James Mata Dwane
1848-1916. South African independent church leader. Born of heathen parents, he entered the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1875 and seceded in 1895 to the independent Ethiopian Church. In 1896 he visited the USA to arrange a union with the African Methodist Episcopal Church; a visiting AME bishop consecrated him vicar-bishop in 1898. This action was disputed in the USA, and Dwane began to resent American Negro control. He was also convinced that his orders were invalid, and requested Anglican ordination for his clergy. In 1900 the Anglican bishops agreed to constitute the Order of Ethiopia within the Church of the Province, and Dwane left the AME with some Xhosa followers. He was ordained deacon in 1900, priested in 1911, and held office as provincial of the order, with one break, till his death.