From a Religious to a Secular University

Seeing as Bucknell was founded by Baptists, it’s not surprising that the original charter stated for its board members to be Baptist as a mandatory rule, and likewise, Sunday morning chapel service. However, the institution that we know of today is entirely secular, with a range of religious groups: Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox and Protestant. 

How did these strict rules vanish, and what was the result? This transformative aspect of Bucknell was far from instantaneous; decades of small alterations led to Bucknell’s current unconfined identity. 

The Rural Church that Built Bucknell

When thinking about the foundation of Bucknell University and its early years, some familiar names may come up; maybe historical figures like William Bucknell or James Moore. What quietly slipped away from the school’s better-known history was the influence of a small building less than a 20 minute drive from campus.

White Deer Valley Baptist Church was 38 years old when Bucknell was officially launched. Terry Snoddy, a fourth or fifth generation at this church (established in 1808), provides insight on the connections between the church and the university.

A Baptist Building Project

The Baptists of Pennsylvania were being sent to universities that are today known as Colgate, George Washington, and Brown. Northumberland Baptist Association recruited a professor from Madison University (now Colgate), and following this hire as the general agent, he began manufacturing a plan. 

When the Lewisburg Baptist Church was organized in 1844, there was no way of predicting that in this basement, it would be the start of a university that still thrives today. Taylor–eventual acting president–laid the foundation by opening a high school here.  

History Lives on Through John Crozer Chair of English

Not everything from the Baptist past has diminished. The John P. Crozer Chair of English Literature lives on through its current holder at Bucknell: Elena Machado Saéz, Professor of English. 

Initially titled the “Crozer Professor of Rhetoric”, the award was established in 1865, with early recipients Reverend Lucius E. Smith and Pastor Robert Lowry. In order to understand why exclusively religious figures were selected (compared to Professor Machado Saéz), the history of the award is what holds the key.