Founded in 1893, CDSP has since 1911 been designated the official seminary of the Episcopal Church's Eighth Province, the Province west of the Rocky Mountains.

Membership in the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) is a great asset to the school. The GTU is renowned as one of the most successful theological consortiums in the country. It comprises nine independent seminaries and a number of affiliated centers that reflect its ecumenical and interfaith character.

Nestled in the Berkeley foothills, CDSP is located in the culturally diverse and dynamic San Francisco Bay Area. One block away is the University of California and within a short distance are hiking and biking trails, museums, open-air markets, theaters, coffee houses, and some of the best restaurants in the country. All of this makes CDSP on "Holy Hill" an ideal place to find support and resources for Christian living and ministry.