The Guild of Scholars of the Episcopal Church is an independent group affiliated with the national church, founded in 1940 by scholars and lay Episcopalians from church-related colleges. The organization aimed to bridge the intellectual and spiritual life gap in academia. Early members included notable figures such as poet W. H. Auden, theologian Ursula Niebuhr, and literary critic Cleanth Brooks. Initially centered in the Northeast, the Guild has since expanded nationwide, with members from various academic and artistic fields gathering annually for presentations and discussions.