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 ( ; alternatively spelled oecumenism)also called interdenominationalism, or ecumenicalismis the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships ...

theological college A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and Christian theology, theology, generally to prepare them for ordinatio ...

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#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

and the Methodist Church, 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 in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...

(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 The University of Gloucestershire is a public university based in Gloucestershire, England. It is located over five campuses, three in Cheltenham and two in Gloucester. The university is the successor of a large number of merged, name-changed ...

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

Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA or AM) 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. Those admitted to the degree have ...

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

Master of Philosophy A Master of Philosophy (MPhil or PhM; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. The name of the degree is most often abbreviated MPhil (or, at times, as PhM in other countries). MPhil are awarded to postgraduate students after completing at leas ...

(Ph.M.), Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) and

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of Postgraduate education, graduate study and original resear ...

(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 religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of worship. They are use ...

built for the celebrant to face the congregation. The college hosted the

UKMT The United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) is a Charitable organization, charity founded in 1996 to help with the education of children in mathematics within the United Kingdom, UK. History The national mathematics competitions had existed ...

Mathematics Summer School each summer for approximately 40 students.

Origins

The college started in 1828 as the Birmingham School of Medicine, based at Birmingham General Hospital, moving to Snow Hill in 1829 and then Paradise Street in 1834. In 1836 it became the Birmingham Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, under the patronage of William IV. In 1843 the institution moved from being a medical school to a college and obtained a royal charter as Queens' College. A theology department was established in 1849 and opened in 1853.''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 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 the University of Birmingham. Founded in 1875 by industrialist and philanthropist Sir Josiah Mason, the college was incorporated into the Univer ...

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, and remains sponsored by the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel 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 made ...

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

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...

(

presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

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

David Hewlett David Ian Hewlett (born 18 April 1968) is an English-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 Canadian ...

*2020–Pres: Clive Marsh

Notable alumni

* Simon Baker, Archdeacon of Lichfield * Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool * Michael Everitt, Archdeacon of Lancaster * John Hawkins, Archdeacon of Hampstead * Sonia Hicks, President of the Methodist Conference 2021/2022 * Kathy Jones, Dean of Bangor 2016–2021 * Clinton Langston, British Army Chaplain General and Archdeacon for the Army * Karen Lund, Archdeacon of Manchester * Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Salford & Bolton, priest, poet and theologian * Michael Parker, British Army Chaplain General * Eve Pitts, vicar and canon in Birmingham * Mary Stallard, Archdeacon of Bangor since 2018 and Assistant Bishop in Bangor since 2022 * David Walker, Bishop of Manchester * Lucy Winkett, priest, broadcaster and writer

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