Bishop Dr. Audley Neville James (1937 – 2019) was the Founder and beloved Senior Pastor of Revivaltime Tabernacle Worldwide Ministries (RTT). Bishop James was born in Trelawny, Jamaica and immigrated to Canada in 1969 at the young age of 32.
In 1980 he was commissioned by God to establish and pastor a church to reach the lost and dying in the city of Toronto. He embarked on an aggressive evangelical campaign and within eighteen months of the church’s inception, the congregation grew to over five hundred.
Bishop James was charismatic, dynamic and a well sought after speaker who ministered in Canada, USA, the West Indies, Africa and Israel. In addition to his pastoral duties at RTT, he served as Chaplain of the Jamaica National Building Society and the Jamaica Diaspora in Canada. In 2012 he was appointed International Advisor to the Pan African Parliament. He also held an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Canon University.
Dr. Audley James was born in Wakefield Trelawney, Jamaica on September 17, 1937 to Jane Elizabeth Innis and Alister Fitzgerald James. He was brought up in a “business” family and he is the 3rd of 9 children (following): Ransford, Vida, Audley, Panzy, Lena, Bromley, Nyron, Lyman, Attol. He was saved at 9-1/2 years old at Wakefield Baptist Church.
Teenage Years
Pastor James moved to St. Annes Bay and attended St. Annes
Bay Baptist Church where his calling to ministry began. He taught, preached the word, sang and played the piano. He started working with the government at 14 years old in Jamaica at a Purchasing Office. He spent 3 years as an apprentice mechanic and also joined the police force.
Adolescent Years
He went to the West Indies school of Public Health in 1960 and graduated 3rd best student in the Caribbean. He entered the National Festival of Music and won the bronze medal in 1965 for Baritone at the Ward Theatre in Kingston, Jamaica. Pastor was elected the youngest Deacon ever in history at age 24 at the St. Annes Bay Baptist Church.
Adult Years
He went to work in St. Annes as a Public Health Inspector from 1960 – 1969. On April 7, 1969 at the age of 32 he migrated to Canada and worked with the Canadian Government . He went to Ryerson University and studied Environmental Health. He also attended the Ontario Bible College and Seminary, now known as Tyndale University, obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education. While he worked at Health Protection Branch Canada, he also worked at Tip Top Tailors as a salesman. He was married to Rosenda Henry on April 26, 1969 and together they have 3 beautiful children: Andrew John Mark James, Judith Rosalyn Anne James and Joanna Janna-Lyn Elizabeth James. Pastor and Mrs. James attended the West End Revival Temple where Rev. Dr. Audley James was a Deacon, Youth Leader, Choir Director and pianist.
On April 27, 1980 Dr. James began Revivaltime Tabernacle with 23 adults and 13 children at Bathurst Heights Secondary School. In 1982 he retired from government and dedicated his life to full time ministry. March 23, 1985 they broke ground at 4340 Dufferin Street to begin building RTT’s current location. Construction was complete one year later and they moved into the new facility on April 26, 1986. Exactly six years to the day the ministry began. This was the first church building constructed by a black man in 129 years in Ontario and the 2nd in Canada in the last century. Pastor co-hosted with David Mainse on 100 Huntley Street and was one of the hosts of Night Light, a television show, for 10 years.
Hope Villa
In 1993 Dr. James built a housing complex for low income families in Mississauga called Hope Villa which consists of 43 - 3 bedroom townhouses. In 1996 he opened the 2nd location of Revivaltime in Pickering. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Canada Christian College in 1998.
Golden Years
He has travelled to 25 countries of the world teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and this year was honored with an additional Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Canon University in Tampa, Florida.
In May 2012 he travelled to Johannesburg South Africa as chairman of the Elders Council African Union 6 th Region and was given the privilege to address the Pan African Parliament.
As a result he was asked to sit on an advisory council along with Dr. Julius Garvey son of the Late Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a Jamaican Legend throughout all of Africa. Pastor became the chaplain for the Jamaican Diaspora in 2004 and in August 2012 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award for his continued contributions to his country of birth.
Glory Years
In May 2012 he travelled to Johannesburg South Africa as Chairman of
the Elders Council African Union 6th Region and was given the
privilege to address the Pan African Parliment. As a result he was
asked to sit on an advisory council along with Dr. Julius Garvey son
of the Late Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican Legend throughout all of Africa.
In August, 2012. Pastor was presented with a Lifetime Achievement
award in Jamaica.
On Sunday July 20 th , 2019, at the age of 81, Dr. Audley N. James took his last breath. Multitudes across the nation of Canada and around the world are mourning the loss of the Bishop who has been called a “General” in the faith. He will be greatly missed by his family, his church and the community. Bishop James is survived by his wife, the Rev. Rosenda James, his children and his grandchildren. “We are saddened by this huge loss but are comforted in knowing that he is now in the presence of the Lord.” – James family
The Life, The Leadership and The Legacy of Bishop James will continue on for generations.
