerk was instrumental in the start and completion of the old Church Offices at Accra.[2] He led the Gold Coast delegation and was among five representatives from Africa to the World Council of Churches' second assembly, a global ecumenical meeting held in Evanston, Illinois from 15 to 31 August 1954.[1][2] At the opening session of the assembly, discussions were held on main topics of that era, including desegregation and interracial marriage.[1] Carl Clerk also served as the Editor of the Christian Messenger newspaper from 1960 to 1963.[2]

Personal life

Carl H. Clerk first married Juliana N. Nikoi (1897–1919), the daughter of an administrative clerk in the colonial civil service from Christiansborg, Accra on 7 March 1918 but his wife and newly born son died in 1919.[1][33] He remarried on 6 June 1929[34] to a Ga woman from Ga-Mashie and La, Martha Ayorkor Quao (1911–1989), whose father Daniel Quao[35] was a general commodities merchant based at Adawso.[2] Martha Quao was also an entrepreneur who owned a bakery business.[2] Her maternal grandfather, Nii Ngleshie Addy I was the first son of Nii Tetteh Tsuru I, the founder and ruler of the Otuopai Clan, a royal house in Ga State. Her younger brother was Nathan Quao (1915–2005), a diplomat, educationist and public servant who served as a presidential advisor to many Heads of State of Ghana.[36][37] She was also the maternal aunt of the economist and diplomat, Amon Nikoi (1930–2002), the Governor of the Bank of Ghana from 1973 to 1977 and Finance minister from 1979 to 1981, whose mother, Betty Oboshie Quao was Quao's older biological sister.[38][39] In addition, Martha Quao's cousin was the Ghanaian barrister and judge, Nii Amaa Ollennu (1906–1986) who was elected the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana during the Second Republic as well as serving as the Chairman of the Presidential Commission and acting President of Ghana from 7 August 1970 to 31 August 1970.[40][41]

Carl Clerk had six children with Martha Quao: Nicholas, George, Arnold, Anna (Mrs. Sai), Alexander Worthy (died in infancy) and Henry[2] Clerk's children went on to forge careers in academia, public service and broadcast journalism.[7][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]

Clerk was a poet and an accomplished organist.[2] An artisan, Carl Clerk was also adept at many crafts including carpentry, masonry, tailoring and painting.[2] He was also engaged in backyard gardening and animal husbandry especially poultry farming.[2]

Death and legacy

Clerk died of pneumonia on 28 May 1982 at his home in Osu, Accra.[2] After his funeral service at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Osu, his body was interred in the "Presbyterian clergy quarter (section)" of the Osu Cemetery (formerly known as Christiansborg Civil Cemetery) in Accra.[2] The Presbyterian Girls' School at Osu named its assembly hall in his honour, in recognition of his sacrifice and fundraising efforts during his tenure as the general manager of Presbyterian Schools, as "the sole driving force in getting permanent buildings put up" for the institution.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Company, Johnson Publishing (26 August 1954). Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 29 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Clerk, Nicholas, T. (5 June 1982). Obituary: The Reverend Carl Henry Clerk. Accra: Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Funeral Bulletin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Sundkler, Bengt; Steed, Christopher (4 May 2000). A History of the Church in Africa. Cambridge University Press. p. 719. ISBN 9780521583428. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
  4. ↑ "Rev. Hsihene, Rev. Ch. Clerk, Perempe II Asante-König (bei der Synode in Kumase 1953.). – BM Archives". bmarchives.org. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  5. ↑ Nkansa-Kyeremateng, K. (2003). The Presbyterian Church of Ghana: History and Impact. Accra: Sebewie Publishers. pp. 97–99.
  6. 1 2 "Carl Clerk – Historical records and family trees – MyHeritage". myheritage.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 Clerk, N. T. (1943). The Settlement of West Indian Emigrants on the Gold Coast 1843–1943 – A Centenary Sketch. Accra.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. 1 2 3 "Clerk, Nicholas Timothy, Ghana, Basel Mission". dacb.org. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Debrunner, Hans W. (1965). Owura Nico, the Rev. Nicholas Timothy Clerk, 1862–1961: pioneer and church leader. Watervile Publishing House. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "PRESEC | ALUMINI PORTAL". www.odadee.net (in Russian). Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  11. ↑ "70 Years of excellent secondary education" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  12. ↑ Dawes, Mark (7 October 2003). "Ghanaian church built by Jamaicans". Jamaican Gleaner. Archived from the original on 21 November 2017.
  13. ↑ Debrunner, Hans W. (1967). A history of Christianity in Ghana. Waterville Pub. House. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013.
  14. ↑ "Osu Salem". osusalem.org. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  15. 1 2 Sill, Ulrike (2010). Encounters in Quest of Christian Womanhood: The Basel Mission in Pre- and Early Colonial Ghana. BRILL. ISBN 978-9004188884. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017.
  16. ↑ Goold, David. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects – DSA Architect Biography Report (April 10, 2017, 5:25 pm)". scottisharchitects.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  17. ↑ Ofori-Mensah. "22 Successful Ghanaians Who Went To Achimota School". OMGVoice. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  18. ↑ "Profile of THEODORE SHEALTIEL CLERK". MyHeritage.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  19. ↑ Clerk, Nicholas, T. (5 January 1985). Obituary: Dr. Matilda Johanna Clerk, MBChB, DTM&H. Accra: Presbyterian Church of Ghana Funeral Bulletin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ↑ Patton, Adell Jr. (13 April 1996). Physicians, Colonial Racism, and Diaspora in West Africa (1st ed.). University Press of Florida. p. 29. ISBN 9780813014326.
  21. ↑ Joeden-Forgey, Elisa von (1 August 1997). "Review of Patton, Adell Jr.., Physicians, Colonial Racism and Diaspora in West Africa". h-net.org. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  22. ↑ "Janus: Progress in the Colonies, 1940s–1950s". University of Cambridge. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  23. ↑ "The Christian Messenger, Basel, 1883–1917".
  24. ↑ Time, Inc. (18 March 1957). LIFE. Time Inc. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018.
  25. ↑ Agyeman, Eddie (5 July 1970). Sunday Mirror: Issue 882, July 5 1970. Graphic Communications Group. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018.
  26. ↑ "PRESEC | ALUMINI PORTAL". www.odadee.net (in Russian). Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  27. ↑ "Presby – PTC COLLEGE OF EDUCATION". Presby. Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  28. ↑ "George Washington Carver: Master Inventor, Artist - US - CBN News - Christian News 24-7". cbn.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  29. ↑ "Art: Black Leonardo". Time. 24 November 1941. ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  30. ↑ Tuskegee Institute (1925). Class of 1925 Student Yearbook. Tuskegee, Alabama: Tuskegee University.
  31. ↑ "Presbyterian Boys Boarding School, Osu Salem". osusalem.org. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  32. ↑ (Mrs.), Margaret Safo (29 July 2006). The Mirror: Issue 2,693 July 29 2006. Graphic Communications Group. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017.
  33. ↑ "FamilySearch.org". familysearch.org. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  34. ↑ "Research".
  35. ↑ "FamilySearch.org". familysearch.org. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  36. ↑ "Nathan Quao to be given state burial on April 8". ModernGhana.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  37. ↑ "Nathan Quao to be given state burial on April 8". ghanaweb.com. 30 November 2001. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  38. ↑ "Former Bank of Ghana Governor buried at La". ghanaweb.com. 30 November 2001. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  39. ↑ "Dr Amon Nikoi, Former Governor of the Bank of Ghana". ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  40. ↑ "Official Web Site for the Judicial Service of the Republic of Ghana". 14 April 2005. Archived from the original on 14 April 2005. Retrieved 6 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  41. ↑ "Countries Ga-Gi". rulers.org. Archived from the original on 3 April 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  42. ↑ Obituary: The Rev. Dr. Nicholas Timothy Clerk. Accra: Christian Messenger, Presbyterian Church of Ghana Funeral Bulletin. 27 October 2012.
  43. ↑ "Contact Us | Department of Botany". webcache.googleusercontent.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  44. ↑ "Membership". gaas-gh.org. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  45. ↑ "Fellowship". gaas-gh.org. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  46. ↑ "Mr Nicholas Clerk: Obstetrics and gynaecology". finder.bupa.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  47. ↑ "Mr Nick Clerk | Consultant Gynaecologist | Spire Healthcare". www.spirehealthcare.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  48. ↑ "Announcement: Join PATH at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference – PATH". path.org. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  49. ↑ PATH (November 2012). "Guiding product development of malaria diagnostics to support elimination programs: The Target Product Profile" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 April 2017.
  50. ↑ PATH (November 2012). "Zambia Trip Report: Project DIAMETER (Diagnostics for Malaria Elimination Toward Eradication)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2017.
  51. ↑ "Christine Alexandra Clerk". ResearchGate. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  52. ↑ Hawkins, Jennifer S.; Emanuel, Ezekiel J. (24 August 2008). Exploitation and Developing Countries: The Ethics of Clinical Research. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691126760. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017.
  53. ↑ "Ghana Medical Journal". www.ghanamedj.org. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  54. ↑ "Review of antenatal-linked voluntary counselling and HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons and options for Ghana" (PDF). Ghana Medical Journal. 39. March 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 December 2017.
  55. ↑ "In Memory Of Anna Sai (née Clerk): 5 January 1940 – 16 March 2008". Christian Memorials. Eterna Link Enterprises Pty. Ltd. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018.
  56. ↑ "In Memory Of Anna (The Zee) Alice Sai (née Clerk): 5 January 1940 – 16 March 2008". The Eternal Portal. Eterna Link Enterprises Pty. Ltd.
  57. ↑ "Christine Alexandra Clerk Obituary – COLLEYVILLE, TX". Dignity Memorial. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  58. ↑ "Welcome to the Ghana Public Procurement Authority". ppaghana.org. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  59. ↑ "Celebrating the Life of Henry Daniel Clerk". online.fliphtml5.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
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