Early history Vanderbilt University Divinity School

the spire of benton chapel

vanderbilt divinity school founded in 1875 biblical department , under auspices of methodist episcopal church, south, 1 predecessor of present-day united methodist church. in 1914, in concert university s severance of ties mecs, school became interdenominational , ecumenical, , in 1915, school s name changed biblical department of vanderbilt university vanderbilt school of religion; adopted present name in 1956. present physical plant of school, known colloquially quadrangle or quad, completed in 1960; benton chapel abuts quad named mid-20th-century dean, john keith benton. in 1966 graduate school of theology of oberlin college in ohio merged of vanderbilt, increasing faculty resources of both divinity school , graduate department of religion, holdings of school s portion of university library.