Chichester Theological College

Chichester Theological College (1838–1994) was an Anglican theological college for the Diocese of Chichester in Sussex, England.[2] Its churchmanship was high church and Anglo-Catholic.

Chichester Theological College
St Bartholomew's Church, former college chapel
Chichester Theological College is located in Chichester city centre
Chichester Theological College
Chichester Theological College
Street Map of Chichester
50°50′11″N 0°47′09″W / 50.8365°N 0.7857°W / 50.8365; -0.7857
OS grid referenceSU8560604812
LocationChichester
CountryUK
DenominationAnglican
ChurchmanshipHigh Anglican
History
StatusClosed
FoundedJuly 1838 (1838-07)
Founder(s)William Otter
DedicationSt Richard of Chichester
Dedicated1 May 1919
Associated peopleCharles Marriott
William Otter
William Awdry
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II Listed[1]
Designated31 Jan 1996
Architect(s)Ahrends, Burton & Koralek
Architectural typeBrick Brutalism
Completed1963-65
Closed1994
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseChichester
ArchdeaconryChichester
ParishSt Paul's, Chichester

History edit

 
Gillett House, former college residence

Chichester Theological College was founded by William Otter in July 1838, the first such diocesan college in England. Charles Marriott of Oriel College, Oxford, was its first principal and the first donation, of £50, for the college was from W. E. Gladstone.[3]

From 1886, during Josiah Sanders Teulon's time as principal, the college experienced a gradual decline in students. This was exacerbated in 1899 when he resigned but retained his income as a resident canon. At a meeting of the college council, it was resolved to close the college. However, the vice-principal made a successful case for continuing and Herbert Rickard was appointed the new principal.

In 1903, a hostel in West Street, Chichester, was bought for £1000 by the college council, the balance being paid by the principal in memory of his wife. This was refitted and became the college headquarters. This hostel was sold in 1919 and the proceeds went towards the purchase of new headquarters in Westgate, Chichester, for £3500. On 1 May 1919, the college was formally reopened by Bishop Charles Ridgeway (his last episcopal act) and was dedicated to St Richard of Chichester.

During the Second World War the college was forced to move temporarily to Cambridge while its buildings in Chichester were used by the military authorities. At the end of the war, the college buildings were sold, except for Marriott House, which was used to house the reopened college from 21 October 1946.[4] New residential accommodation, named Gillett House, was designed by Ahrends, Burton and Koralek, now a Listed building.[5]

Closure edit

After the closure of Chichester Theological College in 1994, its theological library was transferred to the University of Chichester.[6] In addition, St Bartholomew's Chapel, which served as the chapel to the theological college, is now the chaplaincy building of Chichester College.[7]

St Bartholomew's Church after being vacant since 2015 when the 10 year lease to Chichester College as a performance space ended, was sold to a local family partnership as an arts and community hire venue called the Chichester City Arts Centre. The centre is also the home of the Rosemary Bell Academy of Dance, a local 10 year old school for teaching classical ballet to the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus to children of pre-school and school age as well as adult students. The centre opened in September 2022.[citation needed]

List of principals edit

Notable alumni edit

References edit

  1. ^ British Listed Buildings
  2. ^ The Burgon Society Archived February 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Rt. Rev. William Otter - CNHS's Web Site". Colmworthhistory.org.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  4. ^ National Archives
  5. ^ "CHICHESTER THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE GILLETT HOUSE, Chichester - 1271544 | Historic England".
  6. ^ "Special Collections | University of Chichester". Chi.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  7. ^ http://www.churches-uk-ireland.org/towns/c/chichester.html Status of churches in Chichester
  8. ^ "Access to Archives". The National Archives. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  9. ^ "An early history - ST BARTHOLOMEW BRIGHTON". Stbartholomewsbrighton.org.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  10. ^ Denis Larionov & Alexander Zhulin. "A history of Pembroke college, Oxford, anciently Broadgates hall, in which are incorporated short historical notices of the more eminent members of this house, by Douglas Macleane". Ebooksread.com. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Page 32". Ccel.org. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  12. ^ "Full text of Alumni Cantabrigienses; a biographical list of all known students, graduates and holders of office at the University of Cambridge, from the earliest times to 1900". Cambridge, University Press. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  13. ^ Scottish Episcopal Clergy, ed. Bertie, David (2001). Continuum Publishing. ISBN 0567087468
  14. ^ Kemp, Eric (2006). Shy But Not Retiring: Memoirs. Continuum Publishing. ISBN 978-0826480736
  15. ^ "Bishop Clark Discusses Statement On Ministry - from the Catholic Herald Archive". Archive.catholicherald.co.uk. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  16. ^ "John Halliburton". Trushare.com. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  17. ^ "John Hind (Lord Bishop) | University of Chichester". Chi.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  18. ^ "Our Bishop". Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming. Retrieved 5 December 2021.

External links edit