In the 1936-37 school year, the Episcopal Student Forum began at the University of Alabama. These meetings were held in the rectory of Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Tuscaloosa. The Student Forum undertook a variety of activities, including discussion of the concerning the place of the Church in the post-war world. In the 1942-43 school year, the Forum began a study of "the race question, with particular attention to relations of white and Negro groups and individuals." Joint meetings with students from Stillman College were held with the goal of considering steps that could be taken to overcome racial prejudice and misunderstanding.
In February 1942, the Canterbury Club was chartered at the University of Alabama. The Rev. Charles H. Douglas served as chaplain and Dr. M.E. Nunn served as Faculty Advisor. In September 1942 Foster House was opened to serve as the Episcopal Student Center. The house was located next to the home of the Rev. Richard S. Watson, rector of Christ Church. The house was named for Dr. Richard Clarke Foster, president of UA, who passed away in November 1941. The house was a former private dwelling that was leased by the Diocese of Alabama. The lower floor consisted of two large rooms, a kitchen, and separate living quarters for the Chaplain. The smaller of the two rooms was used as a library, with the larger being used for meetings, services, and entertainment. Upstairs housed ten Episcopal male students, and rent paid by them provided partial support for the projects of Foster House. On January 24, 1943, regular services of Communion began. The Communion set and linens used were given by Bishop Carpenter. On February 12, 1943, the first issue of the "Canterbury Tales" (which remains the name of Canterbury's newsletter to this day) was published. In 1948, the Rev. George Murray became Chaplain and moved into Foster House with his family. 