Loren B. Mead served as a rector in South Carolina and North Carolina before agreeing to direct Project Test Pattern, a national initiative of the Episcopal Church in 1969. The Alban Institute, which he founded in 1974, grew out of this work. He was president of the Institute until 1994. After leaving, he wrote a series of books on The Once and Future Church and was a popular speaker and consultant. He still consults with parishes. He is an associate at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.