Traditions & History

A Tradition of Excellence

Celebrating over forty years of dedicated service to Jacksonville’s youth, Episcopal High School has reached an important milestone that reinforces the School’s permanence and strength within the community. Still to this day, the School lives up to its founding mission of excellence in academics, service, athletics, arts, and Christian leadership.

The Beginning

Episcopal's 56-acre campus includes the 28-acre estate that once belonged to the Packer-Cummings family, and was fondly known as the “Keystone Estate” after Mary Packer-Cumming’s native Pennsylvania estate. Upon her death in 1912, she willed the land to St. John’s Cathedral, which used the gracious gift by opening a boys’ home for needy children in 1921, not closing until 1953 as a result of financial complications. During that time, discussion within the church began regarding the establishment of an Episcopal high school which would “develop doers of good and leaders of men,” and educate students with a well-balanced curriculum of athletics, arts, and religion.

The Plan

From these discussions developed a planning committee, our founding fathers, who created the Report of the Planning Group – the renowned "Purple Book" – which outlined the guiding principles of the future school. In 1966, the articles of indoctrination were drawn, and Episcopal would be called Jacksonville Episcopal High School, or JEHS.

Timeline

1965: "Purple Book" written by planning committee and founding fathers, Lucius Buck, The Honorable Reverend Robert Parks, and David Foerster.  

1966: articles of indoctrination, construction of ‘L’ language building, intramural gym for all campus activities, ‘M’ mathematics and science building (now Foerster Building) and relocation of Bond-Lane House to current residence.

January 22, 1967: Under the leadership of Headmaster Horton Reed, ground was broken and the ‘G’ building was constructed.

September 4, 1967: JEHS opens for its first fall term and the Acosta House is purchased from the Acosta family for $250,000. (It was initially used as the School library and for the School’s opening convocation.)

1970: The School’s first swimming pool opened for use and the Buck Student Center (BSC) was completed with the purpose of providing meeting space for chapel services and other School events. The first class graduated in the BSC this year, and student newspaper, Ho Angelos, won best student paper in Florida.

1973: William Walton captured the Royal Henley Regatta Challenge Cup on the Thames River, England.

1974: Ben Grocock became headmaster. Knight family donates additional main-campus acreage. (Now houses the Knight Baseball Field.) 

1976: Billy Forrester '76 won a bronze medal for swimming butterfly in the Montreal Olympics.

1979: Wilson and Jane Munnerlyn dedicated their estate to Episcopal in honor of their son, William Wilson Munnerlyn, Jr. The main campus was renamed the Munnerlyn Campus in his name.

1980: Edward C. "Ned" Becker served as acting headmaster, and Episcopal’s annual fundraising auction gala, Celebration, began. 

January 24, 1983: School mortgage paid for by the duPont family; mortgage burning ceremony immediately followed.

1984: James R. Kolster became headmaster. Nancy Hogshead '84 won three gold medals and one silver medal in the Los Angeles Olympics for swimming.

1986: Semmes Athletic Center completed.

1987: JEHS formally reverts to its founding name, Episcopal High School of Jacksonville.

1991: Bryan Library opened, Headmaster Alvin Cash appointed.

1993: Episcopal Middle School adds sixth grade.

1996: The School acquired the Mitchell Admissions House, and the first set of second-generation alumni graduate. 

1997: Headmaster Charles F. Zimmer appointed. Semmes Aquatic Center built.

1999: Episcopal graduate David Duval '89 wins The British Open.

2004: Munnerlyn Center for Worship and Fine Arts and the Walton Boathouse open.

2007: Head of School Dale D. Regan appointed.

2008: The Barnett Memorial Garden was dedicated by the family of Marian Poitevent and Bill Barnett in honor of their parents, William R. and Frances B. Barnett, as a constant reminder of the School’s ultimate goal of creating great Christian leaders.