College of the Resurrection

The College of the Resurrection, popularly known as Mirfield, is an Anglo-Catholic theological college of the Church of England at Mirfield, West Yorkshire, founded in 1903. The college has close links to the Community of the Resurrection. It trains both men and women for the priesthood.

Daily Life

All resident students are expected to attend Mattins and Evensong every day. On most days the college says Mattins and celebrates Low Mass in the college chapel and joins the Community of the Resurrection to sing Evensong. Saturday is the normal day off each week when there are no obligations. On Sundays, students are expected to join the Community for the Solemn Mass. Later in the morning, final-year students normally go to the local parish church as part of their pastoral formation.

Single students live at the college, married students in nearby houses owned by the college. The married-student houses range in size from two to four bedrooms and none are more than a ten minute walk from the College.

Leeds University

From its beginning, the College has been affiliated with the University of Leeds, so students have the unique experience of two complementary ways of engaging with theology: in the one of the UK's largest universities and alongside a monastic community.

Students take some of their modules in the Department of Theology & Religious Studies, in areas like New Testament studies, the study of religions, including Islam and religion in Africa, systematic theology and the sociology of religion.

Students of the College who are following undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs are also registered with the University of Leeds and therefore have access to all its facilities, including the University Union, libraries and computer center.

The Northern Ordination Course

Another element in the Theology and Pastoral Studies partnership is the Northern Ordination Course, based in Manchester. Much of the NOC's teaching takes place at Mirfield, and there is some co-teaching by tutors from the College and the University.

Programs

• The Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) in Theology & Pastoral Studies

A two-year, full-time programme. Ordination candidates aged 30 or over who do not have a theology degree, and are not qualified to read for a University of Leeds degree, normally enrol for the Diploma, which covers study at Levels 1 and 2 of the BA (Honours) programme.

• BA (Honours) in Theology & Pastoral Studies

Normally three years full-time, but candidates who have a good honours degree in a subject other than Theology, and the equivalent of Level 1 in theological study, may be admitted to the degree at Level 2 and so complete the course in two years.

• Postgraduate Diploma in Theology & Pastoral Studies

Eight months full-time. Candidates who do not satisfy the entry requirements for the MA may enroll for the Diploma, and, subject to satisfactory performance in the first two modules, may transfer to the MA.

• MA in Theology & Pastoral Studies

One year full-time or two years part-time. This is available for ordination candidates and others who have a 2.1 or above in a first degree (BA or equivalent) in Theology/Religious Studies. Humanities, social science or other subjects are considered, where the applicant can show evidence of relevant experience, background or private study in Theology.

• Research degrees: MA by Research, MPhil, PhD

Candidates may apply via the College for a research degree of the University of Leeds, provided that appropriate supervision can be arranged either at the College or in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University.

Ecumenism

The college has had a long relationship with other Christian faiths, accepting students from many denominations outside of the Anglican Communion. Here are some examples:

• A annual scholarship for graduate students of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
• Student exchanges between Resurrection and the Lutheran Theological Institute in Sibiu.
• Helping to found the Romanian Orthodox parish of Saint Macarios the Great, Mirfield, in 2004.
• Accepting students from the Lutheran Church of Sweden.
• Accepting both Roman Catholic and Methodist seminarians.
• Accepting students and priests from the Oriental Orthodox Church.
• Working closely with the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In the early 1990's, a not inconsiderable number of recent former students became Roman Catholics (following the path of a former principal) in response to liberal developments in the C of E.

Teaching Staff

• The Rev. Fr. Peter Allan CR - (Doctrine and Moral Theology)
• Dr. Ken Farrimond - (Church History, Missiology and Pastoral Studies)
• The Rev. Ben Gordon-Taylor - (Liturgy and Ecclesiology)
• The Rev. Hilary Ison - (Practical and Pastoral Theology)
• The Rev. Fr. George Guiver CR - (Liturgy)
• The Revd. Fr. Nicolas Stebbing CR - (New Testament Greek)
• The Revd. Fr. John Gribben CR - (Anglicanism)
• The Revd. Dr. Christopher Burdon - (Hebrew Scriptures) NOC
• The Revd. Mike Gartland - (History of Spirituality)
• Dr. Barbara Spensley - (Biblical and Patristic Studies)

External links

• College Website
• The Community of the Resurrection
• The Mirfield Centre
• MA in Theology and Pastoral Studies
• The Northern Ordination Course