The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education (also called the Queen's Foundation, Birmingham and formerly the Queen's College, Birmingham) is an

ecumenical Ecumenism (), also spelled oecumenism, is the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships among their churches and promote Christian unity. The adjec ...

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, ...

which, with the West Midlands Ministerial Training Course, forms the Centre for Ministerial Formation of the Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. It serves the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church record ...

and the

Methodist Church Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's br ...

, and its courses thus have a strong ecumenical emphasis.

Overview

The Queen's Foundation itself consists of the Centre for Ministerial Formation, the Queen's Graduate and Research Centre, the Centre for Black Ministries and Leadership, and the Selly Oak Centre for Mission Studies (the successor to the Selly Oak Colleges). The Queen's Foundation was associated with the

University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingha ...

(then, the Queen's College, Birmingham) to which it is very near and for whose certificates, diplomas and degrees students read. However, in 2009/10 the University of Birmingham completed its review of the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion, including its collaborative arrangements. The review recommended terminating the arrangements with Queen's for both taught and research degrees. A new validation agreement was made with Newman University for taught degree programmes. Also in 2011 a new validation agreement was made with the

University of Gloucestershire , mottoeng = In Spirit and Truth , established = , type = Public , endowment = £2.4 m (2015) , chancellor = Rennie Fritchie, Baroness Fritchie , vice_chancellor ...

for research degrees. The Queen's Graduate and Research Centre offers post-graduate study for the

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. ...

(MA) in applied theological study, and research facilities for the degrees of

Master of Philosophy The Master of Philosophy (MPhil; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. In the United States, an MPhil typically includes a taught portion and a significant research portion, during which a thesis project is conducted under supervision. An MPhil ...

(Ph.M.),

Doctor of Theology Doctor of Theology ( la, Doctor Theologiae, abbreviated DTh, ThD, DTheol, or Dr. theol.) is a terminal degree in the academic discipline of theology Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religiou ...

(Th.D.) and

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

(Ph.D.). The residential block and lodge (1929–30), and chapel (1938–47) are by a local architect Holland W. Hobbiss. The chapel was the first English ecclesiastical building with an

altar An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in paga ...

built for the celebrant to face the congregation. The college hosted the UKMT Mathematics Summer School each summer for approximately 40 students.

Origins

Queen's College, Paradise Street, Birmingham

The college started as Queens' College in

Paradise Street Paradise Street is a short street in the core area of Birmingham City Centre, in England. Paradise Street runs roughly from Victoria Square to Suffolk Street and Broad Street. The street existed in 1796 when a congregation gathered at a meeti ...

,''The Making of Birmingham: Being a History of the Rise and Growth of the Midland Metropolis'', Robert K. Dent, Published by J. L. Allday, 1894 central Birmingham in 1828, as an Anglican-based medical school which developed a broad range of education. Eventually the non-theological departments joined the nearby

Mason Science College Mason Science College was a university college in Birmingham, England, and a predecessor college of Birmingham University. Founded in 1875 by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Josiah Mason, the college was incorporated into the University ...

which became the

in 1900, leaving Queen's College as a theological establishment, which moved to Somerset Road in 1923. The Selly Oak Centre for Mission Studies was formed in 2006 as the successor to the United College of the Ascension, one the former

Selly Oak Colleges Selly Oak Colleges was a federation of educational facilities which in the 1970s and 1980s was at the forefront of debates about ecumenism - the coming together of Christian churches and the creation of new united churches such as the Church of S ...

, and remains sponsored by the

United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) is a United Kingdom-based charitable organization (registered charity no. 234518). It was first incorporated under Royal Charter in 1701 as the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Part ...

and the Methodist Church.

List of Wardens of the Theological Department of the Queen's College

:* 1849-1852: Horace Gray :* 1853-1865: John Sandford :* 1865-1873: Thomas Espinell Espin :* 1873-1874: Harman Chaloner Ogle :* 1874-1901: William Herring Poulton :* 1902-1907 :J H B Masterman :* 1907-1913?: W Hobhouse (Honorary Warden, college activities suspended until 1923)

List of principals since 1923

:The principal of the theological foundation has usually been an ordained Anglican priest. *1923–1934 (res.): Herbert Raison *1934–1954 (res.): John Cobham *1954–1967 (res.): Arthur Gribble *1967–1973 (res.):

John Habgood John Stapylton Habgood, Baron Habgood, (23 June 1927 – 6 March 2019) was a British Anglican bishop, academic, and life peer. He was Bishop of Durham from 1973 to 1983, and Archbishop of York from 18 November 1983 to 1995. In 1995, he was mad ...

*1974–1979 (res.): Anthony Bird *1979–1987 (res.): Gordon Wakefield (Methodist minister) *1987–1993 (res.): Jamie Walker (

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...

(

presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their na ...

) minister) *1994–2002 (res.): Peter Fisher *2003–2020:

David Hewlett David Ian Hewlett (born 18 April 1968) is a British-born Canadian actor, writer, and director known for his role as Dr. Rodney McKay in the '' Stargate'' science-fiction franchise. He first gained fame for his roles as Grant Jansky in the Cana ...

*2020–Pres: Clive Marsh

Notable alumni

Simon Baker Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor in television and film, as well as a director. He is known for his lead roles in the CBS television series ''The Mentalist'' as Patrick Jane and ''The Guardian'' as Nicholas Fallin ...

, Archdeacon of Lichfield *

Paul Bayes Paul Bayes (born 1953) is an English Anglican retired bishop. He served as Bishop of Liverpool, 2014–2022, and as Bishop of Hertford in the Church of England Diocese of St Albans, 2010–2014. Early life Bayes was born in Bradford, W ...

, Bishop of Liverpool * Michael Everitt, Archdeacon of Lancaster * John Hawkins, Archdeacon of Hampstead * Clinton Langston, British Army chaplain and Archdeacon for the Army * Karen Lund, Archdeacon of Manchester *

Rachel Mann Rachel Mann (born 1970) is a British Anglican priest, poet and feminist theologian. She is a trans woman who writes, speaks and broadcasts on a wide range of topics including gender, sexuality and religion. She has served as Archdeacon of Bolto ...

, priest, poet and theologian * Eve Pitts, vicar and canon in Birmingham * David Walker, Bishop of Manchester *

Lucy Winkett Lucy Clare Winkett (born 8 January 1968) is a British Anglican priest, who since 2010 has been the Rector of St James's Church, Piccadilly. Her early ordained ministry was spent at St Paul's Cathedral, London, where she was a minor canon and c ...

, priest, broadcaster and writer * Sonia Hicks, President of the Methodist Conference 2021/2022 * Kathy Jones, Dean of Bangor 2016/2021 * Mary Stallard, Archdeacon of Bangor since 2018 and Assistant Bishop in Bangor since 2022

References

External links

The Queen's Foundation, Birmingham website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen's Foundation, The Education in Birmingham, West Midlands Bible colleges, seminaries and theological colleges in England Buildings and structures in Birmingham, West Midlands Anglican seminaries and theological colleges Methodist seminaries and theological colleges Educational institutions established in 1828 Edgbaston Christianity in Birmingham, West Midlands Anglican buildings and structures in the United Kingdom