History and Ethos

The story of Regent's Park College began with the creation of the London Baptist Education Society in 1752, a venture which developed into the Stepney Academy in East London, in 1810. In 1856 it moved six or seven miles across London to Regent's Park, and adopted its current name.

In the nineteenth century the College had a broad mission. From the 17th century until the 1870s students who were not members of Church of England were unable to study at the great seats of learning, and Regent’s offered an opportunity for these students to be equipped for their careers and to broaden their horizons by offering a University-level education in the Arts and Law. It also prepared candidates for the ordained ministry in Baptist churches in Britain and overseas.

Some of the individuals involved in the College’s life at this stage were involved in the founding of University College London, and Regent’s Park College was itself affiliated to the newly-formed University of London as early as 1841. In 1901 it became a Divinity School of the University. In 1927, after concluding that the College could best pursue its mission away from London, and perhaps in either Oxford or Cambridge, probably at the suggestion of Congregationalists at Mansfield College Oxford, the College moved fifty miles to its third site, in St Giles’, Oxford. In 1957 it became a 'Permanent Private Hall' (PPH) of the University of Oxford.

In 2007 the University published a review of all its PPHs, concluding that ‘Regent’s Park College operates competently in all major respects, and that it affords a good and well-resourced academic and pastoral environment for its junior members…’ whose ‘contribution to University life suggests their experience corresponds with those in colleges.’

All men and women admitted to the College to read for degrees at Oxford are matriculated as members of the University and have full access to its resources. The Principal, Tutorial Fellows and Lecturers are teaching members of the University Faculties. The College offers places to read for undergraduate degrees in a wide range of arts subjects, with a specialization in Theology, and Philosophy with Theology, and, increasingly, English. As a college in membership with the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the College continues to prepare men and women for the ordained Baptist ministry – this remains an essential part of Regent's life. However, the College is thoroughly open and ecumenical in outlook, and the College imposes no religious tests on its students and staff other than those preparing for Christian ministry – given its history, that would be rather ironic!

In addition, the community includes sabbatical visitors who may be university and seminary teachers (often from the USA or Eastern Europe), or Christian ministers on study leave; the College elects these to visiting membership of the Senior Common Room during their stay.

Situated centrally to the town and University, the College offers a high standard of accommodation with a neo-classical main quadrangle from this century, several 17th and 18th century houses, and modern flats. The College aims to create a sense of community not only among the students but between them and the members of the Senior Common Room, and students play a full and active role in college governance. Three members of the Junior and Middle Common Rooms are included as full voting members of the Governing Body. Regent's students are active in the wider life of the University, especially in music and drama, and over the years they have played a prominent part in the Oxford University Students Union.

Without imposing any religious tests or obligations on its students who are not preparing for ordained ministry, the college offers opportunities (for those who wish) to develop a Christian mind about the subjects of their study, to share in worship and to create Christian values for society. The College has recently focused this concern in the founding of a Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture, which is concerned to explore the relationship of theology and faith to the arts, the law and social issues. The Centre for Baptist History and Heritage focuses concerns for the Baptist and non-conformist history, and the Angus library is a world-class resource for this study.

There is so much you can get involved with; I'd never rowed before I came to Regent's and now I am on the University team. Lottie Stables, 2nd year Philosophy and Theology student

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