Dec 8, 2021 - History major Jack Waters successfully defended his history honors thesis before a faculty committee on December 8, 2021, to complete all the requirements for the Discipline-Specific Honors Program in History.
Waters’ thesis, titled “The Antebellum Resurgence of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia,” dealt with the decline of the colonial-era Anglican church in Virginia, especially after the American Revolution, amid a deep distrust of centralization from the elite Tidewater gentry, and the church’s subsequent recovery in the early to mid-1800s. During his talk, Waters pointed out how evangelical Episcopalians revitalized and reformed the denomination through intense evangelistic efforts, riding on an upper class revival after a major theater fire. They soon remade the entire diocese by developing a seminary and borrowing strategies from puritan New England.
Following Waters’ presentation, his thesis committee members, led by Dr. Henry Allen who was his thesis advisor, made comments and asked questions about the paper. The other committee members were Dr. Keith Bates of the history department and Mike Garrett, Director and Librarian of the Ryan Center for Biblical Studies.
Jack Waters presents an overview of his history honors thesis, titled "The Antebellum Resurgence of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia," on December 8, 2021.
Student attendees listen to Jack Waters present highlights of his history honors thesis on December 8, 2021. They are (left to right) Jake Guyette, Nicholas Bitterling, and Matthias Hargrave.
Mike Garrett, Director and Librarian of the Ryan Center for Biblical Studies at Union, asks a question during Jack Waters' honors thesis defense on December 8, 2021.
Jack Waters responds to a question during his honors thesis defense on December 8, 2021.
Dr. Henry Allen, Jack Waters' honors thesis advisor, makes an observation following Waters' presentation on December 8, 2021.
Dr. Keith Bates (left) comments on Jack Waters' honors thesis during Waters' thesis defense on December 8, 2021. Dr. Henry Allen (center) and Mike Garrett (right) listen.
Jack Waters (second from right) stands with his faculty thesis committee following his successful thesis defense on December 8, 2021. The faculty committee members are (left to right) Dr. Keith Bates, Dr. Henry Allen (Waters' thesis advisor), and Mike Garrett of the Ryan Center for Biblical Studies.