Crown College is a Christian bible college about twenty-five miles west of the Twin Cities. Their mission is to provide a biblically based education for Christian leadership in The Christian and Missionary Alliance, the church-at-large and the world. It is one of only four colleges in the United States affiliated with The Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination.
Bible institutes and colleges initially began with the renewed spirituality of the “evangelical” movement within protestant churches. The goal of these institutes was not traditional, but spiritual education. It provided scriptural education and religious principles to students of both sexes. The goal was students with the skills, values and lessons needed to serve their church or become a missionary to share their vision. Not true preachers from seminaries, they were none the less devoted to their work. From 1948-1969, this movement expanded to allow bible institutes to be degree-granting and accredited through the American Association of Bible Colleges. The schools were no longer just about missionaries, but about Christian service in everyday life.
Crown College of Minnesota is unique in being the only bible college in Minnesota. While there are other Christian school, like St. Thomas’ or St. Kate’s, this school is the only “bible” college. This means focus on specifically training lay people for Christian service.
Crown College was founded in 1916 by Reverend J.D. Williams with only four students as the St. Paul Bible Institute. By 1924, 152 students attended the school. In the 1950’s, the name was changed to St. Paul Bible College. The College remained in its St. Paul location for more than fifty years, until continued growth forced a move. It relocated to its current campus in St. Bonifacius in June 1970. The main building, built in 1960 as a Jesuit college, was cross-shaped, a perfect fit for the Bible College. As the school grew, the main building expanded and new buildings were added. In 1992, the College changed its name to Crown College and began offering an Adult and Graduate Studies program. In the early twenty-first century, this program is known as the Crown College School of Online Studies & Graduate School. It represents nearly half of Crown’s 1,300 enrolled students. The college offers more than forty accredited degree programs overall, including music, nursing, education and business.
Crown has had students attend from nearly thirty countries. More than fifty percent of graduating seniors have traveled abroad for community service work through InterCultural Experiences (ICE). All undergrad students graduate with a dual degree- Christian Studies plus their chosen field. Nearly seventy percent of all faculty have PhDs’.
Crown College has more than 8,000 alumni (graduates or former students) across the United States and in nearly every time zone around the world. Among its notable alumni are Phil Vischer and Mike Nawrocki. Both attended Crown College when it was the St. Paul Bible College and went on to create the popular Christian children’s television series Veggie Tales.
In 2011, U.S. News and World Report included Crown College on its list of the Best Midwest Regional Colleges. It was also listed among the Top 10 of Christian online colleges and universities by TheBestColleges.org that same year. Crown is affiliated with 13,609 churches and church groups in eighty-one countries and territories through the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
Turning Point: Years of strong growth caused St. Paul Bible College, renamed Crown College, to move to St. Bonifacius in 1970, where it continued to expand.
Chronology:
- 1916: St. Paul Bible Institute founded by Reverend J.D. Williams
- 1924: 152 students attended the school
- 1950s: St. Paul Bible Institute becomes St. Paul Bible College
- 1960: Jesuit Seminary built in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota
- June 1970: St. Paul Bible College relocates to campus in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota
- 1992: St. Paul Bible College becomes Crown College and begins its Adult and Graduate Studies program
- 2011: Crown is rated among the Best of the Midwest Regional Colleges by U.S. News and World Report and ranked in the Top 10 of Online Christian Colleges and Universities by TheBestColleges.org
Bibliography:
Crown College student information catalogue. Crown College, 2012.
Crown College blog. “About”.
http://crownsblog.wordpress.com/about/
Crown College blog. “Moment’s in Crown’s History”.
http://crownsblog.wordpress.com/category/crowns-history/
103.5.4.
Purchase of St. Bonifacius campus, 1970.
Crown College Archive
Description: “Jesuit Campus sold to St. Paul Bible College.” Press release. Public Affairs Office, St. Paul Bible College.
“The Story of Crown College.” Crown College Archives, General History, Folder 100.
Related Resources:
[Primary]
[Secondary]
Brereton, Virginia. Training God’s Army: The American Bible School, 1880-1940. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1990.
[Web]
Crown College website.
www.crown.edu
Images/Audio/Video
Photograph Collection, Crown College, St. Bonifacius
Photographic print; “Crown College”
Description: Aerial shot of Crown College campus.
Rights held by Crown College.
Photograph Collection, Crown College, St. Bonifacius
Photographic print; “St. Paul Bible College”
Description: view of campus sign when still in St. Paul as the St. Paul Bible College. Rights held by Crown College.
Press, Crown College, St. Bonifacius
Logo, “Crown College”
Description: logo of Crown College.
Rights held by Crown College.
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