Episcopal Press and News
Seabury Press Acquired By Winston
Episcopal News Service. April 12, 1984 [84075]
NEW YORK, (DPS, April 12) -- The publishing assets of the Seabury Press, an Episcopal Church publishing house founded in 1951, have been acquired by Winston Press, Inc., the Minneapolis-based religious and general trade publisher, and its parent corporation, CBS.
When the sale was announced, John G. Welshons, Winston's publisher and general manager, commented; "Seabury has been an important and dedicated publisher of academic and spiritual books, providing a valuable service to readers, lay and professional, in the field of religion and religious education for more than 30 years. Its commitment to quality religious books attracted the world's most distinguished authors in theology, biblical studies, and Christian living."
Under the new imprint, Winston's trade publishing program in marriage, family, psychology, social issues and religion will expand. Also, under the Seabury imprint, the company will continue to publish scholarly and theological works, college and seminary texts, prayer books, and titles in spirituality and ministry.
The Seabury Press was established in 1951 by the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church to provide religious education materials for church use. Over the years Seabury expanded that base to include religious trade books and later added a general children's book line -- which has since been sold -- and an academic program. During the past four years, Seabury has refocused its program to concentrate on ecumenical religious publishing but like many main line religious publishing houses, it lost ground to a market that catered to evangelicals and personal religion.
The Press had to turn to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church for substantial loans at different points during its history, and the Council decided to sell the assets of the Press in November, 1983. The Press's board of trustees resigned as a group in December to enable three remaining trustees (Deborah Wiley, chairwoman; Matthew Costigan, treasurer of the Episcopal Church Center; and Bishop Alexander D. Stewart, executive for administration at the Center) to handle negotiations. The three indicated that the sale will make it possible for the Council to recoup the money loaned to the Press in 1982 and 1983.
More importantly, however, they felt that the sale would bolster an important religious publishing enterprise. "We feel that the fit between Winston Press and the Seabury Press is a good one, and that the combination will make the finest religious publisher in America today. With Winston's background in education and trade markets, we feel that they have the strength and depth to effectively promote the Seabury list and to provide continuity for our authors. Seabury's goal to serve the church community has also been Winston's goal. We are delighted that Winston is in a position to continue to enrich religious life for laity and churches."
Among the distinguished authors whose books are currently published by the two companies are: Andrew Greeley, C. S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, Martin E. Marty, Henri J. Nouwen, Richard McBrien, Karl Barth, David Tracy, Edward Schillebeeckx, and Rosemary Radford Ruether. Other popular authors include William J. Wolf, John B. Coburn, Martin Bell and Frederick Buechner.
In discussing Episcopal Church publishing, Stewart commented: "Many will lament that we no longer have an Episcopal publishing house, but we still have the nearly century-old Morehouse-Barlow firm and the 50-year-old Forward Movement within the Church family as well, of course, as the Church Hymnal Company.
"We are also confident that Winston will respond readily to Episcopal authors -- as they always have -- and we expect that nearly all authors will sign with Winston because they do have a unique ability to serve Episcopal parishes. Already, they are prime suppliers of religious educational materials."
The Professional Services Center at the Church Center will continue to print and produce materials for the elements of the General Church Program, and the Church Center staff are preparing a transition for Professional Services to take over the order fulfillment functions of Seabury's Somers, Conn. warehouse, which will be phased out in June. Parish materials will continue to be ordered from Somers until further notice.
Winston Press has published general and religious books and educational programs for over 50 years. In 1965 the company was acquired by Holt Rhinehart and Winston, now a unit of CBS Educational and Professional Publishing Division. At the time, Winston produced educational products for both the public and religious school markets, including popular and innovative programs in reading and math. Winston's religious education programs are highly regarded as pedagogically innovative and ecumenical. Winston's trade publishing program, established in 1976, has grown to a multi-million dollar business in the intervening years.
The continuing Seabury telephone numbers are, for New York residents: 212/661-1253, for residents of other states: 1-800-223-2337. The Somers number is 203/749-2271.