Bishop Charles Henry Brewer Jr., A leading Dixwell minister and former city and housing authority official has died at the age of 76.
Bishop Brewer was born July 5, 1942 to the late Bishop Charles Henry Brewer Sr. and the Late Mother Sadie Lee Brewer in Springfield, Massachusetts. At the age of four Bishop Brewer relocated to New Haven, Connecticut. Bishop Brewer got his start as a child in the Church of God Christ under the tutelage and leadership of his late father, Bishop Brewer Sr. As his father labored to build Trinity Temple COGIC, a young Charles Brewer Jr. was indelibly imprinted with the teaching of the ways of holiness and the foundational principles of the Church of God in Christ, that he began laboring in the ministry with his father at a very young age. In 1956, at the age of 14 he accepted the Lord as his personal savior. Two years later at the age of 16 he accepted his call to ministry and began working along side his father Bishop Brewer Sr.
Bishop Brewer Jr. was a pioneering trailblazer, becoming the youngest State Youth President in Connecticut First Jurisdiction at the age of 17. He graduated from James Hillhouse High School and went on to further his education by earning a Bachelors of Arts in Education with a minor in Philosophy Religion from Curry College in Milton, MA, a Masters of Arts in Urban Studies under a special Thesis Program from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Certification in Theology from Charles H. Mason Bible Institute. During his college years, he got an early start working in the national church by being afforded the opportunity to work with the finance committee of the Youth Congress. Though Elder Brewer had many different avenues and opportunities, including having received offers for football scholarships due to his skill in the sport, once he accepted the call to ministry, his father and Overseer, Bishop Charles Brewer Sr., impressed upon him that he should not get distracted with other areas of life; but that his commitment to ministry was the most important priority in his life.
Paul Bass Photo
Bishop Brewer with then-Mayor John DeStefano in 2011.
On June 15, 1968 Elder Brewer married Sister Sarah Frances Carr. On September 29, 1971 Elder Brewer and Lady Brewer welcomed their pride and joy, their only son, Charles Henry Brewer III into the world; that same year, Elder Brewer was appointed, as Associate Pastor of the Trinity Temple Church and Wilson Memorial Church. The Lord blessed Elder Brewer, Jr.’s ministry and many young men and women were saved, which led to the appointment of Elder Brewer as Pastor of Trinity Temple Church and Wilson Memorial church by his father Bishop Brewer Sr. during his illness. As Bishop Brewer, Sr.’s illness progressed his desire was to see his son succeed him as Bishop and in March of 1976 Elder Charles Henry Brewer Jr. was elevated to the office of Bishop of the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Connecticut Diocese, Church of God in Christ, at the age of 34, making him the youngest person to be appointed Bishop in the history of the Church of God in Christ.
In his early work in the national Youth Department, Bishop Brewer got acquainted with many notable persons who were also key workers during that era, including the late Bishop Davenport, Dr. Rimson, Elder C. Wilbur Daniels Sr. and so many others. Through his commitment and dedication, Brewer came to the attention of then National Youth President, Elder O.T. Jones Jr., who gave him opportunities to begin teaching and directing the training seminars and workshops in the national youth congress. Bishop Charles Brewer Jr. was chosen for a 6‑month stint as the writer of the national YPWW topics. When Presiding Bishop J.O. Patterson Sr. established a Provisional Board structure for the youth department, Bishop Brewer was appointed to that board and was one of the early pioneers of “regional rally” type fellowships, as he oversaw a territory including the New England area and New York. He worked on this board with other notables including the late Presiding Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson.
With the appointment of Elder Chandler D. Owens as the National Youth leader, Bishop Brewer became the Executive Secretary of the Youth Department, a role which brought with it greatly expanded responsibilities. With ever increasing exposure, he went on to become 2nd Vice President of the Youth Department under President Chandler Owens. Recognized for his faithful service, commitment to excellence and dedication to the church, Bishop Charles H. Brewer Jr. was given the opportunity to serve the church as National Youth Department President in 1986. After his appointment, President Brewer had his first Youth Congress at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Chicago, Illinois, which turned into one of the largest youth conventions the Church of God in Christ had seen in its history. He went on to lead the Youth Department in several successful conventions, even under the unified UNAC structure, and he was also instrumental serving as Director of Education and as an Executive Committee member for UNAC.As he transitioned the work of the Jurisdiction at home, he continued to enjoy unprecedented success at the national youth department level. He brought to the forefront a broad-based vision for youth ministry, and pioneered such things as “Children’s Church” during the national Youth and UNAC meetings.
Bishop Brewer has served his community as being an advocate for Human and Social Rights. He has served as a member of several boards and committees: Board of Directors of the Opportunities Industrialization Center of New Haven; Board of Directors of the South Central Connecticut Criminal Justice Supervisory Board; Chairman of Board of Directors of Community Progress, Inc. (the nation’s first anti-Black Coalition of New Haven; Director of Human Services for the City of New Haven; Organization of Black Elected Officials, and a member of the New Haven Clergy Association. Bishop Brewer was elected Tax Collector in the City of New Haven. He also served as the Director of the Yearwood Center in the City of Stamford.
Bishop Charles Henry Brewer Jr.’s amazing personality, selfless ways and giving heart will forever be felt by the many lives he has touched over the years; especially His Only Son and Heart-string, Administrative Assistant Charles Henry Brewer III; His Beloved Friend, Lady Sarah Frances Brewer; His Sister, Pastor Patricia McDaniel; His Grandchildren; His Great-Grandchildren, A Host of Nieces and Nephews; The First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Connecticut and His Beloved New Trinity Temple and Wilson Memorial Family.
Bishop Charles Henry Brewer Jr. has served as an example of what it means to be a clergyman, theologian, educator and statesmen for the last 76 years. We are eternally grateful to God for our trailblazing pioneer who has been a leader who believed in building up the next generation of leaders. On January 25, 2018 Bishop Brewer took his final rest and heard those sacred words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. For Bishop Charles Henry Brewer Jr. always preached dying is not so bad, but dying unprepared is a tragedy.
