College of West Africa

He envisioned establishing a mission house, a school, a seminary for young Christian converts, and churches.

He held camp meetings, started regular worship and Sunday school, and developed mission strategies all within a few weeks of his arrival.

The College of West Africa's main building is named in memory of Melville B. Cox.

A historic stained glass window in the college's auditorium reads: "Though a thousand fall, let not Africa be given up".

In 1816 the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church institutionalized the course of study for candidates to the ministry.

(Its program was expanded to preparatory classes and it was later renamed as the College of West Africa in later years).

Jabez A. Burton was commissioned as the Seminary's first principal immediately after its establishment; he served until his death in August 1842.

In 1897 Camphor presented his plans to the Liberian Annual Conference, where he gained a majority vote for the adaptation of the Monrovia Seminary to the College of West Africa.

Its charter included: that it be the one central and leading school of all Methodist educational institutions; providing degree-granting courses in ministerial training while also providing a high school education; that dormitory facilities be established for male and female students.

By 1925, as a result of personnel and financial difficulties, and political interference, the college was forced to close its collegiate department.

The name “College of West Africa” was retained because of its charter to serve as a degree-granting institution.