Background Information:

The JGMPC Scholarship Fund was established to serve as a continuing memorial to the ministry of the John Gloucester Memorial Presbyterian Church and to Rev. John Gloucester, the first ordained Black minister of the Presbyterian Church. The Scholarship Fund was established by the members of the church after it closed in 2000 as a way of continuing the church’s ministry and presence in the community.

The John Gloucester Memorial Presbyterian Church, was established in Boston in 1920. It was named after the founder and first pastor of the First African Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.  John Gloucester was born into slavery in 1776 in Tennessee. Upon acquiring his freedom, he studied and was ordained a Presbyterian pastor.  He established his church in Philadelphia in 1807 and continued his ministry until his death in 1822. All four of his sons became Presbyterian pastors, and three of them established new churches.

Scholarship Eligibility:

1. An applicant must be:
   1. A high school senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and proof of acceptance for full-time study at a college or university 
   2. Or an undergraduate returning to college full-time with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
2. The guidelines of the scholarship are given with preference to a person possessing one or more of the following characteristics:
   
   1. Status as a member, or descendant from a member of the congregation of the John Gloucester Memorial Presbyterian Church;
   2. Being a person of color;
   3. Residence in the Mission Hill area of Boston, Massachusetts;
   4. Demonstrated academic ability;
   5. Demonstrated leadership and citizenship;
   6. Membership in the Presbyterian Church;
   7. Desire to attend a Presbyterian educational institute; and 
   8. Knowledge of the history of John Gloucester and the John Gloucester Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Application Requirements:

All applicants must submit the following electronically under one submission by email:

• A completed application: The application can be found below. 
• One letter of recommendation (for new applicants only): of which should be from a teacher, counselor, or pastor who knows the applicant. These must be signed by the author and include their contact information.
• An official transcript: from the applicant's school which includes cumulative grade point average. The transcript must be certified as a true and exact copy by a Notary Public with their official seal or stamp.

Applications and supporting documentation are required to be submitted as attachments to: JohnGloucesterScholarship@Choate.com

Deadline for submissions of all materials: June 30th of the current year (deadline has been extended to July 15, 2024 only for the 2024 year)

Anticipated Individual Scholarships will range from $1,000 to $3,000

Decisions: Awardees will be notified on or before the first week of August

> Application

> John Gloucester Memorial Scholarship information brochure