It was founded by Lucy Rider Meyer and her husband Josiah in 1885 and was described as "the largest training school of its kind in the country"[1] and awarded the degree of Bachelor of Religious Service (BRS).
[3] The school grew out of the Methodist deaconess movement[4] and gave preparation for missionary work in "city, home, and foreign fields".
The school was built "to educate Christian lay-women as leaders and social service agents in ministry by serving the needs of the city".
Lucy Rider spent years attending, teaching and instructing at schools up until 1885 when she married Josiah Shelley Meyer.
Instead of bringing her ideas down, he defended "her school's curriculum that included biblical studies, theology, church history, sociology, economics, basic medical training, and courses chronicling the accomplishments of women" (bu.edu).
[10] About five months after they married, the Chicago Training School for City, Home, and Foreign Missions was opened.