Bicentennial Lecture: The Changing Role of Women, 1850-WWII on March 23 at 3 pm

Join us on Sunday, March 23, at 3:00 in the Church for the first of two Spring Bicentennial Lectures focusing on women in the church. In 2025, we are specifically looking at our history in the years from 1850-1950, a time when church women were becoming more organized and taking on more leadership roles.

Lynn Hoke, NC Diocesan Archivist, will talk about the changing role of women in the church, particularly at St. Matthew’s and in the NC Diocese, from the 1850s through World War II.  In addition to her role as diocesan archivist, Lynn has served as the part-time archivist for the Episcopal Church Women since 2007 so this is a topic dear to her heart.

She will also speak at the Sunday Forum at 9:15 am in the Fellowship Hall and on the Zoom Meeting Channel.

Lynn writes: “For the morning session we will share an overview of the role and activities of women in the Episcopal Church from 1860 to 1940. During this period the major institutional channel for our church-wide organized women's work bore the title "Woman's Auxiliary" - first to the Board of Missions (1872-1920), then to the National Council (1920-1958). This story honors women in the ministries and challenges of their time.  The afternoon presentation will focus on the founders of two local institutions that were created, sustained and served by Woman's Auxiliary members, both national and diocesan, on the campus of Saint Augustine's School in Raleigh: Saint Agnes Hospital and the Bishop Tuttle Training School.”

Following the afternoon lecture, we will have a modest reception in the Parish House.