College of the Resurrection

Summary

The College of the Resurrection, popularly known as Mirfield, is an Anglo-Catholic theological college of the Church of England in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England.

College of the Resurrection
Church of the College of the Resurrection
Motto
Surrexit Alleluia!
TypeAnglican theological college
Established1903 (1903)
AffiliationChurch of England
PrincipalMark Sowerby
Academic staff
5 full-time tutorial staff
Location, ,
United Kingdom
Websitecollege.mirfield.org.uk

The college was founded in 1902 and describes itself as "A Theological College like no other".[1] The college has close links to the Community of the Resurrection. It trains men and women in the Anglo-Catholic tradition for the priesthood.

Daily life edit

All resident students are expected to attend Matins and Evensong six days a week. On most days the college says Matins and celebrates Low Mass in the college chapel and joins the Community of the Resurrection to sing Evensong. Saturday is the normal day off each week when there are no obligations. On Sundays, students are expected to join the community for Matins and the Solemn Mass.

The college and community of the Resurrection maintain liturgical worship in the Catholic tradition using vestments and incense. Later in the morning, students normally go to a local parish church as part of their pastoral formation.

Single students live at the college, married students in nearby houses owned by the college. The married-student houses range in size from two to four bedrooms and none are more than a ten-minute walk from the college.

University of Durham edit

The college, along with YTEP, began a new relationship with the University of Durham in 2020. This partnership provides a variety of learning programmes, from the Common Awards to a variety of masters programmes.

Yorkshire Theological Educational Partnership edit

 
The College

The Yorkshire Theological Educational Partnership (formerly Ministry Course YMC), was established in 1970 as the North West Ordination Course. It was renamed in 1980 as the Northern Ordination Course. It took students from the dioceses of Chester, Blackburn, Liverpool and Manchester. It opened dialogue with the College of the Resurrection in 1996, establishing an Eastern arm in Yorkshire at the College of the Resurrection.

In 2008 as a result of the reconfiguration subsequent to the Hind Report, the Northern Ordination Course separated from its Manchester base remaining established at Mirfield. It was then renamed the Yorkshire Ministry Course and became located on the Mirfield site along with the college, centre and community. Now, the rebranded YTEP department serves the Dioceses of Leeds, of Sheffield and of York.

Programmes edit

 
College buildings

The following programmes are offered in partnership with the University of Durham:

  • BA (Honours) in Theological Studies

Normally three years full-time, but candidates who have a good honours degree in a subject other than theology, or the equivalent of Level 1 in theological study, may be admitted to the degree at Level 2 and so complete the course in two years.

  • MA in Ministry and Theology

One year full-time, two years part-time or three and a half years on a professional development pathway. This is available for ordination candidates and others who have a 2.1 or above in a first degree (BA or equivalent) in theology/religious studies. Humanities, social science or other subjects are considered, where the applicant can show evidence of relevant experience, background or private study in theology.

  • MA in Ministry and Biblical Studies

One year full-time, two years part-time or three and a half years on a professional development pathway. This programme allows students to draw on the expertise of the Department of Biblical Studies at Durham, while following a programme of study that maintains a focus on the practice of ministry.

  • MA in Liturgy

One year full-time, two years part-time or three and a half years on a professional development pathway. This programme allows students to focus their studies on liturgy, while still offering the opportunity to draw from other areas of theology and biblical studies.

  • Research degrees: MA by Research, MPhil, PhD

Candidates may apply via the college for a research degree of the University of Durham, provided that appropriate supervision can be arranged either at the college or in the Department of Biblical Studies at the university.

Ecumenism edit

The college has had a long relationship with other Christian traditions, accepting students from many denominations outside of the Anglican Communion. Here are some examples:

Teaching staff edit

  • The Reverend Dr Dorothea Bertschmann – Academic Dean, Lecturer in Biblical Studies
  • The Reverend Fr Tony Carroll – Lecturer in Ethics
  • The Reverend Fr David Babbington - Dean of Pastoral Studies
  • The Reverend Dr Jo Kershaw - Lecturer in Liturgy
  • The Right Reverend Mark Sowerby - Principal

[2]

List of principals edit

Period Principal Notes
1902−1908 The Reverend Fr Caleb Ritson CR
1908−1922 The Reverend Fr Bernard Horner CR
1922–1928 The Reverend Fr Timothy Rees CR Appointed Bishop of Llandaff in 1931
1928–1933 The Reverend Fr Wilfrid Shelly CR
1933–1940 The Reverend Fr Thomas Haney CR
1940–1947 The Reverend Fr Joseph Barker CR
1947−1949 The Reverend Fr Douglas Edwards CR
1949–1955 The Reverend Fr Andrew Blair CR
1956–66 The Reverend Fr Hugh Bishop CR [3]
1966–1975 The Reverend Fr William Wheeldon CR Left the Community of the Resurrection in 1976 to return to parish ministry[4]
1975–1984 The Reverend Fr Benedict Green CR
1984–1990 The Reverend Fr Denys Lloyd CR Left the Community of the Resurrection in 1990 to join the Roman Catholic Church[5]
1990–1997 The Reverend David Lane An Anglican priest who was an oblate, rather than a professed member, of the Community of the Resurrection[6][7]
1998–2007 The Reverend Christopher Irvine Not a member of the Community of the Resurrection; now Canon Librarian of Canterbury Cathedral[8][9]
2008–2011 The Reverend Joseph Kennedy Not a member of the Community of the Resurrection; now Vicar of St Saviour's Church, Oxton[10][11]
2011–2019 The Reverend Fr Peter Allan CR Retired at the end of the 2018/2019 academic year[12][13]
2019 onwards The Right Reverend Mark Sowerby Principal; not a member of the Community of the Resurrection[13]

Notable alumni edit

References edit

  1. ^ "College of the Resurrection". College of the Resurrection. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  2. ^ "People | College of the Resurrection, Mirfield". College of the Resurrection - Staff. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
  3. ^ "William Fletcher Bishop". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  4. ^ "William Dennis Wheeldon". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  5. ^ "About Us". Our Lady and St Joseph. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  6. ^ "David John Lane". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  7. ^ "THE REVD DAVID LANE". The Church Times. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Christopher Paul Irvine". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  9. ^ "Chapter members". Canterbury Cathedral. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Joseph Kennedy". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  11. ^ "About us". St Saviour's Church, Oxton. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Principal's Message". College of the Resurrection. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Bishop of Horsham to be Principal of the College of the Resurrection". Diocese of Chichester. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2019.

External links edit

  • College website
  • Community of the Resurrection website
  • Mirfield Centre website
  • Department of Biblical Studies webpage on the University of Sheffield website
  • Yorkshire Ministry Course website

53°40′56″N 1°42′47″W / 53.6821°N 1.7130°W / 53.6821; -1.7130