The John and Joseph Talbot Fund
for Racial Reconciliation
About the fund and the Talbot Brothers:
This fund is to provide a gift to underwrite a program of church community racial reconciliation initiatives, bringing together the work of the Equal Justice Initiative’s Lynching Memorial work and justice work in local communities. Congregations can apply for grants to do works of racial justice in their communities.
About Mr. John Talbot and Mr. Joseph Talbot:
These two gentlemen, John and Joseph Talbot, were the first slaves mentioned in the historic baptismal books of Christ Church Matagorda, and they belonged to Judge Matthew Talbot who was a member of our first church, and leader of the diocese from its founding.
In 2003, Evelyn Talbot, a descendant of the Talbots, visited Christ Church of Matagorda. Its vicar, the Rev. Hoss Gwin, found her and learned that she was looking for information related to her ancestors.
These brothers were slaves, baptized in one our churches, and their niece returned to that very church to give thanks for her own Christianity. She came to find where the gift of Jesus and the gospel had come from in her family’s life. She and the Rev. Hoss talked, and they connected with other members of the Talbot family who are still there. They had a meal and they worshipped together. Brothers John and Joseph Talbot are examples of a very complex history and story.
Image: illustration of the inhumane conditions enslaved people experienced in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. No image is available of Mr. John Talbot or Mr. Joseph Talbot.
Application Information:
The John and Joseph Talbot Fund is named in honor of the brothers who were the first enslaved people baptized at Christ Church, Matagorda, the first Episcopal congregation in what was then the Republic of Texas. In 2003, Evelyn Talbot, a descendant of the Talbots, visited the church in search of the origins of her own faith. With the help of the vicar, Rev. Hoss Gwin, Ms. Talbot learned about John and Joseph Talbot and connected with family members who were still in the area. Ms. Talbot gave thanks for her faith in the church in which her enslaved ancestors were baptized.
The Talbot Fund is dedicated to funding racial reconciliation initiatives including
· research into the history of slavery and racism in the congregation and community
· publication and presentation of the history of slavery and racism in the congregation and community
· education programs focused on racial reconciliation (for instance, Sacred Ground or One Human Race)
· public memorials of important places and events (for instance, lynching memorials in conjunction with with the Equal Justice Initiative)
· public memorials of the achievements and contributions of enslaved African Americans and their descendants
· racial justice work within the community
To apply for funds, please complete the application located at https://www.edotracialjustice.org/talbot-fund.
Questions about the fund can be addressed to The Rev. Francene Young, Chair of the Talbot Subcommittee, at fyoung@epicenter.org.
Apply for the John and Joseph Talbot Fund for Racial Reconciliation here:
John & Joseph Talbot Fund Project Recipients
Provides a gift to underwrite a program of church community racial reconciliation initiatives, bringing together the work of the Equal Justice Initiative’s Lynching Memorial work and justice in local communities. Congregations an apply for grants to do works of racial justice in their communities
Talbot Fund Update: Fall 2022-Spring 2023
Civil Social and Civil Rights Tour Planning Underway ¾ Plans are underway to host a social and civil rights tour to educate clergy and lay leaders about slavery with the hopes of expanding dialogue about its past in the Episcopal Church and the work of the Talbot Fund. Work on this project began in January.