Episcopal Church at CornellHistory of the Episcopal Church at Cornell
The Episcopal Church at Cornell traces its roots to 1900, when a Professor Babcock, who was also an Episcopal priest, held services in Barnes Hall for a group who called themselves St. Paul’s. In 1906, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ithaca made this group into one of its missions. Renamed the Huntington Club, it was financed by St. John’s and occupied a residence on Dryden Road. The new campus ministry was initially coordinated by the curates and assistants at St. John’s and later by chaplains who were appointed from and based in that parish. The campus ministry was renamed, in successive incarnations, the Seabury Club and the Canterbury Club.
In 1948 the Rev. Richard B. Stott was appointed Episcopal Chaplain to Cornell, a position he held until his death in 1968. The chaplaincy flourished under his leadership and under that of his successor, the Rev. Gurdon Brewster, who was appointed assistant to the chaplain in 1965 and became the Chaplain upon Rev. Stott’s death. Over this period, the Episcopal Church at Cornell and its members were involved in numerous social justice issues and formed a community devoted both to spiritual and intellectual growth.
Anabel Taylor Hall, with its beautiful chapel, opened as the center for Cornell United Religious Work in 1951. Rev. Stott established his office in the building and held regularly scheduled services in the chapel, as did his successor Rev. Brewster. Gurdon Brewster retired after over thirty years as Chaplain in 1999. Since then, the Rev. Jeffrey Ross served from 1999-2000, and the Rev. Janet Sturgis was Interim Chaplain from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, the Rev. Suzanne Guthrie became ECC’s new Chaplain. She served for four years, 2003-2007. In the Fall of 2007, the Rev. Barb Schmitz was called as Interim Chaplain. Our current chaplain, Clark R. West, arrived on the Cornell campus with his family in the summer of 2009.
Anabel Taylor Front Entrance
Timeline
The present Episcopal Chaplaincy at Cornell follows a long tradition which began about 1900. It continues a history of priests and laity dedicated to preserving the presence of the Episcopal Church on the Cornell campus.
1900-1906 Professor Babcock, an ordained Episcopal priest, holds services in Barnes Hall on the campus for a group known as St. Paul’s.
1906-1948 St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ithaca, takes over the St. Paul’s group and finances the Huntington Club, which occupies a residence on Dryden Road. The campus ministry is coordinated by the curates and assistants at St. John’s, and then by chaplains appointed from and based in the parish. They sponsor, successively, the Seabury Club and the Canterbury Club.