Patten, Walter, 1880-1947.

Walter Patten, Methodist minister, was pastor of the Methodist Church (now University United Methodist Church) in Chapel Hill, N.C., 1913-1917 and 1921-1927; pastor in Greenville, N.C., 1917-1921; pastor of other churches; and president of Louisburg College, 1939-1947.

From the description of Walter Patten papers, 1901-1946. WorldCat record id: 25300740

Walter Patten was born in Bridgeville, Del., on 15 September 1880. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut in 1907 and earned a doctorate in Divinity there in 1928. He also received a master's degree from the University of North Carolina in 1916. On 20 October 1908, Patten married Sarah K. Cady, a graduate of Brown University. Together they had five children.

A Methodist minister, Patten was pastor of the Methodist Church (now University United Methodist Church) in Chapel Hill, N.C., 1913-1917 and 1921-1927; pastor in Greenville, N.C., 1917-1921; pastor of other churches; secretary of the North Carolina Board of Missions, 1921-1927, and president of the Board, 1931-1947; and president of Louisburg College, 1939-1947. He oversaw major renovations to the Chapel Hill church building and was instrumental in creating the University of North Carolina School of Religion, which later led to the establishment of the Department of Religion.

Walter Patten died after suffering a heart attack on 8 March 1947 and was buried in Chapel Hill.

From the guide to the Walter Patten Papers, 1901-1946, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)