A seminary of the Episcopal Church, Berkeley Divinity School is the only Episcopal seminary to be fully affiliated with a major research institution such as Yale University. Founded in Middletown, Connecticut, by John Williams, later presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, and chartered by the State of Connecticut in 1854, Berkeley Divinity School takes its name from George Berkeley, bishop of Cloyne, Ireland—philosopher, educator, and a benefactor of Yale College. The School moved to New Haven in 1928 under the leadership of Dean William Palmer Ladd and has worked closely with Yale University ever since. The School entered into its present form of affiliation, where all Berkeley students take Yale degrees, in 1971.

This organic collaboration continues to flourish after more than a half-century. Berkeley retains its identity through its charter and an independent board of trustees and administration, its dean and staff, and the Berkeley Center located at 363 Saint Ronan Street, even as its students are admitted by and fully enrolled as members of YDS. Episcopal students who are members of Berkeley come under the care of the dean of Berkeley Divinity School for spiritual and vocational formation. As Episcopalians, they are formed by the centrality of daily corporate worship, deliberate attention to the spiritual life, and a concentrated course of study in Anglican history, theology, and liturgy. At the same time, they are incorporated into the rigorous academic program of a divinity school with a world-renowned faculty and have access to the full resources of the libraries, professional schools, departments, and other programs of Yale University. Berkeley students are sustained by a lively ecumenical academic life as they engage faculty and colleagues from varied Christian and other traditions, even as they follow a focused routine of Anglican worship and practical pastoral experience. (For more on Episcopal life at Yale, see Denominational Preparation in the chapter Other Curricular Considerations.)

Episcopal students enrolled through Berkeley earn a Diploma or Certificate in Anglican Studies from Berkeley in addition to their Yale degree. Through YDS, Berkeley funds certain Anglican faculty and programs and offers scholarship support to its students.

All admissions to Berkeley are administered through either YDS or the Institute of Sacred Music. Individuals interested in pursuing the program at Berkeley Divinity School should submit a YDS or ISM application for admission, indicating their desire to enroll in Berkeley. For further information, please contact the Dean’s Office, Berkeley Divinity School, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven CT 06511, 203.432.9285, or visit http://berkeleydivinity.yale.edu.