St. Titus' Episcopal Church
St. Titus’ Episcopal Church is a vibrant, welcoming, historic, predominantly Black parish which through Divine Guidance serves God and community by opening doors, ears, eyes and hearts as we minister to all people.
St. Titus’ History as written by Dr. Helen G. Edmonds and Charles W. Orr as printed in the 2006 Parish Directory
In the Durham
area, as early as 1880, Miss A.S. Ledger of Brooklyn, New York had begun
a private school in which the Episcopal catechism and the Church
doctrine were taught. Her efforts culminated in 1885 with the
organization of a “Mission for Colored People.” Her little group had no
permanent place. From 1885 to 1909 they met in homes, lodge halls, and
other churches and appropriate buildings owned by Blacks. This search
for a suitable and permanent space was less urgent, when in 1909 a
parochial school was established and St. Titus' purchased its own home on
Proctor and Pine Streets.
The St. Titus' Mission was started by a small group of black Episcopal worshipers in 1909. Our church had modest beginnings, worshiping for a number of years in an ordinary house converted into a chapel. After a fire destroyed the roof of the chapel in 1929, St. Titus' purchased a lot in the 1600 block of Fayetteville Street and erected a new church. Though moving into the new building was a momentous event, it was tempered by the fact that the church faced a heavy mortgage during the most serious financial depression in the nation's history.
Between 1933 and 1947, the St. Titus' church family grew and the building was expanded by adding a parish hall and meeting place for young people. In the 1950s and 1960s, St. Titus' continued to grow in both membership and programs. St. Titus' began to participate in state, regional and national conferences and activities of the Episcopal Church. During this time, St. Titus' became financially self-sufficient and moved from being a mission to a parish.
The St. Titus' Mission was started by a small group of black Episcopal worshipers in 1909. Our church had modest beginnings, worshiping for a number of years in an ordinary house converted into a chapel. After a fire destroyed the roof of the chapel in 1929, St. Titus' purchased a lot in the 1600 block of Fayetteville Street and erected a new church. Though moving into the new building was a momentous event, it was tempered by the fact that the church faced a heavy mortgage during the most serious financial depression in the nation's history.
Between 1933 and 1947, the St. Titus' church family grew and the building was expanded by adding a parish hall and meeting place for young people. In the 1950s and 1960s, St. Titus' continued to grow in both membership and programs. St. Titus' began to participate in state, regional and national conferences and activities of the Episcopal Church. During this time, St. Titus' became financially self-sufficient and moved from being a mission to a parish.
In 1967, the St. Titus' church building was again destroyed by fire. The church relocated to its current site.
The most intensive efforts towards parish status were undoubtedly made by Father Nickerson (1961-1966) and by Father E.N. Porter (1966-1972). Their theme, “Prepare for Parish Status,” consisted of launching a self-supporting mission idea. They promoted two year “dry runs.” They acquainted the Mission with what to expect and promoted activities designed to provide solutions to problems. Father Porter succeeded Father Nickerson who resigned to work in Atlanta, Georgia with the Episcopal Church in improving relations between the races.
Father Porter took leadership in the area of racial integration. He formed several committees at St. Titus' and expanded membership for both races. So successful was his work at St. Titus' that it attracted the attention of the Diocese of North Carolina for which he headed its Urban Crisis Advisory Committee. While the position was a full-time one, Father Porter was assisted by priests who worked at St. Titus' under his direction. He later returned as Priest-in-Charge and continued the struggle toward Parish status that had eluded his predecessors.
The Arusha Project is perhaps one of the most profound and long lasting ties to St. Titus’ because, not only do we have a church connection, but a civic and government liaison.
Durham, North Carolina and Arusha, Tanzania are sister cities with a relationship of over 20 years. There has been an exchange of ideas, programs and civic progress. The two cities do official visits and consultations on a regular basis.
Over the last several years St. Luke’s, St. Philip’s. St. Titus’, and Duke University have cooperatively addressed housing, HIV/Aids, medical clinics, and general health problems. This, in turn, led to other initiatives concerning orphans, school lunch programs, health and decent living conditions.
St. Titus' members have been to Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Belize, Dominican Republic and Africa. Over the years we have been involved in programs that promoted and delivered services that dealt with education, hunger, better housing, Habitat for Humanity, medical care, and health and hospital reform.
Over the last several years St. Luke’s, St. Philip’s. St. Titus’, and Duke University have cooperatively addressed housing, HIV/Aids, medical clinics, and general health problems. This, in turn, led to other initiatives concerning orphans, school lunch programs, health and decent living conditions.
St. Titus' members have been to Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Belize, Dominican Republic and Africa. Over the years we have been involved in programs that promoted and delivered services that dealt with education, hunger, better housing, Habitat for Humanity, medical care, and health and hospital reform.
