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)

For Weddings please see @Weddings At Westminster
For our Conference and Events please see @Conference & Events at Westminster College

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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11/06/2026

It's been a rainy week in Cambridge, but there are flowers between the showers!

03/06/2026

The URC History Society is hosting a seminar on 'Religion and American Independence: Then and Now' by Prof David Reynolds, on Tuesday 9th June.
All welcome - details below.

02/06/2026

Do join us for an evening celebrating a new book: Fringe Dweller, by Jonny Baker and David Cotterill.
17th June 2026, 5pm - 7pm
Free, but please book online at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/westminstercollegecambridge/2201560

01/06/2026

Rather unusual decoration on the spine of this copy of Heylyn’s History of the Reformation! This is the 1661 edition from the URC History Society Library collections, though the binding is later. URC BR370 .H4

28/05/2026

Westminster College student Micol recently took part in the CWM Europe Youth Initiative in London, exploring the theme of Youth, Migration, Mission and Hospitality.
Reflecting on her second CWM programme focused on migration, Micol shared how deeply the experience shaped her sense of calling:
“This experience has made me realise that working and helping those who have been through a hard life is what God has called me to do.”
The programme gave Micol the opportunity to listen to powerful life stories, engage with people from different cultures and communities, and reflect on how Christian mission can be lived through compassion, welcome and action.
She says the experience has strengthened her passion for working with refugees and people on the margins, deepening her belief that God’s love is shared not only through words, but through practical care, solidarity and service.
As Micol reflected:
“Community is a key part of life and communities need to be full of diversity. We come as one.”
We are proud to see Micol bringing her Westminster formation into conversation with global mission, justice and hospitality.

27/05/2026

New arrivals for the Library at Westminster College!

Our library collections are open to all Cambridge Theological Federation students, and to ministers and members of the URC.
Opening hours and more details on our website at https://www.westminster.cam.ac.uk/library-archives-history/library

22/05/2026

📣 Event Postponed
We're very sorry to announce that due to unforeseen circumstances, our event 'Sisters of Sinai: 100-Year Legacy of Women & Wisdom', originally scheduled for Monday, 22 June 2026, has been postponed.
We look forward to sharing a new date and further updates soon. Thank you for your patience and your continued interest in this special event!

Photos from Westminster College, Cambridge's post

20/05/2026

Our Cambridge Theological Federation librarians, Jane and Tom, are usually at Westminster on Friday mornings. You can find out more about their recent news and work in this month's library newsletter!
https://www.theofed.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/Library-Newsletter-Latest.pdf

18/05/2026

Jonny Baker & David Cotterill will be joining us to talk about their book Fringe Dweller: 40 reflections of encounters with Jesus from people at the fringes of the gospels.
Free, and all welcome!
Weds 17 June, 5.15pm, in person & online
Details & booking at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/westminstercollegecambridge/2201560

14/05/2026

We're pleased to say that Volume 10 of the URC History Society Journal (2017-2022) has now been digitised and is available for free online!
https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/articles_urc-historical-society-01.php

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Location

Cambridge

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Telephone

+441223330633

Website

http://www.westminster.cam.ac.uk/, https://linktr.ee/westminstercollegecambridge

Address

Madingley Road
Cambridge
CB30AA