Case file · Apparition / miracle
Bedward's promised ascension
Alexander Bedward, a healer and preacher at August Town, told his followers he would ascend to heaven like Elijah on 31 December 1920 and take the faithful with him.
1920 CE · 18.00, -76.74 · status: claim
The account
Thousands sold their property and gathered. When the ascension did not happen, he set a new date. He led a march on Kingston in 1921, was arrested and committed to an asylum, where he died in 1930. His Native Baptist movement influenced early Rastafari.