History

The Episcopal Church at Princeton University has served the Princeton University community since 1867, the oldest chaplaincy at the University. ECP seeks to foster a welcoming, inclusive, and lively community of faith based in the rich Anglican heritage of scripture, reason, and tradition. We are a community committed to knowing and serving God in the person of Jesus Christ.

The Rev. Dr. Alfred Baker (class of 1861) who was Rector of Trinity Church, Princeton from 1866 to 1914 had an active campus ministry at Princeton beginning in 1867 as part of the ministry of that parish. The St. Paul's Society, the precursor of ECP, was founded on December 8, 1875 by Dr. Baker, whose portrait may be seen in the entrance foyer of Procter House.

From 1902 to 1930 the Episcopal chaplains at Princeton were curates or associates at Trinity Church and divided their time between the two ministries. Chaplains of The Episcopal Church at Princeton through the years were:

Procter House was acquired in 1929 with funds from an endowment from the family of William Alexander Procter. It has been the residence of the Episcopal Chaplain at Princeton since that time as well as a center for weekly worship and fellowship, study, and recreation. It was also at this time that the ministry became independent of Trinity Church with its own full time chaplain. Nonethless, ECP and Trinity continue to maintain close ties and the ECP chaplain has traditionally been a priest associate of the parish.

Procter House has been a center for spiritual inquiry and growth for generations of Princeton students and many who have participated in ECP activities and services have gone on to leadership positions in the Episcopal Church as clergy and lay persons.

In 2000 ECP expanded its mission to include not only Princeton University, but also students, faculty, and staff at Westminster Choir College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and The Institute for Advanced Studies.

In 2006 ECP, in cooperation with Trinity Church, formed a relationship with Eton College in England that brings former Eton choristers to Princeton to do a "gap year" before beginning university studies. These choristers are Choral-Scholars-in-Residence at ECP and lead LUX: The Choir of the Episcopal Church at Princeton University. As a result stunningly beautiful sacred music, mostly from the English tradition, but also including continental and American works, is a regular component of Sunday night Episcopal worship in the Unviersity Chapel. LUX is made up of students of Princeton University, Westminster Choir College, and Princeton Theological Seminary as well as members of the wider Princeton community.

The William Alexander Procter Foundation pays the salary and benefits of the Episcopal chaplains at Princeton and Rutgers universities as well as for the maintenance of each chaplaincy's buildings. However, each chaplaincy must raise its own funds for programs and the Procter Foundation itself has had no new capital since it was formed in 1929.

Please consider naming The Episcopal Church at Princeton University in your will and other estate plans, and please contribute annually to the operating fund. Please also consider a generous multi-year gift to the endowment fund.