Community of the Resurrection 5

At this time many young men from the working classes were effectively barred from becoming priests because they had neither the funds nor suitable background to attend Oxford or Cambridge. The opening of a college by the community would be the path for many young men from poorer backgrounds to the priesthood.
When the first the six students arrived at the college in 1902 the buildings were still a work in progress and would eventually be completed in 1905. By this time the students would number fifty. The completed college was opened by Bishop Gore on the 22nd of July 1905.




The College of the Resurrection with it's tower in the background. Why does it have a tower? The reply often given was "All good colleges have a tower!"

The aim of the college was to train ordinands who could not afford a university degree through the normal path, who on completion of their degree would then spend a couple of years engaged in theological studies under the wing of the community. The students pledged to pay back the community after their ordination £25 per annum for every year they attended the college and not engage to be married until the whole sum was repaid.




	Entrance to the College of the Resurrection

The curriculum included one or two years study at Mirfield followed by three years in residence at the "Hostel of the Resurrection" in Leeds while studying at the university. This was followed by a further two years at Mirfield engaged in theological studies.




The Hostel of the Resurrection built for the students of the College of the Resurrection while they completed their degrees in Leeds.

Let's move away from Mirfield now to a few miles up the road and the Hostel of the Resurrection in Leeds. In 1904 the College became affiliated to Leeds University where students would study for their degrees. During these years of study, accommodation would be provided in a suitably located hostel. Initially things started on a fairly small scale when two houses were purchased by the Community on Spring Field Mount near to the University for this purpose.

From this fairly rudimentary beginning far greater things were being planned and in 1907 the two houses were demolished. The grounds were cleared and work started on a new purpose built hostel and by 1910 it was complete.

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