religion

christianity

Education

• B.A., University of Cincinnati
• M.A., Cincinnati Christian University
• B.D., Cincinnati Bible Seminary
• Th.M., Ph.D., Union Theological Seminary (now Union Presbyterian Seminary)

Biography

William Blake Jr. has taught at the college level since 1954. He was professor of history at VCU from 1965 to 1992.  While he retired as professor emeritus of history in 1992, he continued to teach one course per semester on the history of Christianity until 2012. Dr. Blake is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Aleph Tau and Phi Alpha Theta. He has received numerous outstanding teacher awards and the VCU Presidential Medallion.  He has also been a regular lecturer at the Shepherd’s Center of Richmond and Westminster Canterbury Richmond.

He was married to Miriam Snell for nearly 72 years until her death in 2021. She was a first-grade schoolteacher and church musician. The Blakes had three children, nine grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. A Lectureship and a Chair in the History of Christianity are named for Dr. and Mrs. Blake at VCU. Also, each of them has a scholarship in their names in history and education, respectively.

Dr. Blake is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has ministered to churches in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. He recently retired from his sixth interim ministry, June 30, 2017, after serving Seventh Street Christian Church, Richmond, Virginia, since July 2016. In his interim ministries Dr. Blake has had responsibility for the general well-being of the church, working openly and diligently with the staff and seeking to advance the Christian community in the area.  

Dr. Blake and Miriam moved to Westminster Canterbury Richmond, a continuing care facility, in 2014. In 2022 he founded and directs the Men’s Chorus. He is very active in all things musical at WCR, leading the monthly sing-along, the Fifth Sunday Hymn Sing, composing the lyrics for the Annual Employee Christmas Fund, and singing in quartets, quintets, sextets. In addition, Dr. Blake presents lectures annually on areas of his professional concentration.

He enjoys reading, talking with friends, working crossword puzzles, associating with his gym-buddies, and cheering for his sports teams on T.V.