Trinity College, Bristol
Encyclopedia
Trinity College Bristol is a Christian college affiliated to the Church of England
, though students come from different denominations. It is located in Stoke Bishop
in Bristol
, England
, next to the University of Bristol
's residential halls. It offers a range of full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses which are validated by the University of Bristol, though the college sets it own curriculum. Many of its students are training for ordination
in the Church of England; there is a strong vocational aspect to its training.
It runs evening classes which are used by the Diocese of Bristol
for its training of ordained and lay local ministers. It also has an Open Learning department; students study at home and are linked to a local study group with a tutor.
as a grade II* listed building.
colleges in Bristol: Clifton, Dalton House with St Michaels, and Tyndale Hall. Trinity College Bristol is rooted in the evangelical tradition (and is affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance
) but offers training to Christians from a variety of theological traditions.
All of the colleges had their origins in the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society (BCMS, now Crosslinks
). The Bible Missionary Training College opened in Bristol in 1925, and was recognized by the Church of England in 1927. The BCMS college faced great difficulties in its early days. Its conservative evangelical constituency was numerically and financially weak. The staff split over the issue of subscription to BCMS' doctrinal basis, and those who did not view subscription as essential left to form Clifton Theological College. Subsequently, Dalton House was opened to train women. The Principal of the men's college (C.S.Carter) resigned in the early 1930s after dismissing a student. It was renamed Tyndale
Hall in 1952.
An earlier attempt at merger in the 1960s was poorly handled and resulted in considerable conflict.
Since September 1997, Trinity College Bristol has been a member of the Bristol Federation. Its partners are Bristol Baptist College, Wesley College
, and the West of England Ministerial Training Course (WEMTC).
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, though students come from different denominations. It is located in Stoke Bishop
Stoke Bishop
Stoke Bishop is a very affluent and medium-sized outer city suburb in the north-west of Bristol, located in between Westbury-on-Trym, Sneyd Park, and Sea Mills. Although relatively small, Stoke Bishop's population has increased due to substantial infilling on the Smelting Works sports ground and...
in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, next to the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
's residential halls. It offers a range of full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses which are validated by the University of Bristol, though the college sets it own curriculum. Many of its students are training for ordination
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
in the Church of England; there is a strong vocational aspect to its training.
It runs evening classes which are used by the Diocese of Bristol
Diocese of Bristol
The Diocese of Bristol is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury, England. It is based in the city of Bristol and covers South Gloucestershire and parts of north Wiltshire to Swindon...
for its training of ordained and lay local ministers. It also has an Open Learning department; students study at home and are linked to a local study group with a tutor.
Building
The building previously known as Stoke House was built in 1669 and has been designated by English HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a grade II* listed building.
History
Trinity College Bristol was formed in 1972 from a merger of three evangelicalEvangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
colleges in Bristol: Clifton, Dalton House with St Michaels, and Tyndale Hall. Trinity College Bristol is rooted in the evangelical tradition (and is affiliated to the Evangelical Alliance
Evangelical Alliance
The Evangelical Alliance is a London-based charitable organization founded in 1846. It has a claimed representation of over 1,000,000 evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom and is the oldest alliance of evangelical Christians in the world....
) but offers training to Christians from a variety of theological traditions.
All of the colleges had their origins in the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society (BCMS, now Crosslinks
Crosslinks
Crosslinks is an evangelical Anglican missionary society, drawing its support mainly from parishes in the Church of England and Church of Ireland. It was known as the Bible Churchmen's Missionary Society until 1992-The Society's foundation:...
). The Bible Missionary Training College opened in Bristol in 1925, and was recognized by the Church of England in 1927. The BCMS college faced great difficulties in its early days. Its conservative evangelical constituency was numerically and financially weak. The staff split over the issue of subscription to BCMS' doctrinal basis, and those who did not view subscription as essential left to form Clifton Theological College. Subsequently, Dalton House was opened to train women. The Principal of the men's college (C.S.Carter) resigned in the early 1930s after dismissing a student. It was renamed Tyndale
William Tyndale
William Tyndale was an English scholar and translator who became a leading figure in Protestant reformism towards the end of his life. He was influenced by the work of Desiderius Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and by Martin Luther...
Hall in 1952.
An earlier attempt at merger in the 1960s was poorly handled and resulted in considerable conflict.
Since September 1997, Trinity College Bristol has been a member of the Bristol Federation. Its partners are Bristol Baptist College, Wesley College
Wesley College, Bristol
Wesley College, Bristol is a theological college in Bristol, England...
, and the West of England Ministerial Training Course (WEMTC).
Notable staff and alumni
- George CareyGeorge CareyGeorge Leonard Carey, Baron Carey of Clifton PC, FKC is a former Archbishop of Canterbury, holding the office from 1991 to 2002. He was the first modern holder of the office not to have attended Oxford or Cambridge University...
– 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury. Principal of the college from 1982–1988.
- Philip Edgecumbe HughesPhilip Edgecumbe HughesPhilip Edgcumbe Hughes was an Anglican clergyman and New Testament scholar.Dr. Hughes was born in Australia and received his B.A., M.A., and D.L.H. from the University of Cape Town, B.D. from the University of London, and Th.D. from the Australian College of Theology. From 1947 to 1953 Hughes...
- Anglican New Testament scholar, Professor 1947-1953
- David JackmanDavid Jackman (minister)David Jackman is a renowned British Evangelical Christian speaker, and former president of The Proclamation Trust. He founded the Cornhill Training Course in 1991 and was previously Minister of Above Bar Church, Southampton from 1976 - 1991.Jackman attended Downing College, Cambridge, and...
– Former student. President of the Proclamation TrustProclamation TrustThe Proclamation Trust is a British evangelical Christian association founded in 1986 by Dick Lucas, led by Vaughan Roberts, based in Willcox House, London that is dedicated to training preachers in expository preaching...
and former Minister of Above Bar Church, SouthamptonAbove Bar Church, SouthamptonAbove Bar Church is an evangelical church in Southampton, affiliated to the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches. The building is on the corner of Above Bar Street and Ogle Road in Southampton City Centre, with shops on the ground level and the auditorium and other rooms above...
.
- J. Alec Motyer – Former principal of the college, well known as the author of several key books, including The Prophecy of Isaiah. He is also the Old Testament editor of the Bible Speaks Today series of commentaries.
- J. I. PackerJ. I. PackerJames Innell Packer is a British-born Canadian Christian theologian in the low church Anglican and Reformed traditions. He currently serves as the Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia...
– Associate principal from 1971-79. In 2005, Time Magazine named Packer one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America.
- Joyce G. Baldwin - Former principal and author of numerous commentaries.
- Gordon WenhamGordon WenhamGordon Wenham is an Old Testament scholar and author of several books about the Bible. Tremper Longman has called him "one of the finest evangelical commentators today."...
- Emeritus Professor of Old Testament at the University of GloucestershireUniversity of GloucestershireThe University of Gloucestershire is a university primarily based in Gloucestershire, England, spread over four campuses, three in Cheltenham and one in Gloucester...
and author of many commentaries.
- George Iype Kovoor - current Principal and a Chaplain to the Queen