The Rev. Dr. Craig D. Townsend is the Historian in Residence for Racial Justice for the Diocese of Long Island. He spearheads the Uncovering Parish Histories project, which helps parishes explore their histories of involvement in slavery and the slave economy in antebellum America, of involvement in anti-slavery movements, and of later manifestations of both racial discrimination and injustice and racial reconciliation and justice. During the 2020-21 academic year, Townsend researched the history of the antecedents of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn Heights, where he serves as Associate for Faith Formation. He explored the involvement with slavery and the slavery economy of St. Ann’s Church (founded 1874) and Holy Trinity Church (founded 1847). Townsend received a Ph.D. in the Study of Religion (American Religious History) from Harvard University, and published Faith in Their Own Color: Black Episcopalians in Antebellum New York City (Columbia University Press) in 2005. He has served in the ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church since 1982. Townsend is also a Visiting Scholar at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn Heights.
