United Theological College Aberystwyth
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The United Theological College located in Aberystwyth, in the county of Ceredigion in mid Wales was the ministerial training college of the Presbyterian Church of Wales and an associate college of the University of Wales. According to the Cardiganshire County History, Vol III (p502) 'Theol Coll' (as it was affectionately known in the town) opened in Aberystwyth in 1906 on the seafront site of the former Customs House. This in turn was demolished and a hotel built on the site in the late 19th century.
This impressive stone-built hotel was purchased by David Davies Esq. M.P. in 1906 and was presented to the Calvinistic Methodist Connexion as a residential theological college, at a total cost of about £30,000. The professors and students of Trevecca College, in Breconshire, were transferred to the new college in the autumn of 1906. In 1910 there were about 30 students.
Later, because of the falling number of students training for the ministry, the college opened its doors to students wanting to take a Theology degree as an academic subject alone. Degrees offered included Bachelor of Divinity (BD) and the Master of Theology (MTh).
Former Principals of the college include Rev Prof Samuel Ifor Enoch (1963-1979) and Rev Prof Dr John Tudno Williams (1998-2002). Other lecturers at the college included Prof E G Bowen and Prof Sir Glanmor Williams, the latter an occasional visiting lecturer.
The United Theological College in Aberystwyth closed in 2002, when the Presbyterian Church relocated its ministerial training to Bangor. The college's extensive library, which contained many rare and old theological books, is now mainly held at the University Library in Lampeter.
