History

From the early decades of the nineteenth century, when the founders of the University of the South first dreamed of a great university for their region, a concern for theological education was an essential part of their vision. Despite setbacks of the Civil War, the University opened in 1868, with modest resources and, within a year, Sewanee students were reading theology.

In 1872, the first Sewanee-trained Episcopal priest was ordained. By 1878, the School of Theology was formally organized as a seminary of the Episcopal Church, with its own dean, faculty, and building. The institution held an integral position within the University, as it does today. Telfair Hodgson, first dean of the seminary (1878-1893), acted as vice chancellor of the University for 10 of those years.

William Porcher DuBose, the second dean (1894-1908), is perhaps the most outstanding intellectual figure in the history of the School of Theology, and is recognized by many as the leading theologian in the history of the Episcopal Church.

During the tenures of Dean Hodgson and Dean DuBose, the seminary assumed its characteristic position as an upholder of the great heritage of Anglican thought handed down from the universities of England. It blended together, in one institution, influences from the evangelical, the high church, and broad church traditions of Anglican theology and worship. It has continued to this day to embrace and encourage the wide spectrum of Anglicanism, rather than identify itself with one narrow part of the tradition.

In October 2000, a new worship space for the School of Theology, the Chapel of the Apostles, designed by architects E. Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings of Fayetteville, Ark., was consecrated. It is located in front of the academic building, Hamilton Hall.

The School of Theology has continued to define its role as a premier residential seminary in the Episcopal Church, while expanding the Programs Center as a resource to the Church. Education for Ministry (EfM) is the keystone of the Programs Center. This worldwide extension program of in-depth study and reflection is one of the most respected Christian education programs in the Episcopal Church and throughout many parts of the Anglican Communion. The Center offers programs to clergy, laity, individual dioceses and congregations, including the Center for Ministry in Small Churches (CMSC).

In addition, the School of Theology has an advanced degrees program. Established in 1937 as the Graduate School of Theology, it answered the call for continuing education for clergy. For many years, Massey Shepherd, a major figure in liturgical studies and the liturgical movement, served as its director. In 1975, under the directorship of Donald S. Armentrout, it became the Advanced Degrees Program, offering postgraduate level courses to clergy over the summer months at Sewanee.

In 1957, the School of Theology began to publish a theological periodical, St. Luke’s Journal of Theology. Recast in 1991 as the Sewanee Theological Review, the quarterly publication continues to be one of the most important contemporary journals of theological reflection.

Since 1832, when bishops James H. Otey and the Rev. Leonidas Polk discussed establishing an educational institution in Tennessee, the presence of a theological school was to be at the center of the institution. The School of Theology continues to act as leaven in the life of the University of the South. With more than 96 residential seminarians in the 2006-07 academic year, plus 56 graduate students in the summer session, the School of Theology is experiencing full enrollment. Students represent 34 dioceses of the Episcopal Church. While most are from the 28 dioceses in the 12 southern states which own the University of the South, students also come from other dioceses including Central New York, Chicago, Colorado, Fond du Lac, Idaho, Maryland, Montana, New York, Northern Indiana, Rio Grande, South Dakota, Southern Virginia, Southwestern Virginia, Spokane, Virginia, and Western New York. Forty-seven members of the student body are female; single students, both men and women, comprise nearly 32 percent of the student body. At an average age of 42 (but ranging from early 20s to early 60s) recent seminary students enter Sewanee to study for ordination as clergy from careers in law, medicine, architecture, accounting, teaching, and many other occupations. They bring with them lay ministry experience from their sponsoring congregations and dioceses.