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New College Past, Present & Future

Celebrating 175 years of New College

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Key Figures

Death of Chalmers
1847 ©The University of Edinburgh

Death of Chalmers

with 1840
The loss of Rev Thomas Chalmers who had been so important to the foundation of the Free Church and New College was tremendous.
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1840s Key Figures Major Events #utility
1867

Alexander Duff appointed as first Professor of Evangelistic Theology

with 1860
Alexander Duff was appointed as the first Professor of Evangelistic Theology and held this appointment until his death in 1878.
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1860s Key Figures
Robert Rainy (1826-1906)
1880

Robert Rainy (1826-1906)

with 1880
Eminent historian and theologian of Christianity, Robert Rainy was Professor of Church History from 1862-1901 at New College and Principal 1874-1906.
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1880s Key Figures #utility
Death of Principal Rainy
1906 John Cochran: Yours truly Robert Rainy

Death of Principal Rainy

with 1890
Robert Rainy was Principal of New College 1874-1906 and also first Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Free Church in 1900.
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1890s 1900s Key Figures timeline
1925

Alastair Sim CBE (1900-1976)

with 1920
Alastair Sim CBE (1900-1976), arguably Britain’s finest comedy actor, was the Fulton Lecturer in Elocution at New College from 1925-1930.
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1926

A formidable first – Elizabeth Hewat

with 1920
Elizabeth Hewat was not the first woman to study theology at New College but she was the first female BD (1926) and PhD (1934).
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1920s Key Figures #utility
1935

Theologian shows early promise

with 1930
Thomas F. Torrance was a student prize winner in May 1935, 1936 and 1937!
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1930s Key Figures #utility
1955

Choan-Seng Song at New College

with 1950
Choan-Seng Song was a student at New College and went on to a prolific and very influential career.
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1950s Key Figures
1957

James Deotis Roberts – pioneer of black theology

with 1950
In 1957 Roberts was the first African American to graduate with a PhD from New College.
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1950s Diversity Key Figures #utility
Bold appointment of first Catholic professor
1979 Professor James Mackey, ©The University of Edinburgh

Bold appointment of first Catholic professor

with 1970
The appointment of James P. Mackey as the first Catholic professor of theology at Edinburgh was controversial.
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1970s Diversity Key Figures #utility
1996

New College appoints its first female Principal

with 1990
Ruth Page took up the role of Principal of New College from 1996-2000.
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1990s Key Figures
First female professor at New College
2006 Portrait of Marcella Althaus-Reid by David Martin

First female professor at New College

with 2000
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.
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2000s Diversity Key Figures #utility
Mona Siddiqui appointed Professor of Islamic and Inter-Religious Studies
2016

Mona Siddiqui appointed Professor of Islamic and Inter-Religious Studies

with 2010
In 2011, Professor Mona Siddiqui was appointed Professor of Islamic and Inter-Religious Studies.
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2010s Key Figures
The first female Head of School
2018

The first female Head of School

with 2010
In 2018 Helen Bond, Professor of Christian Origins, became New College's first female Head of School since its founding in 1846.
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Professor Frank Whaling (1934-2022): an Appreciation of his Contribution to the Study of Religion/s
2023

Professor Frank Whaling (1934-2022): an Appreciation of his Contribution to the Study of Religion/s

with 2020
Professor Frank Whaling, who was appointed to the staff of New College in the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh in 1973 to coordinate the new BA...
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