Who Was Rev Charles Saunders?

Reverend Charles W Saunders, a pioneer in religion and education, died on Friday at 91-years-old.

In his prime, he served as a strong influence in the wider Baptist community.

What to know about him

• He started his career as a teacher, then as Principal in Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma and Nassau.
• He is the founder of a high school in New Providence, Charles W Saunders Baptist School which he founded in 1988; and he helped to establish the Bahamas Baptist Community College in 1995.
• Since 1974, Dr. Saunders served as the Senior Pastor of Salem Union Baptist Church.
• He served 29 years as Superintendent of the Bahamas Baptist Union of Churches.
• Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham once described him as the prince of the Baptist Church in the country.
• In 1981, he served as head of the Bahamas Baptist National Missionary and Educational Conference for 17 years and was credited for settling a dispute between the Baptist Conference and the Southern Baptists of the United States over the property on which the Bahamas Baptist College stood.
• Ingraham once appointed him as Chairman of the Police Service Commission where he approved the promotions of officers, from the rank of inspector to assistant commissioner.