OS grid reference SU8560604812 Country UK Churchmanship High Anglican Founder William Otter Province Province of Canterbury | Location Chichester Denomination Anglican Date founded July 1838 Diocese Diocese of Chichester Archdeaconry Chichester | |
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Dedication St Richard of Chichester Associated people Charles Marriott, William Otter, William Awdry Similar St Stephen's House - O, Westcott House - Cambridge, Chichester College, University of Chichester, Keble College - Oxford | ||
Chichester Theological College (1838–1994) was an Anglican theological college for the Diocese of Chichester in Sussex, England. Its churchmanship was high church and Anglo-Catholic.
Contents
History
The college was founded by William Otter in July 1838, the first such diocesan college in England. Charles Marriott of Oriel College, Oxford, was its first principal and the first donation, of £50, for the college was from W. E. Gladstone.
From 1886, during Josiah Sanders Teulon's time as principal, the college experienced a gradual decline in students. This was exacerbated in 1899 when he resigned but retained his income as a resident canon. At a meeting of the college council, it was resolved to close the college. However, the vice-principal made a successful case for continuing and Herbert Rickard was appointed the new principal.
In 1903, a hostel in West Street, Chichester, was bought for £1000 by the college council, the balance being paid by the principal in memory of his wife. This was refitted and became the college headquarters. This hostel was sold in 1919 and the proceeds went towards the purchase of new headquarters in Westgate, Chichester, for £3500. On 1 May 1919, the college was formally reopened by Bishop Charles Ridgeway (his last episcopal act) and was dedicated to St Richard of Chichester.
During the Second World War the college was forced to move temporarily to Cambridge while its buildings in Chichester were used by the military authorities. At the end of the war, the college buildings were sold, except for Marriott House, which was used to house the reopened college from 21 October 1946.
Closure
After the college's closure in 1994, its theological library was transferred to the University of Chichester. In addition, St Bartholomew's Chapel, which served as the chapel to the theological college, is now the chaplaincy building of Chichester College.