Back to school.

Starting Monday, a new school in Edgecombe County will be welcoming students back from their summer vacation, the True Standard Christian Bible College in Tarboro.

"This is the first school of its kind in Tarboro," said Dr. Charles Dingle of Pinetops, founder and president of the school. "We are very excited."

The school is at 1405 W. Saint James St. in Tarboro, across from the Williams Oil Co. The building is also home to Dingle's church, the True Standard Holy Church Inc., which currently has a congregation of about 25 members.

The church was established on July 13, 2002.

"We have been in this building for a little over a year," said Dingle.

A native of Wilmington, Dingle is a graduate of United Christian College in Goldsboro, where he received a Bachelor of Religion, Bachelor of Theology and a Doctor of Divinity degree.

Dingle has ministered in various churches for more than 37 years and was ordained as a bishop in 1997.

In addition to ministering, Dingle has worked extensively in religious education.

Dingle taught at his alma mater, United Christian College and was one of the founders of the Wilmington Bible College, where he also taught for several years. He also helped to set up a school in Maple Hill as a satellite school for United Christian College and helped to set up a school for Roanoke United Holy Church Convocation.

"I feel that God has prepared me for the work for True Standard Christian Bible

College," said Dingle.

After establishing the church in 2002, Dingle said he labored to arouse the congregation to the need for an educational department in the church.

"I believe I have a calling to teach and train Christian workers and prepare them for Christian service," said Dingle.

Dingle said that the church finally adopted the idea and work began setting up the church.