Tuesday, 03 September 2013 15:13

Heythrop College joins The Cathedrals Group

Media Release from The Cathedrals Group (The Council of Church Colleges and Universities) 

For immediate release 30 August 2013

The Cathedrals Group* is delighted to welcome a new member. Heythrop College, University of London*, joins as a full member of The Cathedrals Group from this academic year. 

The Cathedrals Group of Church-foundation universities today welcomes into full membership Heythrop College, the specialist philosophy and theology college of the University of London. 

With just under one thousand students, Heythrop will be the smallest member institution but as a specialist provider of theology and religious studies, it equates to one of the largest providers in the UK and sits well with the other members. Collectively more than 44% of all UK theology and religious studies students (undergraduates, postgraduates and research students) are at Cathedrals Group institutions.

The Group’s newest member institution will also be its oldest. Other member institutions were founded by the Churches from the nineteenth century onwards for the purpose of training teachers for Church schools. The earliest foundation was that of the University of Chester in 1839. 

Heythrop College will celebrate the 400th anniversary of its foundation by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church) in 2014. In 1971 a Royal Charter established it as a College of the University of London, with a mission ‘to offer its students an education marked by intelligence, scholarship and generosity of spirit’.

Professor Joy Carter, Chair of The Cathedrals Group and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester said: ‘I am delighted that such a distinguished institution as Heythrop College is joining The Cathedrals Group. We share an explicit Christian heritage that underpins a strong commitment to common values. These include developing strong ethical principles in all aspects of higher education, and building communities that embrace and value diversity. Heythrop’s ethos and academic strengths in teaching and research within theology and religious studies complement provision in other Cathedrals Group institutions. We look forward to building on our common strengths and values together.’

 

The Revd Michael Holman SJ, Principal of Heythrop College, said: ‘Joining The Cathedrals Group is an important step for Heythrop as we seek to engage more actively with other institutions with Church-based foundations, in the promotion of theological and philosophical education. The values of our particular, Jesuit tradition complement the collective mission of the wider Group, through our commitment to providing an education which is formative of the whole person and which facilitates understanding, promotes social justice and serves the public good. I look forward very much to our collaboration with The Cathedrals Group in the months and years ahead and believe it will be a mutually beneficial affiliation for staff, students and supporters from across the spectrum of Group members.’

 
 
 
 
Notes to Editor
 
The Cathedrals Group is an association of universities and university colleges with Church foundations, serving more than 100,000 students. This is almost 5 per cent of all UK students, making The Cathedrals Group about the same size as the university sector in Wales. It is the only grouping in the higher education landscape based on ethical principles informed by faith-based values. The Cathedrals Group is a registered charity under its official title, The Council of Church Universities and Colleges.
A principal object of the Cathedrals Group is to contribute to the well-being of society. Member institutions share a strong commitment to values such as social justice, respect for the individual, and promoting the public good through work with communities and third sector organisations. 
Other Cathedral Group members are: Bishop Grosseteste University; Canterbury Christ Church University; University of Chester; University of Chichester; University of Cumbria; University of Gloucestershire; University of St Mark & St John; Leeds Trinity University; Liverpool Hope University; Newman University; Roehampton University; St Mary’s University College, Twickenham; University of Wales Trinity St David; University of Winchester; and York St John University.
Heythrop College is the specialist philosophy and theology college of the University of London. With just under 1,000 students, Heythrop offers a personal learning environment, tailored to the needs of the individual student. In 2014 Heythrop will celebrate the 400th anniversary of its foundation in 1614 by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic Church). In 1971 Heythrop became a college of the University of London, with a mission to offer its students an education marked by intelligence, scholarship and generosity of spirit. Today Heythrop retains a modern Catholic ethos whilst offering an educational experience that respects all faiths and perspectives. In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, Heythrop also provides a resource for faith communities and others through the work of the Centres and Institutes. College staff have a wide range of expertise, with particular strengths in Abrahamic religions, interfaith relations, ethics, philosophy of religion and psychology of religion.
 
Information about The Cathedrals Group can be found on their website at: http://cathedralsgroup.org.uk. 
 
Information about Heythrop College, University of London can be found on the College’s own website at: http://www.heythrop.ac.uk.
 
 
For more information and comment, please contact:
Sue Boorman, General Secretary of The Cathedrals Group
Tel: 01438 814868 
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Amy Fenton, Marketing & Recruitment Manager, Heythrop College
Tel: 020 7795 4244
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
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