Ridley College (University of Melbourne)

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Ridley College is an evangelical theological college of the Anglican Church of Australia which is affiliated with the Australian College of Theology and the University of Melbourne. It is situated in Parkville, an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria.

Ridley is located near the centre of Melbourne, close to the University of Melbourne and the Joint Theological Library, and next to the Church Missionary Society's Federal Training College (St Andrew's Hall). The campus itself contains a mixture of buildings: some dormitories specifically for the residential college and others are classrooms set aside for theological students.

The College, prior to 2005 was a residential college for students attending Melbourne University.

Contents 1 History 2 Residential college 1910-2005 2.1 Administration 2.2 Services and Facilities 3 Theological Culture 4 Reputation 5 Leon Morris 6 Administration 7 Academic Resources 7.1 Ridley College Bookshop 7.2 Leon Morris Library 8 Student Culture, Services and Facilities 9 Faculty 10 See also 11 External links

[edit] History

The college was founded in 1910, always a place of both theological education and university residence. It was formally affiliated with the University of Melbourne in 1966, and in 1972 became the first of the University's colleges to house both men and women.

The theological college has committed itself to the formation and equipping of students for ordination in the Anglican Church or wider Christian ministry, in both their thinking and their characters. Graduates serve in formal and informal ministry capacities around the world.

Named for the sixteenth-century English martyr, Nicholas Ridley, the college's reputation has been bolstered by its prominent principals including the well known New Testament scholar, Leon Morris (1914–2006, Principal 1964–1979).

[edit] Residential college 1910-2005

The Ridley Residential College like many of the residential colleges clustered around the northern periphery of the University of Melbourne used to provide various academic, social and religious programs for the residential students. Due to rising costs the residential college was closed in 2005. It reopened as a temporary speciality residential college providing accommodation specifically for international students. The majority of residents of Ridley College are now international students of the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, and Monash University (Parkville Campus). Future plans for the college seem to indicate Ridley will no longer operate as a fully fledged residential college of the University of Melbourne.

Residential students are currently housed in the L shaped Baker building and the Alckin building which runs parallel to Mile Lane.

[edit] Administration

The residential college is under the management of Peter Styles. In the absence of Styles, management of college affairs is undertaken by 'RA' members, who are mainly composed of local students.

[edit] Services and Facilities

In the dining hall for residential students, food is served three times a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is a common room in which college members can play table tennis, pool and watch television. Residential College members can also cook in the common room.

[edit] Theological Culture

[edit] Reputation

[edit] Leon Morris

[edit] Administration

Ridley is governed by a council made of clergy and lay people from a variety of backgrounds. Mr Richard Prideaux is the current chair of the council. The current principal of the College itself is Canon Dr. Peter Adam. Administration staff include a Registrar, Secretarial staff and Business Manager among others.

Although Ridley College may soon be ceasing its residential role, it remains affiliated with the University of Melbourne and part of the Australian College of Theology. (ACT) Ridley College is a government recognised tertiary institution allowing making most degrees eligible for Fee Help.

[edit] Academic Resources

[edit] Ridley College Bookshop

Located on campus at Ridley College, Ridley College Bookshop is a theological bookshop strongly linked to the academic community. The bookshop carries titles from all the major and independent/family publishers, and focuses on providing good books for the enquiring mind, with an emphasis on Scripture commentaries and Bible background and ministry needs. It also provides a wide variety of titles on Christian spirituality, church history, and even books for children.

[edit] Leon Morris Library

The Ridley College Library, named after the late Leon Morris holds 44,000 volumes and 150 periodicals. The Library is part of the Stanway building and sits above the book shop and contains study areas and catalogue access.

[edit] Student Culture, Services and Facilities

Theological students dine on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Dining hall next to the Betteridge room. The ground floor of Wade Lounge is set aside for student recreation and contains a kitchen, lounge area and pool table. The Theological Student Association takes part in organising chapel, social events and runs a student newsletter. At lunch times and during study breaks students can be often found inside Cafe Red on the opposite side of Walker Street.

[edit] Faculty

There are ten faculty members and nearly a dozen visiting faculty members.

• Rev Canon Dr Peter Adam: Principal, Theology and Preaching
• Rev Rhys Bezzant: Church History and Theology
• Rev Dave Fuller: Youth and Children's Ministry
• Rev Adrian Lane: Ministry Skills
• Mr Andrew Malone: New Testament, Greek and On-line Program Supervisor
• Rev Dr Doug McComiskey: New Testament and Post-Graduate Supervisor
• Rev Anthea McCall: New Testament
• Rev Andrew Reid: Old Testament and Hermeneutics
• Rev Richard Trist: Supervised Field Education
• Rev Dr Lindsay Wilson: Vice Principal, Old Testament and Hebrew

[edit] See also

• Trinity Theological School, Melbourne
• Anglican Diocese of Melbourne

[edit] External links

• Ridley College
• Ridley College Bookshop