St Mellitus College
Address
24 Collingham Road SW5 0LX

London

England
Coordinates51°29′37″N 0°11′17″W / 51.49347284513437°N 0.18793485210543803°W / 51.49347284513437; -0.18793485210543803
Information
MottoTheology in the context of worship, unity and mission.
Religious affiliation(s)Church of England
Established2007
Founder
DeanRussell Winfield
PresidentGraham Tomlin
Enrolment300[1]
Websitestmellitus.ac.uk

St Mellitus College is an English theological college established in 2007 by the Diocese of London and the Diocese of Chelmsford of the Church of England. It has campuses in Earl's Court, Chelmsford, Plymouth, and Nottingham, with growing links with other churches, colleges and dioceses throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. The president is Graham Tomlin, Bishop of Kensington, and the dean is Russell Winfield. St Mellitus College is a wholly non-residential college and has pioneered context-based training within the Church of England, integrating academic theological study with ministry placements throughout the course of study. As of 2019, it is the largest ministerial training college in the Church of England.[1]

History

Named after the very first Bishop of London, whose territory covered London and Essex, the college was founded in 2007 by the bishops of London and Chelmsford to serve the church’s mission in those regions and beyond. The college was formed as a merger between the former North Thames Ministerial Training Course, which was based in the dioceses of London and Chelmsford, and St Paul’s Theological Centre (part of Holy Trinity, Brompton).[2]

It has grown significantly since being founded and moved into its own premises at St Jude's Church, Kensington, in 2012, a building renovated specifically for this purpose. The centre houses a range of teaching space, rooms for pastoral care, academic and administrative offices, a growing academic library, space for hospitality and college worship.

In 2013, St Mellitus North West was established at Liverpool Cathedral, reestablishing full-time Anglican ordination training in that area for the first time in more than 40 years. This venture was directed by Jill Duff (now Bishop of Lancaster), in partnership with five dioceses in that area (Blackburn, Carlisle, Chester, Liverpool and Manchester). In September 2017, St Mellitus South West was launched, based in St Matthias Plymouth.[3] St Mellitus College opened its centre in the East Midlands in 2019, after being invited to pioneer full-time context-based ordination training in the region by the dioceses of Southwell & Nottingham, Leicester and Derby[4]

In 2017, the college launched a programme in Bermuda in conjunction with the Anglican Church of Bermuda. As of December 2021, it had trained 20 students for ministry.[5]

Deans

Organisation and purpose

The college offers courses for many different kinds of students, including:

  • Anglican ordinands looking for full or part-time training, including for self-supporting and pioneer ministry
  • Lay workers and licensed lay ministers (LLMs, also known as readers)
  • Undergraduate students on certificate, diploma and BA courses in theology, ministry and mission, or theology and youth ministry
  • Postgraduate students on the MA in Christian Leadership, or MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission (specialising in systematic theology
  • Church leaders from a range of denominations wanting to study theology and ministry more deeply
  • Those looking for an introduction to the study of theology, through the Beginning Theology programme, non-accredited study, or the School of Theology from SPTC
  • Those wanting to learn more about church planting under the guidance of associate tutor Ric Thorpe (Bishop of Islington)

The college's programmes are validated by the universities of Durham or Middlesex, depending on the course.[8]

Mellitus' "growth mentality" has been an inspiration to other colleges, such as St Hild College in Yorkshire, established in 2017.[9]

The college is named after St Mellitus, one of the least known but most significant figures in the establishment of the church in London and Essex – a key moment in the conversion of the British Isles. Mellitus was sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great, following in the footsteps of St Augustine who had made the same journey a few years before.

Notable alumni

    References

    1. 1 2 Megachurches and Social Engagement: Public Theology in Practice. Brill. 2019. p. 129. ISBN 9789004402652. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
    2. ↑ "Our History". St Mellitus College. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
    3. ↑ Lockley, Philip (10 November 2017). "Laboratories for disagreeing well". Church Times. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
    4. ↑ "St Mellitus College, South West". St Mellitus College. 6 March 2017. Archived from the original on 6 August 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
    5. ↑ Crockwell, Juanae (18 December 2021). "Local ministry programme celebrates seven graduates". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
    6. ↑ "Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin". St Mellitus College. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
    7. ↑ "New Dean for St Mellitus". Church Times. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
    8. ↑ "Programmes". St Mellitus College. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
    9. ↑ Davies, Madeleine (20 January 2017). "St Hild goes for the 'St Mellitus effect'". Church Times. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
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