1

A Brief Historical overview of the Development of the Campus of the Divinity School of
Silliman University (from 1921-1968) (draft)
The Divinity School of Silliman University grew out of the collaborative
efforts of two Protestant denominations form the United States namely,
Presbyterian and Congregational. In 1921 the Silliman Bible School
was inaugurated and began to operate under the leadership of Rev. and
Mrs. Irving Monroe Channon.
With a grant of P3,400 from the American Board (Congregational) Rev.
Channon purchased three hectares of land north of Silliman Institutes
athletic field to erect one building (Channon Hall) which served as
classrooms, dormitory and missionary residence. The purchased was
made in the in the name of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions
with the understanding that the land would be held for the exclusive
use of the Bible School.1 Later, Mr. Channon acquired lots on the east
side of Hibbard Avenue and two more buildings were purchased, which
were repaired and named Worcesters Cottage and Brokenshire
Cottage but later on renamed as Davao Cottage. A third residential
house besides Channon Hall was acquired which was named
Brokenshire Cottage. 2 When the Channons retired in 1931 the School
had a campus of three buildings on a land big enough for further
expansion.3
The Channons were succeeded by the Rev. James F. McKinley with his
wife Virginia, another Congregational missionary couple. For many
years the Bible School became one of the component parts of Silliman
Institute. It grew form a training school for lay church workers into a
Bachelor of Theology degree granting school. 4 The Bible School for
Girls at Cagayan, which was established American Board
(Congregational) eventually decided to merge with the Silliman Bible
School. Miss Mary Alice Towne with her students moved to Dumaguete
from Cagayan. This led to the offering of a three-year Deaconess
Training Course and made Silliman Bible School a co-educational
institution.
In 1935 when Silliman Institute applied for University status the Bible
School was designated the College of Theology operating under
institutional authority without government recognition. Silliman
became a full-fledged university in June 1938. The College of Theology
made one important contribution to Sillimans achieving university
status: the books of its library were counted in the total which helped
1

Peter G. Gowing and James F. McKinley, "The College of Theology - the First Four Decades," The
Silliman Christian Leader, March 1963.
2
Arthur L. Carson, Silliman University 1901-1959 (Taiwan: United Board for Christian Higher Education in
Asia, 1965), 407 n.13.
3
Gowing and McKinley.
4
Ibid.

the Institute to reach the minimum requirement of 10,000 volumes of

book.5
After the Second World War, the College of Theology began revising its
curriculum. It also started major construction of its facilities. In 1954
the American Board and many individuals gave a total of $75,000 for
the construction of a mens dormitory which was called Woodward Hall
to honor the Rev. and Mrs. Frank J. Woodward who had long inspired,
recruited and supported many candidates for the ministry from
Mindanao. Two years after (1956-57), with the approval of the Board of
Trustees, the College of Theology purchased with the financial
assistance of the Evangelical and Reformed Church in America, the
American Board and several individuals, a swampy land just below
Worcester Cottage to build three faculty housing units (Rural Home
Center). That same year the Kindergarten buildings were erected.
Dean McKinley left the College of Theology to join the UCCP in 1959.
He was succeeded by Dr. Elmer K. Higdon. Because of ill health he had
to retire in 1961. Dr. Paul Lauby assumed the deanship. Under Laubys
leadership the construction of academic buildings (Rodriguez Hall and
McKinley Hall) began and completed in 1962. The Chapel of the
Evangel was completed in 1963. The Divinity School facilities were the
product of prayers and generous contributions amounting to $54,000
from Churches in the USA.6
In 1965 the College of Theology began offering of the Bachelor of
Divinity program, which was a graduate level program. Through the
action of the University Board of Trustees at its meeting in April 1966,
the College of Theology was renamed The Divinity School of Silliman
University. 7
In 1968 the academic campus of the Divinity School was compose of
Proculo A. Rodriguez Library, James F. Mckinley which houses the
classrooms and faculty offices, the Chapel of Evangel, Channon Hall,
Woodward Hall (housing theology men and some non-theology men)
Rural Home Center (three buildings assigned to the theology faculty
members), eight houses for married theology students, Worcester
cottage (housing a faculty apartment, storage rooms and a room used
by the Kindergarten) and the Laboratory Kindergarten. Davao Cottage
and Brokenshire Cottage have been turned over to the University for
dormitory use by non-Theology students.

Edilberto Tiempo, Crispin C. Maslog, and Jr. T.Valentino Sitoy, Silliman University 1901-1976 (Dumaguete
City: Silliman University Press, 1997), 26.
6
Gowing and McKinley.
7
Tiempo, Maslog, and T.Valentino Sitoy, 132. and Gowing and McKinley.

From the start, when it was still a Bible School, its relation to Silliman
Institute was close, but was not clearly defined for many years. The
College of Theology had independent foreign funding mainly from the
Congregational Church in the United States. The Board of Trustees
passed an action in 1956 calling for the integration of the College of
Theology into the University. And full integration of the college with the
University took place during the term of Dr. Elmer Higdon (1959-1961),
who succeeded Dr. Mckinley. The College of Theology brought with it
the traditions, land and buildings given to it by the United Church of
Board for World Ministries.8
Since the integration, the University and the Divinity School have
recognized two perennial problems: the small size of the seminarys
enrollment (ranging from 60 to 80 each year) and the inadequate local
church support for its extensive scholarship program. 9 These two
concerns have significantly affected the further development of the
facilities and recruitment of students. When resources are allocated on
per capita basis to the different units of the University it is possible that
the Seminary would get a smaller share. The lack of the local church
support would require greater subsidy from the University and other
sources of scholarships for the Divinity School.

Carson, Arthur L. Silliman University 1901-1959. Taiwan: United Board for Christian
Higher Education in Asia, 1965.
Gowing, Peter G. , and James F. McKinley. "The College of Theology - the First Four
Decades." The Silliman Christian Leader, March 1963.
Tiempo, Edilberto , Crispin C. Maslog, and Jr. T.Valentino Sitoy. Silliman University 19011976. Dumaguete City: Silliman University Press, 1997.

8
9

Tiempo, Maslog, and T.Valentino Sitoy, 132-33.

Ibid., 133,134.