Independent College, Homerton
Encyclopedia
Independent College, Homerton, later Homerton Academy, was a dissenting academy just outside London, England, in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
ministers, and to provide an alternative to the education offered by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
, which was barred by law to English Dissenters
. Around 35 of these so-called dissenting academies
arose during the 18th century, offering education without the requirement of conformity to the Church of England
. They promoted a more modern curriculum of science, philosophy and modern history than the ancient universities
who took a more traditionalist approach to learning. One of these was the Independent College, Homerton, which appointed Dr John Conder
as President in 1754.
From 1730, the King's Head Society (a group of laymen named after the pub at which they met) had been working to promote Calvinism. They had sponsored young scholars to attend dissenting academies, where nonconformists could learn the necessary "grammarian," or classical
education, which was a pre-requisite for the four-year "academical" course of the Congregational Board.
, in the parish of Hackney
, close to London, in which they sought to base all their teaching. Building on the work of the existing Independent College, Homerton, the new college became known as the Homerton Academy.
The Academy boasted several members of distinction: although it only ever had between 12 and 20 students at any time, one of its tutors, Henry Mayo, was described by James Boswell
as Samuel Johnson
’s "literary anvil"; another was offered a Doctorate of Divinity by Yale College
. John Pye Smith (1774—1851), one of the best known Nonconformist theologians of his day, taught there.
In 1824 the building itself was added to and partially rebuilt. Not long afterwards, following the liberalisation of access to English universities, the work of the dissenting academies could become mainstream. University College London
became the first English university to admit students without a need for conformity to the Established Church), and, in 1840, Homerton Academy in the village of Hackney
became a college of the new University of London
.
Background
In 1695 the Congregational Fund was set up in London to provide for the education of CalvinistCalvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
ministers, and to provide an alternative to the education offered by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, which was barred by law to English Dissenters
English Dissenters
English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.They originally agitated for a wide reaching Protestant Reformation of the Established Church, and triumphed briefly under Oliver Cromwell....
. Around 35 of these so-called dissenting academies
Dissenting academies
The dissenting academies were schools, colleges and nonconformist seminaries run by dissenters. They formed a significant part of England’s educational systems from the mid-seventeenth to nineteenth centuries....
arose during the 18th century, offering education without the requirement of conformity to the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. They promoted a more modern curriculum of science, philosophy and modern history than the ancient universities
Ancient university
Ancient university is a term used to describe seven medieval and renaissance universities of the United Kingdom and Ireland that exist today. Six of those universities are currently located in the United Kingdom and one in the Republic of Ireland...
who took a more traditionalist approach to learning. One of these was the Independent College, Homerton, which appointed Dr John Conder
John Conder
John Conder D.D. was an Independent minister at Cambridge who later became President of the Independent College, Homerton in the parish of Hackney near London.-Life:...
as President in 1754.
From 1730, the King's Head Society (a group of laymen named after the pub at which they met) had been working to promote Calvinism. They had sponsored young scholars to attend dissenting academies, where nonconformists could learn the necessary "grammarian," or classical
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
education, which was a pre-requisite for the four-year "academical" course of the Congregational Board.
Foundation
In 1768 the King's Head Society bought a mansion in HomertonHomerton
Homerton is a place in the London Borough of Hackney. It is bordered to the west by Hackney Central, to the north by Lower Clapton, in the east by Hackney Wick, Leyton and by South Hackney to the south.-Origins:...
, in the parish of Hackney
Hackney (parish)
Hackney was a parish in the historic county of Middlesex. The parish church of St John-at-Hackney was built in 1789, replacing the nearby former 16th century parish church dedicated to St Augustine . The original tower of that church was retained to hold the bells until the new church could be...
, close to London, in which they sought to base all their teaching. Building on the work of the existing Independent College, Homerton, the new college became known as the Homerton Academy.
The Academy boasted several members of distinction: although it only ever had between 12 and 20 students at any time, one of its tutors, Henry Mayo, was described by James Boswell
James Boswell
James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck was a lawyer, diarist, and author born in Edinburgh, Scotland; he is best known for the biography he wrote of one of his contemporaries, the English literary figure Samuel Johnson....
as Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
’s "literary anvil"; another was offered a Doctorate of Divinity by Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
. John Pye Smith (1774—1851), one of the best known Nonconformist theologians of his day, taught there.
In 1824 the building itself was added to and partially rebuilt. Not long afterwards, following the liberalisation of access to English universities, the work of the dissenting academies could become mainstream. University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
became the first English university to admit students without a need for conformity to the Established Church), and, in 1840, Homerton Academy in the village of Hackney
London Borough of Hackney
The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough of North/North East London, and forms part of inner London. The local authority is Hackney London Borough Council....
became a college of the new University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
.