The London School of Theology (LST), formerly London Bible College, is a British interdenominational
evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being " born again", in which an individual expe ...
theological college
A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...
based in
Northwood within the
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon () is the largest and westernmost borough in West London, England. It was formed from the districts of Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the ceremonial county ...
.
History
During the 1930s A. J. Vereker, secretary of the
Crusaders' Union,
Sir John Laing and others set up a meeting to propose a Bible college in London which would provide high quality academic training for Christian teachers in the City. The initial meeting, in May 1939, was followed by a larger one with greater representation, which set the vision and plans for the college.
Subsequent meetings that year, which included preacher
Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, drew up a report which included an outline of the fundamentals of the college. It would be residential for 40 (expanding to 80) places with a possibility of including evening students. It aimed for its courses to be recognised by London University.
The 1939 outbreak of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
put the plans temporarily on hold. The conveners resumed in early 1942 among a wider group of evangelical leaders. In October a doctrinal basis for the college was agreed. In November "The Bible College Council" was founded:
In March 1943, Graham Scroggie was invited to be the director of the college for the duration of the war, and to preside over teaching matters. Laing provided "generous financial help", and the council of
All Nations College gifted £200. In the autumn of that year, the first lectures and classes were held in Eccleston Hall, which marks "the beginning of the public activities of the college".
By 1944, over 300 students were enrolled, and two years later the number was up to 1,400.
In 1970 the college moved to Northwood on a campus previously occupied by the
London College of Divinity
St John's College, Nottingham, founded as the London College of Divinity, was an Anglican and interdenominational theological college situated in Bramcote, Nottingham, England. The college stood in the open evangelical tradition and stated that i ...
(or London School of Divinity), an
Anglican institution. The 1990s saw the opening of a new
postgraduate centre, the Guthrie Centre, which had formerly housed the Centre for Islamic Studies.
In 2004 the name of the college was changed to the London School of Theology.
Staff members
Its faculty has included
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chri ...
scholars
Donald Guthrie,
R. T. France
Richard Thomas France (1938–2012), known as R. T. France or Dick France, was a New Testament scholar and Anglican cleric. He was Principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, from 1989 to 1995. He also worked for the London School of Theology.
...
,
Ralph P. Martin and
Max Turner as well as
Derek Tidball
Derek John Tidball is a British theologian, sociologist of religion, and Baptist minister. From 1995 to 2007 he was the principal of London Bible College which later took the name London School of Theology.
Education
A graduate in sociology (Un ...
, a
practical theologian and
sociologist of religion. LST also had strong connections with the Anglican theologian
John Stott
John Robert Walmsley Stott (27 April 1921 – 27 July 2011) was an English Anglican cleric and theologian who was noted as a leader of the worldwide evangelical movement. He was one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974. In ...
, an important supporter and former council member of the college.
Principals
*1946–1965 – Ernest Kevan
*1966–1980 – Gilbert Kirby
*1980–1989 – Michael Griffiths
*1989–1995 – Peter Cotterell
*1995–2007 –
Derek Tidball
Derek John Tidball is a British theologian, sociologist of religion, and Baptist minister. From 1995 to 2007 he was the principal of London Bible College which later took the name London School of Theology.
Education
A graduate in sociology (Un ...
*2007–2008 – Anna Robbins (acting)
*2008–2010 – Simon Steer
*2010–2012 – Chris Jack (acting)
*2012–2016 – No principal, senior leadership team model used
*2017–2019 –
Calvin Samuel
*2019–2019 – Graham Twelftree (acting)
*2019–present – Mark J. Cartledge
Presidents
*2014 – June 2016:
Krish Kandiah
Notable alumni
*
Jeremy Balfour
Jeremy Ross Balfour (born 11 March 1967) is a Scottish Conservative politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Lothian region since 2016.
A solicitor and Baptist Minister, he was first elected in the 2016 Scottis ...
*
Alistair Begg
*
Clive Calver
Clive Calver (born 1949) is a British Evangelical Christian leader, teacher, author and international speaker.
Biography
During the early 1970s, he founded and led the groundbreaking mission team "In the Name of Jesus", which included Graham K ...
*
Ruth Edwards
Ruth Rosamond Edwards (née Davis, 11 May 1984) is a British politician who was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rushcliffe in the 2019 general election. A member of the Conservative Party, she worked in cybersecurity policy prio ...
*
Dan Forshaw
*
Graham Kendrick
Graham Kendrick (born 2 August 1950) is an English Christian singer, songwriter and worship leader.
He is the son of Baptist pastor M. D. Kendrick and grew up in Laindon, Essex, and Putney. He now lives in Tunbridge Wells and is a member of C ...
Honorary Doctorate
*
Sheila Walsh
Notes
References
*
*
External links
London School of Theology websiteLST Library catalogue
{{authority control
Bible colleges, seminaries and theological colleges in England
Education in the London Borough of Hillingdon
Educational institutions established in 1941
Universities and colleges in London
1941 establishments in England
Professional education in London
Christianity in London