1875
©The University of Edinburgh
Pamphlet: Theological Class for Ladies
New College provided some opportunities for women in the 1870s, though it was not until after WW1 that women studied the full curriculum alongside men.
1898
©The University of Edinburgh
Phoebe Anna Traquair “Address of the Young Women’ Class to Rev Whyte”
Illuminated manuscript produced to mark Rev Whyte's election as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland in 1898.
1929
Women Students
At the end of the 1920s there were fourteen women students attending classes regularly, nine wives of American students and also five women missionaries training or on furlough.
1932
Young women taking a lead
This session saw Ms Yi Chi from Manchuria an ordained missionary on Furlough studying at New College and also Ms J Tweedie-Stoddart leading light of the Theological Society.
1951
The student who never came
Martin Luther King Jr. wrote enquiring about PhD work at New College but instead began work for his PhD at Boston University in the same year.
1957
James Deotis Roberts – pioneer of black theology
In 1957 Roberts was the first African American to graduate with a PhD from New College.
1958
A decade of diversity?
At the end of the decade there was a large increase in the amount of Diversity of students at the School.
1967
Alumni welcome women’s ordination in C of S
Women from New College such as Elizabeth Hewat, Margaret Forrester and Mary [Lusk] Levinson campaigned for ordination in Church of Scotland.
1970
Greek Orthodoxy in the Athens of the North
From 1970 to 1973 John Zizioulas lectured in patristics bringing a unique Eastern Orthodox perspective to New College.
1971
Priests among the Presbyterians
The early 1970s saw the diversification of denominational perspectives.
1979
Professor James Mackey, ©The University of Edinburgh
Bold appointment of first Catholic professor
The appointment of James P. Mackey as the first Catholic professor of theology at Edinburgh was controversial.
1982
©The University of Edinburgh
Pope John Paul II visits New College
The visit of Pope John Paul II to Scotland in 1982 was significant for people from Catholic and Protestant traditions.
1996
Celebrations of diversity
The celebration of the 150th anniversary of New College in 1996 underlined the diversity in the student body, staff and curriculum.
2006
Portrait of Marcella Althaus-Reid by David Martin
First female professor at New College
Argentinian theologian Marcella Althaus Reid was appointed to the chair Contextual Theology. The portrait by David Martin reflects her interests in Liberation, Feminist and Queer Theology.
2018
The first female Head of School
In 2018 Helen Bond, Professor of Christian Origins, became New College's first female Head of School since its founding in 1846.
2019
Buddhist Network
The launch of the Edinburgh Buddhist Studies Network took place in September 2019, linking researchers across the University of Edinburgh and beyond.
2019
Members of the School of Divinity’s Equality and Diversity Committee, 2018
New College achieves the Silver Athena SWAN Award
New College’s efforts to promote an inclusive learning and working environment were recognised in 2019, when the School became the first Theology and Religious Studies department to receive a...