The Scottish College is venerable, as well as contemporary in approach. It is earliest among the structures of Scottish Congregationalism, having been founded as the Glasgow Theological Academy in 1811. Vera Finlay (later Kenmuir), who entered training in 1926 to become the first woman minister in Scotland, was among the College's students. So was the Olympic athlete, Eric Liddell, of "Chariots of Fire" fame.
Today the Scottish College is based in Glasgow and delivers formation programmes for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments of the United Reformed Church, as well as promoting and supporting learning for the whole church. Our courses are open to ordinands and members of other denominations. Students come from Scotland and from further afield.
Our emphases are narrative, practical and contextual, and we have a special interest in constructive and intercultural theology. One example of this is the appointment of the Revd Dr Jack Dyce as Emeritus Research Professor of Nordic Theology.
We are working hard to diversify and build capacity in distance learning technologies. While solutions and possibilities are new, the challenges are not. North to South the churches in the Synod of Scotland lie up to 300 miles apart, so we are used to maintaining fellowship and promoting learning across a broad geography.
Through a reciprocal agreement with the National Synod of Scotland of the United Reformed Church, the College provides a broader programme to support learning of the whole Christian community for ministry in the church and the world.
The Scottish works closely with ecumenical and academic partners in delivery of learning opportunities.