Charles Price Jones

Short Name: Charles Price Jones
Full Name: Jones, Charles Price
Birth Year: 1865
Death Year: 1949

Charles Price Jones was born on December 9, 1865, near Rome, Georgia. He grew up in Kingston, Georgia, and was raised in the Baptist church. He was converted in 1884 while living on Cat Island, Arkansas, and began preaching in 1885. In 1888, he attended Arkansas Baptist College and also taught school in Grant County, Arkansas.

Jones pastored several Baptist churches, but in 1895, after seeking a deeper experience of grace through fasting and prayer, he embraced the holiness movement, teaching that a second work of grace can cleanse Christians from original sin. His ministry at Mount Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi faced opposition, leading the congregation to remove “Baptist” from its name, becoming the Church of Christ, and eventually developing a non-denominational holiness movement.

In 1899, Jones began writing hymns, most inspired by scripture. His leadership oversaw the construction of the Christ Temple campus, including a 1,000-seat sanctuary, a printing press, a school, and a girls’ dormitory. In 1917, he organized Christ Temple Church in Los Angeles, moving the printing press there.

He passed away on January 19, 1949, in Los Angeles. Jones is remembered as the founder of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. and as a significant American hymnist whose works continue to influence gospel music.