Filed in HBCUs on January 15, 2021
At one time, there were 10 historically Black colleges and universities associated with the Episcopal Church. Only two remain: St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina.
Saint Augustine’s University was founded in 1867 by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Today, the university enrolls 900 students. Voorhees College is a private historically black four-year liberal arts college that was founded as the Denmark Industrial School by Elizabeth Evelyn Wright, a young black woman, in 1897. Today, it enrolls about 500 students.
The Episcopal Church is urging its members to make contributions to support these HBCUs at observances of the Feast of Absalom Jones on February 13. Michael Curry, the presiding bishop of the church, stated that “in light of The Episcopal Church’s renewed covenant and continuing commitment to the work of racial justice and reconciliation I hope you will join me in supporting the Absalom Jones Fund. These schools bring educational, economic, and social opportunity to often resource-poor communities, and they offer many blessings into the life of the Episcopal Church. HBCUs create dynamic and empowering educational environments for college students from diverse backgrounds. Now more than ever these institutions need your support.”