
Duke University is a private coeducational institution of higher learning in Durham, North Carolina. The university has a long relationship with the Methodist Church and was founded by Methodists and Quakers. However, it is non-denominational and has no religious tests for faculty or students. Duke University Chapel, standing at 210 feet, is a vibrant center of interdenominational Christianity, serving students of various faiths, including Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Institution | Private coeducational institution of higher learning |
| Location | Durham, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Founding Year | 1838 |
| Religious Affiliation | Affiliated with but not controlled by the United Methodist Church |
| Religious Groups on Campus | Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, and Protestant organizations and groups |
| Percentage of Catholic Students | 20% |
| Endowment | $11.9 billion |
| Spending on Research in 2019 | $1.2 billion |
| Number of Recognized A Cappella Groups | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
- Duke University is affiliated with the Methodist Church
- The Duke family were Methodists
- Duke University is non-denominational and open to all faiths
- The Duke University Chapel is a centre of interdenominational Christianity
- The Duke Catholic Centre serves and supports the spiritual development of Catholic students

Duke University is affiliated with the Methodist Church
Duke University is a private coeducational institution of higher learning in Durham, North Carolina, US. It is affiliated but not controlled by the United Methodist Church. The university's motto, chosen by school president Braxton Craven in 1859, is Eruditio et Religio (Erudition and Religion).
Duke University was established in 1924 through an endowment from the tobacco magnate James Buchanan Duke. It was named after his father, Washington Duke, who was a Methodist and had funded and persuaded the board of trustees of Trinity College to move the school to Durham. Washington Duke also gave the school $85,000 for an initial endowment and construction costs.
Trinity College, the parent school of Duke University, was founded by Methodists and Quakers. The college moved to Durham in 1892, largely due to the support of Julian S. Carr and Washington Duke, who were powerful and respected Methodists.
While Duke University is a nondenominational university with no religious tests for faculty or students, it has a long relationship with the Methodist Church. The Duke Chapel, standing at 210 feet in the center of campus, is a vibrant center of interdenominational Christianity. The chapel supports and advocates for all recognized Religious Life groups on campus, including Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, and Protestant organizations and groups.
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The Duke family were Methodists
Duke University was founded by Washington Duke, who was a Methodist. After retiring from the tobacco business in 1880, he began working to bring a small Methodist college to Durham. Washington Duke and his family were members of the Duke Memorial Methodist congregation, which began at Gregson and West Main. The congregation later moved to a new edifice in 1912.
The Duke family's association with Trinity College, now Duke University, began in 1892. That year, Trinity College moved to Durham, thanks to the support of Washington Duke and Julian S. Carr, who were powerful and respected Methodists. Carr donated land for the original Durham campus, while Washington Duke gave the school $85,000 for an initial endowment and construction costs. He later made three separate $100,000 contributions in 1896, 1899, and 1900, with the stipulation that the college open its doors to women, placing them on an equal footing with men.
Washington Duke's son, James B. Duke, also played a significant role in the university's history. In 1924, he established The Duke Endowment with a $40 million trust fund. Income from the fund was distributed to hospitals, orphanages, the Methodist Church, and four colleges, including Trinity College. The school's president insisted that the institution be renamed Duke University to honour the family's generosity.
While Duke University is a nondenominational university with no religious tests for faculty or students, it retains a long relationship with the Methodist Church. This connection is reflected in the university's motto, chosen by school president Braxton Craven in 1859: "Eruditio et Religio" (Erudition and Religion). The Duke family's Methodist faith influenced their involvement with the university, leaving a lasting impact on its history and development.
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Duke University is non-denominational and open to all faiths
Duke University is a private, non-denominational university in Durham, North Carolina. While it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it is not controlled by it, and it welcomes students and faculty of all faiths. The university's motto, chosen by school president Braxton Craven in 1859, is "Eruditio et Religio" (Erudition and Religion).
The university was established in 1838 as Brown's Schoolhouse, a private subscription school founded in Randolph County, North Carolina. Organized by the Union Institute Society, a group of Methodists and Quakers, the school became the Union Institute Academy in 1841 when North Carolina issued a charter. The academy was renamed Normal College in 1851, and then renamed again in 1859 to Trinity College. In 1892, the college moved to Durham, largely due to the support of Julian S. Carr and Washington Duke, wealthy and respected Methodists. In 1924, Washington Duke's son, James B. Duke, established The Duke Endowment, providing long-term support for the university and funding for the construction of new buildings. As a result of this endowment, the college was renamed Duke University in honour of the family.
The university's historic ties to Methodism are reflected in its campus facilities, including the Duke University Chapel, which was completed in 1935. The Chapel stands at 210 feet in the centre of campus and is designed in the English Gothic style. It is a vibrant centre of interdenominational Christianity, with hundreds of people participating in services each week. The Chapel also convenes, supports, and advocates for all of the recognized Religious Life groups on campus, including Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, and Protestant organizations and groups. These groups provide students with opportunities to learn about other faiths as they explore their own.
While Duke University is non-denominational and open to all faiths, its relationship with the Methodist Church and its religious history are important aspects of its identity and values.
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The Duke University Chapel is a centre of interdenominational Christianity
Duke University was founded by Quakers and Methodists and has a long relationship with the Methodist Church. However, it is a nondenominational university with no religious tests for faculty or students. The Duke University Chapel, standing at 210 feet, is a central building on the campus and was planned first and built last. It is a vibrant centre of interdenominational Christianity.
The Chapel was constructed between 1930 and 1932 and was formally dedicated in 1935. It was designed by Horace Trumbauer of Philadelphia and his chief designer, Julian Abele, America's first renowned Black architect. The architectural style of the Chapel is English Gothic, but it is not modelled upon any particular cathedral, college chapel, or parish church.
The Chapel is a space that welcomes all who seek to respond to the all-inclusive love of God in Jesus Christ. Hundreds of people participate in services in the Chapel each week, encountering deep traditions of compelling preaching and stirring choral music. The sacred music program and vocational discernment program are particularly robust. The Chapel also has an active Congregation for care and service, and a community ministry that partners with Durham nonprofits and churches.
The Chapel, in partnership with the Division of Student Affairs, supports and advocates for all of the recognised Religious Life groups on campus that serve students, including Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, and Protestant organisations and groups. Chapel programs provide students with opportunities to learn about other faiths as they explore their own.
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The Duke Catholic Centre serves and supports the spiritual development of Catholic students
Duke University is a private academic institution that first opened in 1838 as Brown's Schoolhouse, a private subscription school founded in Randolph County, North Carolina. The university is non-denominational and has no religious tests for students or faculty. However, it has a long relationship with the Methodist Church, which is reflected in the university's motto, "Eruditio et Religio" (Erudition and Religion). The Duke Catholic Centre is a ministry of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh that primarily serves the Catholic students of Duke University.
The Duke Catholic Centre is dedicated to supporting the spiritual development of Catholic students at Duke University. With about 20% of the 13,300 students at Duke identifying as Roman Catholic, the Duke Catholic Centre serves the largest single denomination on campus. The Centre offers a range of programs and liturgies that cater to the spiritual needs of Catholic students. It provides a space for students to explore their faith and connect with other Catholics on campus. The Centre also fosters the formation of future Catholic leaders and promotes the integration of spiritual, intellectual, and social lives.
The Centre's schedule is tied to the academic calendar of Duke University, with variations during breaks. The Duke Catholic Centre offers Mass and Confession at various times throughout the week, with locations alternating between Goodson Chapel inside the Divinity School and the Duke Chapel. The Duke Chapel, standing at 210 feet tall in the centre of campus, is a vibrant centre of interdenominational Christianity. It serves as a gathering place for students of all faiths, providing opportunities for them to learn about other religions as they explore their own.
The Duke Chapel also has a robust sacred music program, a comprehensive vocational discernment program, an active Congregation for care and service, and a community ministry that partners with local nonprofits and churches. Through these initiatives, the Duke Chapel and the Duke Catholic Centre work together to support the spiritual growth and development of Catholic students at Duke University. They provide a supportive community and resources to help students navigate critical transitional times in their lives, fostering spiritual exploration and leadership within the Catholic faith.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Duke University is not a Catholic college. It is, however, affiliated with the United Methodist Church and has a Duke Catholic Centre that serves and supports the spiritual development of Catholic students, who make up about 20% of the student population.
Duke University is affiliated with but not controlled by the United Methodist Church. The university's motto, chosen by school president Braxton Craven in 1859, is "Eruditio et Religio" (Erudition and Religion). The university was founded by Methodists and Quakers, and the Duke family, who were major donors to the university, were Methodists.
The Duke Catholic Centre is a ministry of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh that serves and supports the spiritual development of Catholic students at Duke University. It is the largest single denomination on campus.
Duke University is a nondenominational university with no religious tests for faculty or students. However, it has a long relationship with the Methodist Church and is welcoming to all faiths.
Yes, Duke University has a chapel that was built in the English Gothic architectural style and stands at 210 feet in the centre of campus. The chapel is a vibrant centre of interdenominational Christianity and convenes, supports, and advocates for all recognised Religious Life groups on campus, including Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, and Protestant organisations and groups.











































