College of the Resurrection


The College of the Resurrection, popularly known as Mirfield, is an Anglo-Catholic theological college of the Church of England in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England.
The college was founded in 1903 and describes itself as, "A Theological College like no other". The college has close links to the Community of the Resurrection. It trains men and women, from the full range of Anglican churchmanship, for the priesthood.

Daily life

All resident students are expected to attend Matins and Evensong six days a week. On most days the college says Matins and celebrates Low Mass in the college chapel and joins the Community of the Resurrection to sing Evensong. Saturday is the normal day off each week when there are no obligations. On Sundays, students are expected to join the community for Matins and the Solemn Mass. Later in the morning, students normally go to a local parish church as part of their pastoral formation.
Single students live at the college, married students in nearby houses owned by the college. The married-student houses range in size from two to four bedrooms and none are more than a ten-minute walk from the college.

University of Sheffield

The college, along with the YMC, began a new relationship with the University of Sheffield in 2010. This partnership with the university's Department of Biblical Studies means that students are now able to take University of Sheffield BA degrees in theological studies as part of their preparation for ordained ministry. A range of MA degrees are also on offer to any student, ordained or lay, in theology and ministry and also drawing on specialisms in biblical studies and the study of liturgy. Students on any of these courses are full students of the University of Sheffield and therefore have access to all its facilities, including the Students' Union, libraries and computer centres.

Yorkshire Ministry Course

The Yorkshire Ministry Course was established in 1970 as the North West Ordination Course. It was renamed in 1980 as the Northern Ordination Course. It took students from the dioceses of Chester, Blackburn, Liverpool and Manchester. It opened dialogue with the College of the Resurrection in 1996, establishing an Eastern arm in Yorkshire at the College of the Resurrection.
In 2008 as a result of the reconfiguration subsequent to the Hind Report, the Northern Ordination Course separated from its Manchester base remaining established at Mirfield. It is now the Yorkshire Ministry Course and is located on the Mirfield site along with the college, centre and community. It now mainly serves the Dioceses of Leeds, of Sheffield and of York.

Programmes

The following programmes are offered in partnership with the University of Sheffield:
Normally three years full-time, but candidates who have a good honours degree in a subject other than theology, or the equivalent of Level 1 in theological study, may be admitted to the degree at Level 2 and so complete the course in two years.
One year full-time, two years part-time or three and a half years on a professional development pathway. This is available for ordination candidates and others who have a 2.1 or above in a first degree in theology/religious studies. Humanities, social science or other subjects are considered, where the applicant can show evidence of relevant experience, background or private study in theology.
One year full-time, two years part-time or three and a half years on a professional development pathway. This programme allows students to draw on the expertise of the Department of Biblical Studies at Sheffield, while following a programme of study that maintains a focus on the practice of ministry.
One year full-time, two years part-time or three and a half years on a professional development pathway. This programme allows students to focus their studies on liturgy, while still offering the opportunity to draw from other areas of theology and biblical studies.
Candidates may apply via the college for a research degree of the University of Sheffield, provided that appropriate supervision can be arranged either at the college or in the Department of Biblical Studies at the university.

Ecumenism

The college has had a long relationship with other Christian traditions, accepting students from many denominations outside of the Anglican Communion. Here are some examples:
In the early 1990s, a substantial number of recent former students became Roman Catholics in response to liberal developments in the Church of England.

Teaching staff

PeriodPrincipalNotes
1902−1908The Reverend Fr Caleb Ritson CR
1908−1922The Reverend Fr Bernard Horner CR
1922–1928The Reverend Fr Timothy Rees CRAppointed Bishop of Llandaff in 1931
1928–1933The Reverend Fr Wilfrid Shelly CR
1933–1940The Reverend Fr Thomas Haney CR
1940–1947The Reverend Fr Joseph Barker CR
1947−1949The Reverend Fr Douglas Edwards CR
1949–1955The Reverend Fr Andrew Blair CR
1956–66The Reverend Fr Hugh Bishop CR
1966–1975The Reverend Fr William Wheeldon CRLeft the Community of the Resurrection in 1976 to return to parish ministry
1975–1984The Reverend Fr Benedict Green CR
1984–1990The Reverend Fr Denys Lloyd CRLeft the Community of the Resurrection in 1990 to join the Roman Catholic Church
1990–1997The Reverend David LaneAn Anglican priest who was an oblate, rather than a professed member, of the Community of the Resurrection
1998–2007The Reverend Christopher IrvineNot a member of the Community of the Resurrection; now Canon Librarian of Canterbury Cathedral
2008–2011The Reverend Joseph KennedyNot a member of the Community of the Resurrection; now Vicar of St Saviour's Church, Oxton
2011–2019The Reverend Fr Peter Allan CRRetired at the end of the 2018/2019 academic year
2019 onwardsThe Right Reverend Mark SowerbyPrincipal-designate; not a member of the Community of the Resurrection

Notable alumni