George Browne was born in Garroway, Liberia in 1933. A graduate of Cuttington College in Liberia, he came to the United States to attend Virginia Theological Seminary. Upon his ordination to the priesthood in 1963, he returned to his native Liberia and served in a number of parishes and as a teacher at Cuttington College. In time, he became the official historian of the diocese.

Browne was consecrated in 1970 as Bishop of Liberia. He was the first missionary bishop elected directly by his diocese. While in Liberia, he led the church in gaining independence from The Episcopal Church and to become a member of the Province of West Africa. He also served as a visionary of peace during a period of civil unrest. In 1982, he became Primate of the Province of West Africa upon its joining the Anglican Communion as an independent province.

As a civic minded clergyman, Browne served on a number of boards including Booker Washington Institute, Boys Town Institute, Dodokeh Rehabilitation Center, and Liberian Council of Churches. The Liberian military government appointed him a member of the National Constitution Drafting Commission in 1981. Browne also made a number of scholarly contributions including A Complete List of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, 1835-1969; Ten Years Episcopacy: A Reflection; The Episcopal Church of Liberia under Indigenous Leadership: Reflections of a Twenty-Year Episcopate; and as coauthor of Realities and Visions.