History of Regent's Park College, Oxford facts for kids
Regent's Park College is a special part of the University of Oxford. It has a long history, starting way back in 1752 in London. Over the years, it moved locations and grew. Today, it is known as a permanent private hall of the University of Oxford, which means it's a college that is privately run but officially part of the university.
Contents
Starting in London: The Early Years
Regent's Park College began as the London Baptist Education Society in 1752. This group wanted to help people get an education, especially those who were not part of the main Church of England. Back then, only members of the Church of England could get degrees from older universities like Oxford.
In 1810, the society opened the Baptist College, Stepney in East London. It was a special school called a Dissenting Academy. At first, there were only three students, but by 1850, there were 26. The college was in two large houses near Whitechapel Road. Between them was an old tower, believed to be from a royal lodge. This tower is still on the college's crest today!
A famous leader of the college was Dr. Joseph Angus. He became Principal in 1849 when he was only 33 years old. Dr. Angus believed that having different types of students would be good for everyone. So, he started letting a few non-religious students join the college.
Moving to Regent's Park
In 1855, Dr. Angus decided to move the college to a new, greener area. They chose Holford House in Regent's Park, London. The college was then renamed ‘Regent’s Park College’. Here, students could study for university degrees in subjects like Arts and Law, as well as train to become Christian ministers.
Dr. Angus wanted the college to have a very high academic standard. He worked to make stronger connections with the University of London. By 1901, Regent's Park College became an official Divinity School of the University of London. This meant it was recognized for its excellent religious studies.
Later, in 1920, H. Wheeler Robinson became the Principal. He thought that Oxford would be a much better place for the college than London. He liked Oxford's teaching style, where students get one-on-one help from tutors. Also, the Baptist Church was the only major Free Church that didn't have a college in Oxford or Cambridge. So, Wheeler Robinson decided to move the college to Oxford.
The College in Oxford: Its Buildings
In 1926, a perfect spot became available in Oxford. The college bought the land and some buildings on Pusey Street in 1927. The first four students arrived in 1928. For a while, the college used both the London and Oxford sites. Many classes were held at Mansfield College, Oxford, and other colleges.
Between 1935 and 1938, money was raised to build new parts of the college in Oxford. The main building work was finished just before World War II began in 1940. During the war, the college helped out by housing the London School of Slavonic Studies and even acted as a public air raid shelter. Students from Mansfield College also used Regent's Park College while their own buildings were used for the war effort.
Helwys Hall
Helwys Hall is a very impressive room with a high ceiling. It's sometimes called 'Hell Hall' by students! Above the main table, there are symbols representing Baptist beliefs. The hall also has many portraits of past Principals and important figures like William Carey, a missionary to India. The hall was updated in 2009.
The Senior Common Room The Senior Common Room (SCR) is used by the college's teachers and staff. It has a portrait of Dr. George Pearce Gould, a former Principal. There's also a very old portrait of William Kiffin from 1667. The SCR was renovated in 2008.
The Staircase The staircase leading to the library was designed to show the impact of William Carey's life. It has a strong, simple design with flowing floral patterns. Each landing has a large window from the 1930s that looks out over the gardens of St Cross College.
The College Library The College Library is on the third floor, above Helwys Hall. It has many important books on theology, history, geography, and politics. It's a quiet place for students to study.
The library has a unique semi-circular window with sixteen panels. It shows a map of the world with interesting symbols. This window came from the Glasgow Empire Exhibition of 1937. The library also has portraits of William Carey and John Bunyan.
The Collier Room The Collier Room was named after H. H. Collier, who helped the college buy its Oxford site. This room was updated in 2010.
The Craig Knight Room The Craig Knight room is a seminar room where about 16 people can meet. It's named after Craig F. Knight, a former student who has supported the college.
The Angus Library and Archive
The Angus Library and Archive is a special library with many books and documents about Baptist history and culture. Many of these items cannot be found anywhere else in the world! The main part of the collection was given to the college by Dr. Joseph Angus.
Today, the Angus Library has over 70,000 printed books, journals, church records, letters, and other items. They cover Baptist life and history from the late 1400s to today. It also has materials about other groups and issues that Baptists were involved in.
Scholars from all over the world use the Angus Library to research Baptist history, the history of religious dissent in the UK, and the social history of missions. People also use it to research their family history or local communities. Every year, hundreds of requests for information come from outside the University of Oxford, from countries like the US, Australia, China, and India.
The Junior Common Room The Junior Common Room (JCR) is a large room with oak panels. It's decorated with pictures of Regent's sports teams. There are also boards listing all the JCR presidents and students who have received an Oxford Blue (a special award for university sports). Many people think Regent's JCR is one of the best in Oxford!
Other Buildings The college also owns older houses from the 1600s and 1700s that face St. Giles'. There are newer buildings too, like Wheeler Robinson House, Gould House, and Angus House. These are used for student accommodation or for tutors. All the college's accommodation is either on-site or just a short walk away.
College Timeline
- 1938–1940 The main building was constructed. This included 16 student bedrooms, Helwys Hall, the College Library, the Senior Common Room, and part of the building on Pusey Street.
- 1957 Regent's Park College officially became a permanent private hall of the University of Oxford. From this time, the college grew a lot. It started accepting non-ministerial students again. Today, there are about 110 undergraduate students, 50 graduate students, and ministerial students.
- 1958 The east end of the quad and the back of 55 St Giles were rebuilt and updated.
- 1961 The Balding student accommodation block was built.
- 1966–1968 More buildings were added on the South side (Pusey Street), completing the main quad.
- 1977 The Angus student accommodation block was built.
- 1985 Wheeler Robinson House was built on the corner of St Giles and Pusey Street.
- 2008 When another college called Greyfriars closed, its remaining 30 students joined Regent's Park College.
See also
- Regent's Park College, Oxford
- Regent's Park College Boat Club
- Permanent private halls of the University of Oxford
- List of dissenting academies (19th century)
