St Edmund's College, Cambridge
Encyclopedia
Saint Edmund's College is a constituent college
of the University of Cambridge
. It is the second oldest of the four Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, which only accept students reading for either Masters
or Doctorate
degrees, or undergraduate degrees if they are aged 21 or older, the oldest being Hughes Hall
, and the others being Wolfson College
and Lucy Cavendish College
(additionally, Darwin College
and Clare Hall
cater to graduate students only). Over three-quarters of St Edmund's students are studying towards higher degrees, usually the PhD
, MPhil or LLM degrees. The college is named after St Edmund of Abingdon
(1175–1240) who was the first known Oxford Master of Arts, and Archbishop of Canterbury
1234–1240.
The college, affectionately referred to as Eddie's, is located about 15 minutes' walk northwest of the centre of Cambridge
, near Lucy Cavendish and the other hill colleges. Its campus is a garden setting on the edge of Roman Cambridge, with housing for over 300 students.
, and Baron Anatole von Hügel
as an institution catering for Roman Catholic students at the University of Cambridge. After Catholic Emancipation
, in particular after the repeal of Test Acts in 1873, students who were Roman Catholics were finally admitted as members of the University. In its early days the college functioned predominantly as a lodging house, or residential hall of residence, for students who were matriculated at other colleges. Most of the students, at that time, were ordained Catholic priests who were reading various subjects offered by the University.
Attempts to make St Edmund's House into a fully-fledged constituent college were made at various times after foundation, but were met by continuing hostility by the predominantly Protestant body of Cambridge MAs, graduates of the University who had the right to vote in the Senate House
. These occasions often involved masses of MAs (who otherwise had only a tenuous connection with the University) congregating to Cambridge to scupper any attempt to uphold what they believed was a "papist" institution. One of the insider jokes, referring to an unsuccessful attempt by St Edmund's to get official recognition from the University, ran as follows: Two Cambridge MAs meet on a train. One of them asks: "Where are you going?" Answers the other: "I'm going to bury St Edmund's!"
Meanwhile, the development of the college continued. The Chapel was consecrated in 1916. A new dining hall was constructed in 1939. The membership of the college increased steadily. The college was now a recognized "House of Residence" in the University.
In 1950 the University decided to establish several colleges catering primarily to postgraduate students. St Edmund's House was accepted as one of the graduate colleges in the University, although today it also admits mature and affiliated undergraduates. The college was finally permitted to matriculate its own students, and new Fellows were elected. In 1975 it acquired the status of "Approved Foundation", in 1986 the name was changed from "St Edmund's House" to "St Edmund's College", and in 1996 it finally received full Collegiate status. The College was granted its Royal Charter
in 1998. The college now accepts students of all faiths and none; the Catholic character of the foundation is, however, still reflected in the Chapel, which is unique amongst all Colleges of the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford
in following the historic Roman Catholic
tradition.
The College continues to grow. In 2000 a new block of residential buildings housing 50 students was opened, named after Richard Laws, one of the former masters. In 2006, two new residential buildings, including rooms for 70 students as well as accommodation for married couples, were opened; these were named after the then Master of the College Sir Brian Heap and the Vice-Master Geoffrey Cook. These are among the most attractive student residences in Cambridge.
The college boasts two research institutes: the Von Hügel Institute
founded in 1987 to carry out research on Catholic Social Teaching
; and the Faraday Institute
which explores the relationship between religion and science. The Von Hügel Institute is another link with the Roman Catholic origins of the college.
The college is less formal than many of the older, more traditional colleges of the university. Although Fellows at most colleges dine at a 'High Table' (separately from the students), St Edmund's has no such division, and undergraduates, postgraduates and Fellows mix over dinner and other social activities.
The College has a sporting tradition, and a Boat Club. In recent years members have competed in varsity teams representing Cambridge University in a wide variety of sports, most notably, at The Boat Race
and The Varsity Match
.
, the Big Bang
theorist, was a former graduate student 1923-24 at the college, supervised by Sir Arthur Eddington.
Sir Martin Evans
, Laureate of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
, is a former Fellow of the College and is now an Honorary Fellow.
Professor Amartya Sen
, laureate of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economics, is an Honorary Fellow.
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
, the Chancellor of Cambridge University (1977-), is an Honorary Fellow. He officially opened three new college buildings on Monday 8 October 2007.
Professor Sir (Robert) Brian Heap
CBE
FRS
is a biologist
who was the Master
of the College from 1996 until 2004. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1989, and held the post of Royal Society Vice President and Foreign Secretary from 1996 to 2001.
Joaquín Almunia
, Spanish politician and member of the European Commission
responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs.
Archbishop Peter Smith
, Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark (London) is an Honorary Fellow.
Colleges of the University of Cambridge
This is a list of the colleges within the University of Cambridge. These colleges are the primary source of accommodation for undergraduates and graduates at the University and at the undergraduate level have responsibility for admitting students and organising their tuition. They also provide...
of the University of 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...
. It is the second oldest of the four Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, which only accept students reading for either Masters
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
or Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degrees, or undergraduate degrees if they are aged 21 or older, the oldest being Hughes Hall
Hughes Hall, Cambridge
Hughes Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. It is often informally called Hughes, and is the oldest of the four Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students...
, and the others being Wolfson College
Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate...
and Lucy Cavendish College
Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge
Lucy Cavendish College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is a women-only college, which admits only postgraduates and undergraduates aged 21 or over....
(additionally, Darwin College
Darwin College, Cambridge
Darwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin...
and Clare Hall
Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students.Informality is a defining value at Clare Hall and this contributes to its unique character...
cater to graduate students only). Over three-quarters of St Edmund's students are studying towards higher degrees, usually the PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, MPhil or LLM degrees. The college is named after St Edmund of Abingdon
Edmund Rich
Edmund Rich was a 13th century Archbishop of Canterbury in England...
(1175–1240) who was the first known Oxford Master of Arts, and Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
1234–1240.
The college, affectionately referred to as Eddie's, is located about 15 minutes' walk northwest of the centre of Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, near Lucy Cavendish and the other hill colleges. Its campus is a garden setting on the edge of Roman Cambridge, with housing for over 300 students.
History and Buildings
St Edmund's House was founded in 1896 by Henry Fitzalan Howard, the 15th Duke of NorfolkHenry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk
Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, , styled Baron Maltravers until 1856 and Earl of Arundel and Surrey between 1856 and 1860, was a British Unionist politician and philanthropist...
, and Baron Anatole von Hügel
Anatole von Hügel
Anatole von Hügel was the second son of the Austrian nobleman Charles von Hügel and his Scottish wife Elizabeth Farquharson. His elder brother was Friedrich von Hügel....
as an institution catering for Roman Catholic students at the University of Cambridge. After Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
, in particular after the repeal of Test Acts in 1873, students who were Roman Catholics were finally admitted as members of the University. In its early days the college functioned predominantly as a lodging house, or residential hall of residence, for students who were matriculated at other colleges. Most of the students, at that time, were ordained Catholic priests who were reading various subjects offered by the University.
Attempts to make St Edmund's House into a fully-fledged constituent college were made at various times after foundation, but were met by continuing hostility by the predominantly Protestant body of Cambridge MAs, graduates of the University who had the right to vote in the Senate House
Senate House (University of Cambridge)
The Senate House of the University of Cambridge is now used mainly for degree ceremonies. It was formerly also used for meetings of the Council of the Senate...
. These occasions often involved masses of MAs (who otherwise had only a tenuous connection with the University) congregating to Cambridge to scupper any attempt to uphold what they believed was a "papist" institution. One of the insider jokes, referring to an unsuccessful attempt by St Edmund's to get official recognition from the University, ran as follows: Two Cambridge MAs meet on a train. One of them asks: "Where are you going?" Answers the other: "I'm going to bury St Edmund's!"
Meanwhile, the development of the college continued. The Chapel was consecrated in 1916. A new dining hall was constructed in 1939. The membership of the college increased steadily. The college was now a recognized "House of Residence" in the University.
In 1950 the University decided to establish several colleges catering primarily to postgraduate students. St Edmund's House was accepted as one of the graduate colleges in the University, although today it also admits mature and affiliated undergraduates. The college was finally permitted to matriculate its own students, and new Fellows were elected. In 1975 it acquired the status of "Approved Foundation", in 1986 the name was changed from "St Edmund's House" to "St Edmund's College", and in 1996 it finally received full Collegiate status. The College was granted its Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
in 1998. The college now accepts students of all faiths and none; the Catholic character of the foundation is, however, still reflected in the Chapel, which is unique amongst all Colleges of the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in following the historic Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
tradition.
The College continues to grow. In 2000 a new block of residential buildings housing 50 students was opened, named after Richard Laws, one of the former masters. In 2006, two new residential buildings, including rooms for 70 students as well as accommodation for married couples, were opened; these were named after the then Master of the College Sir Brian Heap and the Vice-Master Geoffrey Cook. These are among the most attractive student residences in Cambridge.
Character and Features
St Edmund's is among the most international colleges of the university, with students from over 70 countries (2008-2009 academic year). The full spectrum of academic subjects is represented in the college. The Fellowship of the college (academic staff) represents many academic disciplines, spread across arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, medicine, and veterinary medicine.The college boasts two research institutes: the Von Hügel Institute
Von Hügel Institute
Von Hügel Institute isan academic research institute based at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge. It is a Catholic institute, dedicated to the study of the relationship between Christianity and society...
founded in 1987 to carry out research on Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic social teaching
Catholic social teaching is a body of doctrine developed by the Catholic Church on matters of poverty and wealth, economics, social organization and the role of the state...
; and the Faraday Institute
Faraday Institute
The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion is an interdisciplinary academic research institute based at St Edmund's College, Cambridge, England...
which explores the relationship between religion and science. The Von Hügel Institute is another link with the Roman Catholic origins of the college.
The college is less formal than many of the older, more traditional colleges of the university. Although Fellows at most colleges dine at a 'High Table' (separately from the students), St Edmund's has no such division, and undergraduates, postgraduates and Fellows mix over dinner and other social activities.
The College has a sporting tradition, and a Boat Club. In recent years members have competed in varsity teams representing Cambridge University in a wide variety of sports, most notably, at The Boat Race
The Boat Race
The event generally known as "The Boat Race" is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights each spring on the River Thames in London. It takes place generally on the last Saturday of March or the first...
and The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match
The Varsity Match is an annual rugby union fixture played between the universities of Oxford and Cambridge in England. By tradition, the match is held on the second Tuesday of December. In 2005, however, this changed, and the match was on Tuesday 6 December. In 2007, it was held on a Thursday for...
.
Distinguished members
The cosmologist Georges LemaîtreGeorges Lemaître
Monsignor Georges Henri Joseph Édouard Lemaître was a Belgian priest, astronomer and professor of physics at the Catholic University of Louvain. He was the first person to propose the theory of the expansion of the Universe, widely misattributed to Edwin Hubble...
, the Big Bang
Big Bang
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the early development of the Universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the Universe was once in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion caused the young Universe to cool and resulted in...
theorist, was a former graduate student 1923-24 at the college, supervised by Sir Arthur Eddington.
Sir Martin Evans
Martin Evans
Sir Martin John Evans FRS is a British scientist who, with Matthew Kaufman, was the first to culture mice embryonic stem cells and cultivate them in a laboratory in 1981...
, Laureate of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
, is a former Fellow of the College and is now an Honorary Fellow.
Professor Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen
Amartya Sen, CH is an Indian economist who was awarded the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to welfare economics and social choice theory, and for his interest in the problems of society's poorest members...
, laureate of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Economics, is an Honorary Fellow.
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
, the Chancellor of Cambridge University (1977-), is an Honorary Fellow. He officially opened three new college buildings on Monday 8 October 2007.
Professor Sir (Robert) Brian Heap
Brian Heap
Professor Sir Brian Heap CBE FRS is a biologist.He was born on 27 Feb. 1935 and educated at New Mills Grammar School and the University of Nottingham . He also has an MA and a DSc from Cambridge and Honorary DScs from Nottingham , York and St Andrews .-Career:* 1960 University Demonstrator,...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
FRS
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
is a biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
who was the Master
Master (form of address)
Master is an archaic masculine title or form of address in English.- In English and Welsh society :Master was used in England for men of some rank, especially "free masters" of a trade guild and by any manual worker or servant employee to his employer , but also generally by those lower in status...
of the College from 1996 until 2004. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1989, and held the post of Royal Society Vice President and Foreign Secretary from 1996 to 2001.
Joaquín Almunia
Joaquín Almunia
Joaquín Almunia Amann is a Spanish politician and prominent member of the European Commission, currently responsible for Competition under the second mandate of President Barroso. He was previously responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs in Barroso's previous mandate...
, Spanish politician and member of the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
responsible for Economic and Monetary Affairs.
Archbishop Peter Smith
Peter Smith
- Arts and entertainment :*Peter Smith *Peter Smith , contemporary British painter*Peter C. Smith , author of aeronautical, naval and military history books*Peter James Smith , American actor...
, Metropolitan Archbishop of Southwark (London) is an Honorary Fellow.