Principal’s Welcome

Welcome to Westcott House, a place of prayer, learning and hospitality right in the heart of Cambridge. Whatever has brought you to our website today, I hope we can give you a flavour of what Westcott House is all about.

Westcott House is a Church of England theological college that has been training people for ministry since 1881 – shaped from the outset by the passion of Brooke Foss Westcott, our founding President, to raise the standard of clergy education. Today that vision continues to guide us as we work to serve the church by resourcing women and men for ministry. You can find out more about learning with us in the dedicated sections of this website or by registering to find out about our next open day.

Life at Westcott draws together a diverse and inclusive community of staff, students, partners, families and visitors. Between us we bring an enormous range of gifts and experiences and together they make our community a vibrant and exciting place to belong. Our ordinands train for ministry on a range of pathways reflecting their previous experience and the calling they have discerned with others. Independent students and sabbatical visitors add to this richness and we are always happy to receive enquiries about opportunities for sabbatical visits or for joining one of our courses part-time or full-time.

Our location in the heart of Cambridge gives us easy access to the city and enables us to offer hospitality to a wide range of visitors. Our peaceful courtyard setting is just a few minutes’ walk from the hubbub of central Cambridge – although when you are sat under the trees in our garden it can seem a world away. Over the course of an ordinary day visitors will include students and staff from theological courses across Cambridge as they participate in the shared teaching and learning of the Cambridge Theological Federation. Over the course of an ordinary year we will welcome an enormous number of people – from alumni and the friends and families of staff and students, to sabbatical visitors and a wide range of conference participants from the UK and around the world. If you would like to find out more about visiting Westcott House, do look at the parts of our website that cover possibilities for sabbaticals and conferencing.

In the corner of Westcott House’s ‘Old Court’ is the bell that calls our community to the chapel services that shape our day – inscribed on it is a line from the New Testament that is translated ‘the one who calls is faithful’ (1 Thess. 5.24) As we look to the future, this promise of God’s inspires us to continue to follow his call and to live in service to our neighbour. As you look around our website you will learn more about how we live out that vocation today. If you pray, remember us when you are able – it is the most valuable support you can offer. And if you would like to find out more about studying, visiting, or supporting us, we would love to hear from you.

God bless,
Helen