Aspects of the role of the residential theological college in the initial education and training of the clergy of the church of England

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article challenges a simple view of the role of the residential college, in this case the professional training colleges for Anglican priesthood. After a brief explanation of how Anglican priests are selected and trained through a system which is both traditional and personal and at the same time bureaucratic and organisational, the authors examined secondary works, the literature produced by the college to describe themselves and a pilot-study of a small group of final year students was undertaken. Following a brief explanation of how students progress through selection and training, the colleges are examined according to the academic dimension, the practical dimension and the spiritual dimension of training. Special attention is paid to the residential context and the career of the student priest as revealed in the literature and in the survey. Conclusions are drawn to give a new perspective on professional preparation, suggesting that issues such as the relation of knowledge to practice, t...