Wells Theological College
Encyclopedia
Cathedral Close
A cathedral close is an architectural term referring to the series of buildings that serve as appendages to a cathedral. These may include buildings housing diocesan offices, schools, free-standing chapels associated with the cathedral, and the houses of the bishop and other clergy associated with...
of Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
. In 1971 it merged with Salisbury Theological College, the students moved to Salisbury, and the new institution became known as the Salisbury & Wells Theological College, now Sarum College
Sarum College
Sarum College is an ecumenical Christian institution in Salisbury, England. The College was established in 1995, and occupies the buildings formerly home to the Salisbury and Wells Theological College...
.
The official year-book of the Church of England, 1885, indicates the daily routine of instruction and pastoral training provided for candidates for Holy Orders:
WELLS THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE.—This College was founded in 1840.
Course of Study. One year for graduates, two for non-graduates. The general course of study consists of Holy Scriptures, Book of Common Prayer, the Articles; Ecclesiastical History: Hooker, Pearson, Butler; Hebrew (for which a prize is given annually by the Bishop) ; and some of the Greek and Latin Church writers form the subject of private lectures. Lectures on Pastoral Theology, and assistance is given to all entering for the Oxford and Cambridge Preliminary Examination for candidates for Holy Orders.
Chapel Services in addition to those which the students attend in the Cathedral. Matins and Sext, daily; Evensong, Wednesdays and on Fridays with an address; Holy Communion on Saints' days, besides special services on special occasions, e.g. Embertide, Holy Week, etc.
Parochial Work. The students have opportunities for teaching, visiting, and giving addresses at mission services.
Accommodation. The numbers are limited to thirty.
Edgar C. S. GibsonEdgar Charles Sumner GibsonEdgar Charles Sumner Gibson was the 31st Bishop of Gloucester . He was born into a clerical family and educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Oxford . Ordained in 1872, his first post was as Chaplain at Wells Theological College, rising to Vice Principal in 1875...
, M.А., Principal
Buildings
The former library of the college dates to the 15th century and was purchased by the college in 1896. It is now a Grade II* Listed Building and is the Music School and Concert Hall of the Wells Cathedral SchoolWells Cathedral School
Wells Cathedral School is a co-educational independent school located in Wells, Somerset, England. The school is one of the five established musical schools for school-age children in the United Kingdom, along with Chetham's School of Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Purcell School and St....
.
Notable alumni
- Henry CampbellHenry CampbellHenry Colville Montgomery Campbell MC KCVO PC was a Church of England clergyman and Bishop of London from 1956–1961.-Early life and career:...
- Douglas Russell FeaverDouglas Russell FeaverDouglas Russell Feaver was a bishop in the Church of England who was known for his rudeness and for not always saying the right thing.-External links:*...
- Noel Debroy JonesNoel Debroy JonesNoel Debroy Jones CB was an Anglican bishop. He was the Bishop of Sodor and Man in the Church of England.Jones was born in Wales and educated at St David's College, Lampeter. He studied for ordination at Wells Theological College and then held curacies at St James' Tredegar and St Mark's...
- Walter Kenrick Knight-AdkinWalter Kenrick Knight-AdkinThe Very Rev Walter Kenrick Knight-Adkin CB OBE was an eminent Anglican Priest in the first half of the 20th Century....
- Alfred Merle NormanAlfred Merle NormanAlfred Merle Norman was an English clergyman and naturalist.-Early life:Norman was born in Exeter, England in 1831. His father was a landowner, surgeon and Deputy-Lieutenant of Somerset. He studied the molluscs and plants of Somerset at young age. He studied at Winchester College from 1844 to 1848...
- Ronald Ragsdale SargisonRonald Ragsdale SargisonThe Very Reverend Ronald Ragsdale Sargison AKC was the Dean of St George's Cathedral, Georgetown, Guyana from 1957 to 1961. Born in 1910 he was ordained in 1932 after a period of study at Wells Theological College and began his career with curacies at St. Catharine's Church, Nottingham, and St....
- John Stevens WallerJohn Stevens WallerJohn Stevens Waller was the seventh Suffragan Bishop of Stafford. Born on 18 April 1924 and educated at St. Edward's School, Oxford he served during World War II with the RNVR. When peace came he studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge and Wells Theological College before being ordained priest in 1951...
Notable staff
- Edgar Charles Sumner GibsonEdgar Charles Sumner GibsonEdgar Charles Sumner Gibson was the 31st Bishop of Gloucester . He was born into a clerical family and educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Oxford . Ordained in 1872, his first post was as Chaplain at Wells Theological College, rising to Vice Principal in 1875...
– chaplain, then vice-principal - Christopher HollisChristopher HollisMaurice Christopher Hollis, known as Christopher Hollis was a British schoolmaster, university teacher, author and Conservative politician.-Life:...
– vice principal - George Arthur HollisGeorge Arthur HollisGeorge Arthur Hollis was Bishop of Taunton from 1931 to 1945. Born on 17 April 1868 he was educated at Keble College, Oxford and ordained in 1894. He began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy at St James Wednesbury followed by a spell as Perpetual Curate of St Bartholomew Armley...
– principal - Gordon MursellGordon MursellAlfred Gordon Mursell is a former suffragan Bishop of Stafford in the Church of England.Mursell was born on 4 May 1949 and educated at Ardingly College and Brasenose College, Oxford...
– tutor - Richard Godfrey ParsonsRichard Godfrey ParsonsRichard Godfrey Parsons was an Anglican Bishop who served in three Dioceses during the first half of the 20th century. A renowned liberal scholar,he was born into a Lancashire family on 12 November 1882 and educated at Durham School and Magdalen College, Oxford. Ordained priest in 1907 he was a...
– principal, 1911–1916 - John Alexander RamsbothamJohn Alexander RamsbothamJohn Alexander Ramsbotham was an eminent Anglican clergyman during the middle third of the 20th century. Educated at Haileybury and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, he was ordained in 1930. His first post was as a Curate at All Hallows Lombard Street, after which he became a Chaplain to the...
– vice principal - Charles WilliamsCharles Williams (priest)Charles Stephen Conway Williams was a Welsh Anglican priest and university lecturer.-Life:Williams was educated at Clifton College and Jesus College, Oxford, where he held a Meyricke exhibition open to Welsh students. He obtained a first-class degree in theology and won the Junior Greek Testament...
– chaplain
Further reading
- The history of Wells Theological College, by Edward Leighton Elwes, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1923. 116 pages.