Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge

Faculty of divinity
Faculty of Divinity building
Faculty of divinity building on the Sidgwick site
TypeDivinity
Established
  • Mid 13th century (original teaching)
  • 6 December 1854 (current)
Parent institution
University of Cambridge
Location
Cambridge
,
England

52°12′07″N 0°06′29″E / 52.2019°N 0.1080°E / 52.2019; 0.1080
Websitewww.divinity.cam.ac.uk

The faculty of divinity is the divinity school of the University of Cambridge. It is based at university's Sidgwick site, which also houses the faculty library. Theology or divinity was taught at the university from shortly after its founding in the 13th century but atrophied in the 17th and 18th centuries. The current faculty was established in the mid 19th century when teaching of theology was restarted.

History

Old Divinity School, St John's College

Teaching of divinity was established at the University of Cambridge by the mid 13th century.[1] The first professorship instituted at the university, the Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, was dedicated to the subject, in 1502. Similarly, the next professorships to be established at the university – the Regius chairs, of 1540 – included the Regius Professor of Divinity.

Following the Reformation, college teaching grew in importance and although professorial teaching continued through the mid-17th century it was essentially replaced by college lecturers and tutorials – which concentrated on the undergraduate arts curriculum – in the 18th century.[2] By the time Charles Simeon became vicar of Holy Trinity in 1782, there was no official teaching of theology at the university. He introduced "conversation parties" discussing spiritual subjects and gave courses on sermon composition.[3]

In the 1820s, Christopher Wordsworth proposed the introduction of honours exams in classics and theology, but only the exam classics was instituted. This was followed in 1841 by George Peacock proposing the establishment of professional courses in the classical higher facilities of law, medicine and theology in his Observations on the Statutes of the University of Cambridge. In 1842 a voluntary post-BA examination in theology was introduced, which became required for ordination by most bishops. No teaching was provided until 1848, when candidates were required to attend one term of divinity lectures.[3][4] Although recommended by the royal commission of 1852, honours examinations in theology were not held until 1874,[3] replacing the voluntary examination that was last held in 1873.[5] Divinity degrees were opened to non-Anglicans in 1914, occasioning debate in the House of Lords.[6][7]

Following the recommendations of the royal commission, the board of theological studies was formally created by a grace of 6 December 1854. This was reorganised in 1861 under the 1860 statute for the appointment of boards of studies.[8] Following the commission of 1877, the statutes of 1882 transformed this into the special board of studies for divinity.[3][9] Following another royal commission and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge Act 1923, this became the faculty of divinity in 1926.[10]

Beginning in 1879, the school of divinity was housed in the Selwyn Divinity School, constructed by Basil Champneys. Now known as the Old Divinity School, the building belongs to St John's College.[11] Since 2001, the faculty has been situated on the university's Sidgwick site,[12] in the west of the city.[13]

Academic profile

Courses

The faculty offers an undergraduate degree in theology, religion and philosophy of religion,[14] as well as a taught master's degree[15] and PhDs.[16] The faculty also offers a Bachelor of Theology for ordinands in partnership with the Cambridge Theological Federation.[17]

Professorships

The established chairs in the faculty of divinity include the Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity (1502), the Regius Professor of Divinity (1540), and the Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity (1934, from the Norrisian Professor (1780) and the Hulsean Professor (1860)). The Ely Professor of Divinity was established in 1889 and lapsed in 1980.[18]

Reputation and rankings

Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2027)[19]3
Guardian (2026)[20]3
Global rankings
QS (2027)[21]7

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Cambridge was ranked seventh globally for theology, divinity and religious studies.[22] Nationally, the faculty was ranked third by the Complete University Guide 2027[23] and by The Guardian University Guide 2026.[24]

Notable senior members

The following are notable past and present senior members of the faculty of divinity.

Past

Present

Current notable staff include:[25]

References

  1. ↑ "A brief history of theology at Cambridge". Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. Archived from the original on 7 April 2009.
  2. ↑ Peter A. Vandermeersch (1996). "Teaching". In Hilde de Ridder-Symoens (ed.). A History of the University in Europe. Vol. 2 Universities in early modern europe (1500-1800). Cambridge University Press. p. 212. So in Oxford and Cambridge the system of teaching provided by halls and colleges, and the tutorial system, were well established in the period 1450–1550. The tutorial system became even more important in the period 1550-1650. Yet one must not forget that the public teaching of the university survived at least until the middle of the seventeenth century, and it was only in the eighteenth century that the university's teaching atrophied, leaving a near-monopoly to the colleges and tutors.
  3. 1 2 3 4 J P C Roach, ed. (1959). "The University of Cambridge: The age of reforms (1800-82)". A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely. Vol. 3, the City and University of Cambridge. London: Victoria County History. pp. 235–265 – via British History Online.
  4. ↑ Matthew Andrews (2018). Universities in the Age of Reform. Springer. pp. 157–158.
  5. ↑ "List of successful candidates in the Voluntary Theological Examination, 1843 - 1873". Cambridge University Library. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "The Month" (PDF). The Churchman. January 2014. pp. 3–4.
  7. ↑ "Cambridge divinity degrees". Hansard. 22 April 1914.
  8. ↑ "Boards of Studies". The Cambridge University Calendar. University of Cambridge. 1862. p. 10.
  9. ↑ Tillyard, Alfred Isaac (1913). A history of university reform from 1800 A. D. to the present time. Cambridge: W. Heffer and Sons Ltd. p. 230.
  10. ↑ J P C Roach, ed. (1959). "The University of Cambridge: The modern university (1882-1939)". A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely. Vol. 3, the City and University of Cambridge. London: Victoria County History. pp. 266–306 – via British History Online.
  11. ↑ "The Divinity School, Cambridge, by Basil Champneys". Victorian Web.
  12. ↑ Official Map:Sidgwick Site, University of Cambridge.
  13. ↑ plaque, Faculty of Divinity building
  14. ↑ "BA in Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion". Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "MPhil in Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion". Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "PhD in Theology and Religious Studies". Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Bachelor of Theology for Ministry". Cambridge Theological Federation. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Professorships". Cambridge University Library. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Complete University Guide 2027". The Complete University Guide. 3 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Guardian University Guide 2026". The Guardian. 13 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2027". Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd. 18 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "QS World University Rankings® 2019". QS Top Universities. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Theology & religious studies". The Complete University Guide.
  24. ↑ "Best UK universities for theology and religious studies – league table". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
  25. ↑ Staff, Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge.
  26. ↑ Awakin.org. "Conversation with Krish Raval | Awakin Call". www.awakin.org. Retrieved 25 February 2025.

Bibliography

David M. Thompson, Cambridge Theology in the Nineteenth Century: Enquiry, Controversy and Truth (London: Ashgate, 2008).

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