Bennett College students and administrators gathered for Sunday worship on August 16 at St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Greensboro, the College’s founding church and a cornerstone of its history.
The service marked a return to a longstanding Bennett tradition of concluding Welcome Week and orientation for new and returning students with worship at the College’s founding church—connecting today’s Bennett Belles with generations of women who began their academic journeys grounded in faith, community and the history of the institution.
Welcomed by the Rev. Tamara Ingram and the St. Matthews congregation, Bennett students from across the country participated in the church’s Back-to-School Celebration, which recognized students from kindergarten through college. The service also brought together current students and Bennett Belles who are members of St. Matthews, reflecting generations of women connected through faith, education and service.
Bennett College Acting President Dr. Ronald L. Carter delivered remarks during the service and shared the College’s theme for the 2026–2027 academic year: Grace. Grit. Growth.
Carter reminded students of the legacy represented by the historic sanctuary and the generations of Bennett Belles who came before them.
“You are sitting where generations of Bennett Belles have sat—women who have gone on to distinguish themselves and lead across nearly every profession,” Carter said. “As you begin this academic year, remember the legacy you inherit and the possibilities that are before you. Move forward with grace, meet every challenge with grit and embrace the growth that will prepare you for what comes next.”
Bennett College’s relationship with St. Matthews United Methodist Church reaches back to the institution’s founding in 1873. The College began in the basement of what was then Warnersville Methodist Episcopal Church, now St. Matthews United Methodist Church, establishing a connection between the church and Bennett that has endured for more than 150 years.
The gathering also held special meaning as Bennett College continues its centennial celebration as a women’s college, marking 100 years since its 1926 reorganization and honoring a century of educating and empowering women leaders.
That historic relationship continues today through a shared commitment to faith, education, service and the development of future generations.
“St. Matthews holds a special place in the history and heart of Bennett College,” Carter said. “We are grateful for a relationship that has endured across generations and continues to welcome, encourage and support our students.”
As Bennett College begins a new academic year, returning to St. Matthews to conclude Welcome Week served as both a homecoming to an important College tradition and a reminder to students that they are part of a legacy more than 150 years in the making.
Learn more about the history of Bennett College at Bennett.edu/history.
About Bennett College
Bennett College, founded in 1873 and reorganized as a college for women in 1926, is a private, historically Black liberal arts college for women in Greensboro, North Carolina. Rooted in a tradition of academic excellence, leadership and service, Bennett prepares women to lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact in their professions, communities and the world.
