United Theological College Aberystwyth
Encyclopedia
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
, in the county of Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
in mid Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
was the ministerial training college of the Presbyterian Church of Wales
Presbyterian Church of Wales
The Presbyterian Church of Wales , also known as The Calvinistic Methodist Church , is a denomination of Protestant Christianity. It was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival and the preaching of Hywel Harris Howell Harris in the 18th century and seceded from the Church of England in 1811...
and an associate college of the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
. According to the Cardiganshire
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
County History, 'Theol Coll' (as it was affectionately known in the town) opened in Aberystwyth in 1906 on the seafront site of the former Customs House. This in turn was demolished and the Cambrian Hotel built on the site in the late 19th century.
This impressive stone-built hotel was purchased by David Davies Esq. M.P. in 1906 and was presented to the Calvinistic Methodist
Calvinistic Methodists
Calvinistic Methodists are a body of Christians forming the Presbyterian Church of Wales and claiming to be the only denomination of the Presbyterian order in Wales which is of purely Welsh origin.-Early history:...
Connexion as a residential theological college, at a total cost of about £30,000. The professors and students of Trevecca College, in Breconshire, were transferred to the new college in the autumn of 1906. In 1910 there were about 30 students.
Later, because of the falling number of students training for the ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
, the college opened its doors to students wanting to take a Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
degree as an academic subject alone. Degrees offered included Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
(BD) and the Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
(MTh).
Former Principals of the college include Rev Prof Samuel Ifor Enoch
Samuel Ifor Enoch
The Rev. Professor Samuel Ifor Enoch MA , was Professor of New Testament Studies and Principal of the Presbyterian United Theological College Aberystwyth in Wales.-Early life:...
(1963–1979), Rev Prof Rheinallt Nantlais Williams
Rheinallt Nantlais Williams
Reverend Professor Rheinallt Nantlais Williams MBE, MA was a Welsh Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Principal of the Presbyterian United Theological College Aberystwyth in Wales....
(1979-1980) and Rev Prof Dr John Tudno Williams
John Tudno Williams
Rev. Professor Dr. John Tudno Williams was the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales 2006–7.-Early career:John Tudno Williams was born in 1938 in Flint and educated in Liverpool and London. Williams studied Theology at Jesus College, Oxford, graduating in 1960...
(1998–2002). Other lecturers at the college included Prof E G Bowen
Emrys G. Bowen
Professor Emrys George Bowen FRGS, FSA, BA, MA, LLD, DUniv, , was an internationally renowned Geographer with a particular interest in the physical geography and social geography of his native Wales...
and Prof Sir Glanmor Williams
Glanmor Williams
Sir Glanmor Williams was one of Wales's most eminent historians.Sir Glanmor was born in Dowlais, into a working-class family, and was educated at Cyfarthfa Castle School. He studied at Aberystwyth alongside Alun Lewis and Emyr Humphreys, becoming a specialist in the early modern period of Welsh...
, the latter an occasional visiting lecturer.
The United Theological College in Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
closed in 2002, when the Presbyterian Church relocated its ministerial training to Bangor
Bangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
. The college's extensive library, which contained many rare and old theological books, is now mainly held at the University Library in Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
.
Notable staff and alumni
- Prof J. E. Caerwyn WilliamsJ. E. Caerwyn WilliamsJ. E. Caerwyn Williams FBA , was a Welsh scholar. His fields of study included the literatures of the Celtic languages, especially Welsh and Irish literature. He has published books in both English and Welsh.Caerwyn Williams was born in Gwauncaegurwen, Glamorgan in 1912 into a coal-mining family...
formerly Professor of Irish at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and the first Director of the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies - Rev Prof William Richard WilliamsWilliam Richard Williams (theologian)Reverend Professor William Richard Williams was the Principal of the United Theological College Aberystwyth, the first Secretary of the Council of Churches of Wales, and later its President.-Biography:...
Principal 1949-62, and President of the Council of Churches of Wales, and Chairman of the British Committee of the Presbyterian Alliance. - Rev Prof Samuel Ifor EnochSamuel Ifor EnochThe Rev. Professor Samuel Ifor Enoch MA , was Professor of New Testament Studies and Principal of the Presbyterian United Theological College Aberystwyth in Wales.-Early life:...
Principal 1963-1979 - Rev Prof Rheinallt Nantlais WilliamsRheinallt Nantlais WilliamsReverend Professor Rheinallt Nantlais Williams MBE, MA was a Welsh Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Principal of the Presbyterian United Theological College Aberystwyth in Wales....
Principal 1979-1980 - Rev Dr Elfed ap Nefydd Roberts MA DD Principal 1980-1997
- Rev Prof Dr John Tudno WilliamsJohn Tudno WilliamsRev. Professor Dr. John Tudno Williams was the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales 2006–7.-Early career:John Tudno Williams was born in 1938 in Flint and educated in Liverpool and London. Williams studied Theology at Jesus College, Oxford, graduating in 1960...
Principal 1998-2002 - William David DaviesWilliam David DaviesWilliam David Davies, often known as W. D. P. Davies was a Welsh Presbyterian minister and writer on theological topics...
Presbyterian minister and writer on theological topics. - Gwynn ap GwilymGwynn ap GwilymGwynn ap Gwilym is a Welsh language poet, novelist, editor and translator.He was born in Bangor but raised in Machynlleth, in Gwynedd, north-west Wales....
Chaired BardBardIn medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
, and author of several works on Welsh literature and a commentary on DeuteronomyDeuteronomyThe Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
. - Prof E G BowenEmrys G. BowenProfessor Emrys George Bowen FRGS, FSA, BA, MA, LLD, DUniv, , was an internationally renowned Geographer with a particular interest in the physical geography and social geography of his native Wales...
- Prof Sir Glanmor WilliamsGlanmor WilliamsSir Glanmor Williams was one of Wales's most eminent historians.Sir Glanmor was born in Dowlais, into a working-class family, and was educated at Cyfarthfa Castle School. He studied at Aberystwyth alongside Alun Lewis and Emyr Humphreys, becoming a specialist in the early modern period of Welsh...