20th Bishop
Benjamin Franklin Lee
Bishop Lee was chair of the Pastoral Theology department at Wilberforce and in 1875 was elected President of the College. He was editor of the Christian Recorder. He was a linguist having the ability to speak several languages. He was secretary of the Bishops Council.
- Birth Date: September 18, 1841
- Consecrated: 1892
- Death Date: March 12, 1926
- Spouse: Mary E. Ashe (m. December 30, 1872)
Benjamin Franklin Lee the son Abel and Sarah (Gould) Lee was born near Bridgeton, NJ. His father died when he was 10 and his mother was a school teacher. He stopped attending school at the age of 14 and went to work at farms and in mills until he was 23. On December 30, 1872, he married Mary E. Ashe and they had 9 children; only 4 survived to adulthood.1Encyclopedia of African American Religions by Larry G. Murphy. p. 451.
He joined the church in 1862 and enrolled in Wilberforce University. He was licensed to preach in 1868; ordained Deacon in 1870; and ordained Elder in 1872. In 1872 he graduated from Payne Theological Seminary. He served in several churches in OH. He was elected Bishop in 1892.2Centennial Encyclopedia of the AME Church by R.R. Wright. P. 149.
Achievements
- Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church in Brownwood, TX is named for Bishop Lee.
- He was chair of the Pastoral Theology department at Wilberforce and in 1875 was elected President of the College.
- He was editor of the Christian Recorder.
- He was a linguist, having the ability to speak several languages.
- He was secretary of the Bishops Council.
