History of the Diocese

Since 2008, the historiographer and the archivist have prepared materials for presentation and distribution at diocesan convention, through the Disciple, and at special events devoted to aspects of our history. Several of them are collected below.

Duncan Cameron’s Contributions to The Episcopal Church (Address at St. Mary’s Chapel, 2008)

Women Organized for Mission: St. Mary’s School (ECW booklet, 2009)

Anglican Church Building in North Carolina (Convention booklet, 2011)

Harsh Ground, Holy Ground (Video) | Facilitator’s Guide (School of Ministry DVD, 2011)

Colonial Worship in North Carolina; Tour of St. John’s, Williamsboro (School of Ministry DVD, 2011)

Engraved with Love: Church Memorials Tell Their Stories (ECW booklet, 2011)

By Pen and by Purse: Churchwomen Make Their Mark (ECW booklet, 2012)

Introduction to Bishop Cheshire’s History of the Church in the Confederate States (2013)

Wm. Shipp Bynum & Diocesan Mission Strategies 1876-1885 (Convention program, 2013)

Called to Serve: North Carolina Women Missionaries and Clergy (ECW booklet, 2013)

Lex Mathews and Christian Social Ministries in the 1970s and 80s | Timeline (History Day, 2014)

The Episcopal Church in North Carolina 1587-2015 (historical overview, with bibliography)

The Story Goes On: Walking Toward 2017 (Weekly quotations highlighting churchwomen in North Carolina)

A Lasting Legacy: Bicentennial Essay (The Disciple, 2017)

From Assistant to Leaders: Suffragan Bishops in North Carolina (The Disciple, 2017)

The Rt. Rev. Thomas Atkinson: Advocate for an Apostolic and Catholic Church (2017)

By Word & Example: Women Who Graced the Episcopal Church in North Carolina, 1817-2017 (Grassroots collection of biographical sketches of churchwomen from across the state)

Racial History of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina

Since 2008, diocesan historiographer the Rev. Dr. Brooks Graebner and diocesan archivist Lynn Hoke have been engaged in projects related to aspects of our racial history as a diocese. Some are intended to present an overview; others focus on specific communities, topics and individuals. The following resource list provides links to all these materials.

• The Truth of it All: The Continuing Significance of our Racial History (The Disciple, 2015)
• One Great Fellowship of Love? Theology and Reality in our Racial History (Convention program, 2017)
  
  
  
• Six Racial History Vignettes (Dismantling Racism, 2019)
• Short Sketches of Historically Black Churches (2015, updated 2021)
• Historically Black Congregations in North Carolina 1865-1959 (Convention booklet, 2018)
• The Episcopal Church and Race in 19th-Century North Carolina (Address to the Diocese of Mississippi, 2008)
• The Impact of Jim Crow on Policy and Practice in the Diocese of North Carolina: 1901-1928
• Black Leadership in the Diocese of North Carolina
• The Election of Henry Beard Delany as Bishop: An Appreciation of its Significance (History Day, 2023)
  Worship Bulletin for the Celebration of Blessed Henry Beard Delany (History Day, 2023)

• The Rt. Rev. Henry Beard Delany: His Rightful Place in History (2020)
• A Tribute to the Ven. Odell Greenleaf Harris (History Day 2022)
• An appreciation for the life and ministry of the Ven. Odell Greenleaf Harris (History Day 2022)
• Spring Pilgrimage of African American Missions from the Jim Crow Era (History Day, 2018)
• The Episcopal Church’s Mission Among African-Americans in Raleigh, North Carolina 1866-1896
  
• The Mission to Durham’s African American Community 1880-1910 (History Day, 2015)
• The Historical and Architectural Significance of All Saints’, Warrenton (Report to Diocesan Council, 2019)
• History of St. Anna’s, Littleton (Homecoming, 2019)
• The Episcopal Church’s Mission Among African-Americans in Pittsboro, North Carolina: St. Bartholomew’s and St. James’ 1865-1967 (November 2023)
• Highlights of Sarah Hunter and St. Agnes’ Hospital (ECW booklet, 2019)
• History of the Bishop Tuttle Training School for Young Black Women 1925-1941 (History Day, 2009)
• The Civil Rights Era in the Diocese of North Carolina 1963-1973 (History Day, 2017)
• Pauli Murray, Episcopalian (November 20, 2022)
  
  
  

• History Day 2024: “An ‘elevated position’ in the American Church – Bishop Ravenscroft’s High Church Legacy”
  • Presentations

• The Rev. Dr. Brooks Graebner: “The Life and Times of Bishop John Stark Ravenscroft (1772-1830)”
  • Read the remarks | Bonus material: Hillsborough and Beyond – William Mercer Green’s Mission Field in the 1820s
• The Rev. Ben King: “From Proslavery to Black Liberation – The (R)evolution in High Church Theology“
• The Rev. Canon Lindsey Ardrey: Closing Presentation