Our approach to training blends rich theological study with on-the-ground ministry experience. Ordinands spend part of the week studying with us and the rest of their time embedded in a local church or mission placement. This provides a brilliant grounding for your ministry beyond college, as you learn to integrate what you’re learning about God and his kingdom with the places and people you are serving. Each ordinand is guided through this with a training supervisor in their local context. To train for ordination, any prospective student must have a recommendation for training from a Church of England Bishop.

There are full-time and part-time pathways for ordinands at St Mellitus College, but however you study your training will always be rooted in this approach. Both full-time and part-time ordinands also regularly gather together from across the country for College residentials. These are inspiring times of worship, learning and spiritual growth, as you build friendships with your fellow students. This community is also a fundamental part of your formation as a priest. As our ordinands journey through training together, they discover what God is doing through his people up and down the land. We learn both from each other’s experiences and from the diverse traditions which make up the St Mellitus College community.

I felt that this was a place I could be myself and that was a big attraction

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Ordinands normally spend one day a week at their local St Mellitus College centre receiving a range of teaching. One to two days are then spent in personal study, and a further two to three days working in your local church or mission placement. You will also have five residential weekends and one week away each academic year for further teaching and study, as well as one annual retreat weekend.

This pathway is available for ordinands recommended to train for incumbent status or those recommended for pioneer ministry. Some other ordinands, in consultation with their diocese, may also be eligible.

Most of our ordinands study towards a BA degree or Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission, which is validated by Durham University. For those who wish to pursue postgraduate study and meet the entry requirements, you can instead study for an MA in Theology, Ministry and Mission (also validated by Durham University).

The full-time route is available at our London, South West and East Midlands centres.

Ordinands have one evening a week of teaching at their St Mellitus College centre, which includes dinner and worship. Just like all our students, those on the part-time pathway also have a supervisor in their local church who helps them integrate their theological study with their ministry on-the-ground. You will also have several residential weekends away for further teaching and study, and one week away as well. These are shared with full-time ordinands and other students in the St Mellitus College community.

This mode is perfect for those who are keen to relate theology to the whole of life – to their jobs, families, homes and wider society. It is a flexible programme which allows you to continue in the place God has set you while also being formed for your future as a priest in the Church of England. We see your workplace and family commitments as a blessing not a barrier, and will help you uphold them alongside your training.

Most of our ordinands study towards a BA degree or Diploma in Theology, Ministry and Mission, which is validated by Durham University.

The part-time pathway is open to any ordinand, whether you are recommended for stipendiary, self-supporting, pioneer, incumbent or assistant status. It is available at our London, Chelmsford and East Midlands centres.

Pioneers who study at St Mellitus have access to an engaging variety of input and support. As well as our innovative approach to learning in each of our modules, we offer a very popular level 4 module in ‘Creating New Christian Communities’ which is focused on key themes of pioneering and innovation. These topics are also addressed in our level 5 Ecclesiology and level 6 Mission modules, giving students the chance to explore pioneering in greater depth.

Several times a year we gather pioneers and planters online and at college residentials for mutual support, storytelling, expert input, and prayer. Chris Lane, our Tutor in Pioneering and Planting offers 1-1 sessions for pioneers and planters at residentials. There are also pioneering, planting, and mixed ecology tracks available on our afternoon formation programme ‘The Forge’ as well as a number of staff with expertise who oversee dissertations in this exciting area of study.

The Forge is our afternoon formation program which draws on the knowledge and wisdom of a wide range of local and national speakers. It is designed to help ordinands develop habits of personal devotion to Christ and equip them to emerge as effective church leaders who are committed to sharing the good news of the gospel in the changing contours of today’s culture.

The Forge is a place of transformation, a place where things are honed, purified, and prepared for a purpose. Formation, ultimately, is a work of the Spirit to transform us into the likeness of Christ. Our hope and prayer are that The Forge will be a place of such formation, with space to explore the shape and nature of calling and vocation and to discern the ways in which God is moulding ordinands and equipping them for his good purpose.

We know every ordinand with a spouse or partner who joins the St Mellitus College community would not be here without the support of their other half. That’s why husbands, wives and partners of students play a key part in College life.

As well as being kept in touch with the latest news and events through our spouses newsletter, partners and families are often invited to join parts of our residential weekends. And if your partner catches the bug of theology too, we can offer them discounts for many of our programmes.

Ordination training can sometimes be a challenging time and even place strain on family life. We are committed to ensuring your marriage and family are looked after while you are studying with us. As well as being supported by your formation tutor, we can offer you and your spouse discounted places on the HTB Marriage and Parenting Courses, which are great ways to invest in and support your relationship and family.

We believe God calls people in all personal circumstances and different stages of life to Christian leadership. As a college, we seek to support everyone whom God has called to ordination training. As a community, we celebrate those who are or become parents during their time with us. Whether as new parents, those with young families, foster carers, adopters, parents caring for children with additional needs, those ordinands who have become pregnant during training, or any other parenting circumstances.

The College seeks to support all students to inhabit healthy rhythms that balance study, ministry, and family life while they navigate these realities during training. Students and their families can find more information on this page.