St Paul's Theological College, Mauritius

This article is about the former Anglican theological college in Mauritius. For the theological centre at Holy Trinity Brompton, London, see St Paul's Theological Centre. For St Paul's Theological College, the former theological college in Grahamstown, South Africa, see College of the Transfiguration.

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St Paul's Theological College (1876–2004) was an Anglican theological college for the Diocese of Mauritius in Beau Bassin-Rose Hill. It was replaced by the Diocesan Training Centre.

Origins

The college traced its origins to the establishment in 1869 of an institution for the training of catechists and teachers near the church at Beau Bassin.^[1] The college itself was founded in 1876 in Beau Bassin by the Rev Henry Buswell.^[2]

History

In 1905 Bishop Francis Gregory bought a house with a couple of acres opposite St Andrew's School at Ambrose Street, Rose Hill as a training college; the theological training moved there.^[3] The College closed for WWI, and re-opened in 1920.^[4] In 1925 it started granting a Licentiate of Theology, based on the Durham L.Th.^[5]

The college was destroyed by Cyclone Carol in 1960.^[6] Lectures were subsequently held at St James's Cathedral, Port Louis.^[7] The college applied a 'tentmaker' form of ministry, whereby ordinands were trained whilst still working in their secular occupations, and continued to work in them after ordination.^[8] It reopened in 1979.^[9]

Closure

Main article: Diocesan Training Centre (Mauritius)

The college closed in 2004 when it was amalgamated with the Bishop Ghislain Emmanuel Library to form the Diocesan Training Centre.^[10]

Principals

• William Alfred Norton, 1925-27^[11][12][13]
• Ronald Dupré Grange-Bennett, 1927-31^[14][15]
• Edwin Curtis, 1937–44.^[16] Subsequently Bishop of Mauritius and Archbishop of the Indian Ocean.
• Ghislain Emmanuel, 1964–76. Subsequently Bishop of Mauritius.^[17]

Directors

• The Rev Donald Westwood Smith, 1979-1984^[18] Subsequently, Bishop of Toamasina.^[19]

Notable alumni

• Rex Donat, Bishop of Mauritius, 1984-2001^[20]
• Ian Ernest, Bishop of Mauritius, 2001-19^[21]
• Wavel Ramkalawan, President of the Seychelles since 2020.^[22]

References

1. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
2. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
3. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
4. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
5. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
6. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
7. "Church Times: "Needs of Mauritius and Madagascar", 14 May 1965, p 16". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
8. "Church Times: "Letters to the Editor", 5 August 1966, p 7". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
9. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
10. "Diocese of Mauritius: Diocesan Training Centre". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
11. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
12. "Church Times: "Church News", 27 March 1925, p 366". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
13. "Biographical Database of Southern African Science: Rev Prof William Alfred Norton". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
14. "Church Times: "Church News", 9 September 1927, p 278". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
15. Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1932, p 514.
16. "Church Times: "New Bishop chosen for Mauritius", 9 September 1966, p 17". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
17. "Church Times: "Bishop G.E. Emmanuel", 25 February 1977, p 16". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
18. "Diocese of Mauritius: History". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
19. "Crockford's Clerical Directory: The Rt Revd Donald Westwood Smith". Retrieved 11 May 2021.
20. "Church Times: "New bishops in Indian Ocean", 6 April 1984, p 3". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
21. "Diocese of Mauritius: Ian Ernest". Retrieved 12 May 2021.
22. "L'Express: "Seychelles – The new Ramkalawan era and Mauritius", 27 October 2020". Retrieved 12 May 2021.