History
There has been a theological college in Cuddesdon for over 150 years. In 1854 Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, opened a college for graduates adjacent to his Palace grounds. Cuddesdon College soon developed into the most famous of all the Church of England theological colleges, attracting students from across the country, many of whom went on to serve the church in the highest offices in England and across the Anglican Communion. Many famous people have been associated with Cuddesdon including Henry Liddon, the first Vice-Principal, who became Canon of St Paul's and biographer of Dr Pusey, and Edward King, Principal and later Bishop of Lincoln. Cosmo Gordon Lang and Michael Ramsey were both students who went on to become Archbishop of Canterbury. Archbishop Robert Runcie was principal through the 1960s.
In 1975 Cuddesdon College merged with Ripon Hall, which had been established at the beginning of the twentieth century, originally at Ripon, and later in Oxford, and which focused on offering ordinands advanced theological study, often through Oxford University. Cuddesdon's distinctive spiritual ethos, with its focus on the discipline of daily prayer and spiriual formation, was brought together with this more academic tradition to create Ripon College Cuddesdon.
In 2006, Ripon College Cuddesdon incorporated The Oxford Ministry Course with its long tradition of excellent non-residential training for students from across the traditions represented in the Diocese of Oxford and beyond.
Almost uniquely among theological colleges, Ripon College Cuddesdon attracts students from across the whole spectrum of the Church of England who seek the stability of the daily office and the noble simplicity of liturgical worship. It has been a place where the ministry of women has been deeply appreciated and today women make up about half the residential student body. It is a place where people seek to learn from one another in an environment of open theological exploration undergirded by the life of prayer. With its many new developments in research and teaching, the College continues to be at the forefront of theological education today, responding to the changing needs of the church and the world.
The College lies just seven miles south-east of Oxford city centre just off the main London road. We value our close links with the University of Oxford and have the right of matriculation. Most students follow an Oxford University course with full access to their impressive facilities including the Theology Faculty and Bodleian Libraries. Others take courses validated by Oxford Brookes University. Students have the advantage of living close to a lively city, whilst also benefiting from the College’s tranquil location which gives them the ample space to devote themselves to study, reflection and personal formation.
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