Westminster College, Cambridge

Westminster College, a resource centre for learning serving the United Reformed Church and Conference and Events centre They were formidable biblical scholars.

(* please see footnote below)

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Westminster College - A brief history

Westminster College buildings were completed in 1899 to the design of the architect H T Hare who was commissioned by the Presbyterian Church of England to build a college in Cambridge to replace

their existing one in London. The move to Cambridge was largely at the urging of two remarkable twin sisters, Agnes and Margaret Smith, known now by their married names as Mrs Lewis and Mrs Gibson. In their visits to Cairo and to St Catherine’s monastery in the Sinai they bought various valuable manuscripts, some of which are at the College and others in the Cambridge University Library. Their portraits hang in the College Dining Hall and a research scholarship they founded is still awarded. In 1967 Westminster joined with Cheshunt College, Cambridge. This was a college founded at Trevecka in Wales by the Countess of Huntingdon and a significant component of the English and Welsh Evangelical Revivals. After the Countess’s death in 1792 it moved to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire and then, in 1906 to Cambridge, moving into purpose-built premises in Bateman Street in 1914. The Bateman Street buildings were sold in 1967 and many of the contents moved to Westminster. There are valuable portraits of the Countess of Huntingdon and others and an extensive archive, including material from the United States and manuscript hymns of Charles Wesley, now to be found in Westminster College. In 1972 the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in England and Wales united, although some individual Congregational Churches remained outside the union, and Westminster College was transferred into the ownership of the new United Reformed Church. Subsequently the Re-formed Association of the Churches of Christ joined the United Reformed Church in 1981 and the Congregational Union of Scotland joined in 2000. Westminster College now serves some of the needs of the United Reformed Church for initial and continuing ministerial education and also admits students from other denominations. It is part of the Cambridge Theological Federation, an ecumenical partnership which has over 25 academic staff and over 400 students. The Federation teaches students taking academic awards of Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin University. In Westminster College visitors will normally see the large Dining Hall, whose ceiling incorporates badges from Presbyterian churches around the world and the chapel, added in 1921, which has some fine stained glass windows. The Library and the Senatus Room can be seen by arrangement. The college was named Westminster in honour of the Westminster Catechisms and Confession, the latter being the foundation creed for Presbyterian churches around the world. Original manuscripts from the Westminster Assembly of Divines, including the text of the Confession, are kept in the College. The college is a listed building, Grade II, having been completed to a very high standard. Almost all the original work survives, with modern facilities sympathetically introduced.

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14/08/2026

Remaking After Trauma: The Role of the Church | Faraday Institute for Science and Religion Around 70% of adults have at least one traumatic experience at some point in their lives. For many people around the world, these experiences will be multiple, deep or lasting. In some circumstances, being a Christian can result in an increased risk of trauma. In nearly every setting, Christians hav...

13/08/2026

Some of the new titles for the library at Westminster, and for all the libraries in the

- find out more in the Federation library July newsletter!
https://theofed.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/Library-Newsletter-Latest.pdf

11/08/2026

We'll be opening our doors at Westminster College Friday 11th September as part of 2026.
Come visit us any time 10-4 to see some of the most beautiful rooms at our College, and have a cup of tea and a scone in the dining hall.
And don't forget to check out the full events programme below to find out more about what else you could see!

10/08/2026

Interested in Biblical languages? Come to our January 2027 Language schools!
Taster courses in Koine Greek, Biblical Hebrew and Arabic, beginner's course in Coptic, intermediate courses in Koine Greek, Biblical Hebrew, Syriac, & Christian Arabic texts. https://www.westminster.cam.ac.uk/biblical-languages

07/08/2026

We're super pleased to share new online images of one of our manuscripts, digitised for the amazing Polonksy Greek project at the Cambridge Digital Library!
It's a palimpsest of a C8th Greek prophetologion, under a C10th Arabic text of the Apostolic Constitutions and conciliar works.
More details and all images at
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-WESTMINSTER-COLLEGE-WGL-00009-00002/1

06/08/2026

“O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise him, and magnify him for ever.”

Picture yourself with time to think and pray.
Picture yourself studying theology at Westminster College, Cambridge.
Reflection
As the floodwaters recede, Noah and his sons offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. Smoke rises from earth to heaven, while the rainbow holds the promise of God’s covenant of peace with the whole of creation. Around them, the land begins to burst into new life.

Prayer
Creator God,
open our eyes to the world as your gift:
earth and water, fire and sky,
every creature and every human life.
Teach us to look more closely,
to think more deeply
and to join the praise of all creation.
Amen.

Find out more at:
westminster.cam.ac.uk

06/08/2026

Happy Feast of the Transfiguration! ✨

Today, 6 August, Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, remembering the moment when Jesus was revealed in glory before Peter, James and John on the mountain (Matthew 17:1–9).

As we mark this feast, may we all find moments to pause, reflect, pray, and be renewed in God’s presence.

From everyone at Westminster College, Cambridge, we wish all those celebrating today a peaceful and blessed Feast of the Transfiguration.

Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology
Westcott House
Ridley Hall Cambridge
The Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies - Cambridge

Learn more about life, study, and worship at Westminster College:
🌐 https://www.westminster.cam.ac.uk

05/08/2026

Benedicite
O ye Winds, bless ye the Lord.
O ye Nights and Darkness, bless ye the Lord.
O let the Earth, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him.

Picture yourself with time to think and pray.
Picture yourself studying theology at Westminster College, Cambridge.

Reflection
The New Testament windows in the Westminster College chapel begin with the birth of Jesus. Shepherds, kings and angels gather around the newborn Christ, while the Holy Family rests within the shelter of the stable. In the darkness, the light of the world shines brighter than any star.

Prayer
God of light, meet us in the darkness and awaken us to your presence in the humble Christ child. Give hope to all who wait through the night.
Amen.

Find out more at:
westminster.cam.ac.uk

04/08/2026

In 1922, John Fox published this musical edition of the Shorter Catechism – one of the key formulations of faith for the Presbyterian Church. This version is set to music, to help children learn the 38 questions and their answers more easily 🙂
URC BX9184 A5.F6

23/07/2026

Planning a visit to Cambridge this summer?
We're offering 20% off all rooms during August when you book with us directly.
https://www.westminster.cam.ac.uk/events-2/contact

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Location

Cambridge

Contact the school

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Telephone

+441223330633

Website

http://www.westminster.cam.ac.uk/

Address

Madingley Road
Cambridge
CB30AA