History of SPCK/USA

More than 300 years ago...

the Reverend Thomas Bray, an Anglican priest in London, formed the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge to

“promote learning... abroad and to propagate Christian knowledge at home.” Since 1698, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge has distributed over 30 million books and provided the means for translating the Book of Common Prayer into more than 200 languages.

SPCK sent the first printing presses to India, opened the first British schools for poor children, gave equal education to girls, sent the first printed books to Australia, established libraries for clergy and missionaries in many countries, and published the first Braille books. 

In 1983, SPCK/USA was established at the School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, and in 2015 our offices moved down the mountain to Cowan, TN.

Through SPCK/USA, you are provided an exciting opportunity to participate with all the provinces of the Anglican Communion in a joint effort for Christian mission in over 125 countries. SPCK/USA is a founding member of the Episcopal Partnership for Global Mission. As a missionary society and servant of the Episcopal Church, we invite you to join with us in working toward the fulfillment of Christ’s command, “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations.”