Captain James Potter

Captain James Potter. . , Captains James Potter , The Wesley Methodist Church Ghana, salutes Captain Potter for his unparalleled role in the establishment of Methodism in Ghana., Captain Potter's story, culled from "The Root of Ghana Methodism" by F. L. Bartels goes like this:, The story of the "Meeting' of the opening for Mission work in Ghana was brought to England by Captain Potter, Sea-Captain of the 'Congo', a vessel which plied between Bristol and West Africa. He arrived back in Bristol and, in his home church at Langton Street, Bristol (South) Circuit, told the story of the group of young men in Cape Coast who were already united in seeking "the way of salvation" and so had requested for Bibles. Potter was so eager for the immediate action that he said to his fellow Methodists, that if a Missionary should be appointed to go to Ghana with the Bibles, he would take him in his own ship, leave him at Cape Coast during the three or four months he might remain on the coast, and if the Missionary, after making his own observations, did not think it was good opening for the Gospel, would bring him back to England free of all expense. This was permitted. He sailed with a young Minister of the Gospel, Rev. Joseph Rhodes Dunwell, 27 years old, on 17th October 1834 and arrived on New Year's Day, 1st January 1835, at Cape Coast. Captain Potter's eagerness paid off and consequently led to the establishment of Methodism in Ghana., In peace their sacred ashes rest, , Fulfilled their day's endeavour; They blest the earth, and they are blest , Of God and man, forever.