Press Release: Response to the publication of the Inspection Report

St Stephen’s House welcomes the strong endorsement given to its core strengths in the published Report of its recent Inspection. In particular the college values the attention drawn to the strong and confident character of the training provided in the Catholic tradition, the very high quality of the academic teaching in theology, the emphasis placed on developing the appropriate pastoral skills for parochial ministry, and the clear vision of its aims and objectives communicated to the Inspectors.

In a climate of some uncertainty surrounding the future of theological education, the college has used these core strengths to attract substantial benefactions, and it faces the future with a confident understanding of its role, and with buildings and facilities substantially refurbished.

Canon Robin Ward, the Principal of the college since 2006, said:

‘As the oldest theological college in the Church of England and the newest Permanent Private Hall in the University of Oxford, St Stephen’s House looks forward to serving the Church with ministerial formation of the highest standard, and to making its own contribution to the teaching and research of a world-class theological faculty.

We look forward to addressing the issues raised for attention by the Inspectors in the light of our overall mission, and express our thanks to them for their encouragement and constructive critical dialogue.’

St Stephen’s House was founded by Bishop Edward King in 1876 and has been a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford since 2003. The college trains women and men for the Anglican ministry, and enjoys important partnerships with the University Department of Education, the Christian-Muslim Study Centre and the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics. Members of its academic staff contributed to the recent Research Assessment Exercise, in which the Oxford Theology Faculty received the highest possible grading.