The role and calling of faith-based institutions in
Higher Education today
Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 12th November 2015 1

Introduction
In this 7 th lecture in memory of Lord Dearing, after a brief Introduction, we will look at three main parts:
Church Foundation,
Pluralist Present,
Uncertain Future?
My purpose is to examine the role and calling of faithbased institutions in Higher Education today and the contribution the Cathedral Group might make to HE.
We are facing a crisis in HE today, so first we need some scene setting – how did we get here?
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 2

Introduction
“Universities today have a moral obligation to assist our fellow human beings in a global context”
Context: King’s College London senior leadership
‘retreat’ to consider our ‘vision’ for next 25 years
‘retreat’ and ‘vision’ spiritual, even religious, words
Going away into silence? 200 yards, consultant
As Dean, I referred to our Anglican foundation, yet many nervous about doing so in our world today
Dominant consideration was student satisfaction in the world of £9,000 tuition fees – ‘NSS is king’!
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 3

Introduction
Discussion was part of a debate which goes back to
Socrates arguing in the Agora, and Plato’s Academy
Newman’s The Idea of the University 1852, 1887
Robbins Report on HE, 1963 – ‘common culture’
7 th Memorial: Various Dearing Reports
1994 on the National Curriculum
1996 Exam system, bringing schools and technical training closer
2001 Church schools for Synod
2007 Languages in schools
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 4

Introduction
1997 ‘Higher Education in the learning society’
Involved 240 meetings and 380 public submissions
Nearly 2,000 pages and 93 recommendations
Vision for next 20 years
A ‘learning society’
Discussed HE purpose
‘main business’ of HE
Addressed HE funding
‘Graduate contribution’ but recouped through income contingent means
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 5

Introduction
What is the relationship between the market and academy?
View across Agora from the Acropolis towards Plato’s Academy
Socrates’ divine mission as ‘wisest man’ from the oracle to question business & politics; ignorant of ignorance; led to death
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 6

Introduction
Dearing took as their ‘starting point’ the 1963
Robbins Committee which identified four aims and objectives of higher education, summarised as:
“instruction in skills for employment ; promoting the general powers of the mind ; the advancement of learning and search for truth the transmission of a common culture and common standards of citizenship .”
These were then reinterpreted in 1997 for the vision for the next 20 years of the ‘learning society’:
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 7

Introduction
Para 5.11 “The four main purposes of higher education are: to inspire and enable individuals to develop their capabilities to the highest potential levels throughout life, so that they grow intellectually, are well-equipped for work , can contribute effectively to society and achieve personal fulfilment; to increase knowledge and understanding for their own sake and to foster their application to the benefit of the economy and society; to serve the needs of an adaptable, sustainable, knowledgebased economy at local, regional and national levels; to play a major role in shaping a democratic, civilised, inclusive society .” (Dearing Report, p. 72)
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Introduction
First point about individual fulfilment, work & society
Next two are about the economy
Shaping society in the final point
Report led to fees, end of grants
– against his wishes
Dearing set up by Secretaries for
Education & Employment
2001 Dept for Education & Skills
2007 Dept for Innovation,
Universities & Skills
2009 Business, Innovation & Skills: agora>academy
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 9

Introduction
BIS Green paper, Nov 6 th
Stress on teaching standards,
Teaching Excellence Framework
Focus on student satisfaction and graduate employability
Greater social diversity / mobility
Allows successful to raise fees
Opening up for new universities
Reforming HE ‘architecture’
Implications for research funding
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 10

Introduction
5.46 There may be less emphasis now on the role of higher education in transmitting a common culture than there was at the time of Robbins, partly because cultures within the UK have become more diverse, and partly because there are so many other forms of cultural transmission available through the mass media. But this reinforces the need for higher education to preserve and transmit those forms and aspects of culture which may be, for the time being, unfashionable or in danger of being overwhelmed by the majority culture. (Dearing last para, p. 80)
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 11

Introduction
Business and politics in the Agora, the market-place, are no longer between religion & Academy
The market has taken over churches & universities
In an individualistic and increasingly diverse society, what is the role and calling of higher education institutions with a religious foundation?
Is it merely to ‘preserve and transmit . . aspects of culture which may be unfashionable or in danger of being overwhelmed by the majority culture’?
Or might it offer something to or even save culture, or at least, save the academy from the marketplace?
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 12

1 Church Foundation
The Cathedrals
Group: ‘sixteen universities with
Church foundations’
‘Ethical principles informed by faithbased values’
‘Share a common faith heritage’
Clear links to the three Churches
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 13

1 Church Foundation
In 1999 I preached before HM Queen at the 750 th anniversary service of the 1249 grant of William of
Durham for the ‘great hall of the University’, Oxford.
Influenced by, and based, on the example of Paris
Definition of a university: a quad v benefaction!
Right up to the 19 th century, the English ancient universities of Oxford and Cambridge required staff and students to be communicant members of the
Church of England: Shelley. An Anglican ‘lock-out’ stopping others having higher education.
All changed in pluralism after the Napoleonic Wars
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1 Church Foundation
1826: Founding of University College London by mix of utilitarians, dissenters, Catholics, Jews.
Human rights in the American and French revolutions:
‘Freedom from religion’ – French secularism, or
‘freedom for religion’ – USA free market?
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1 Church Foundation
June 19 th 1828 – The London paper Evening
Standard announces a meeting to ‘to establish on Christian and constitutional principles a great metropolitan school’
‘With such a seminary in a prosperous position, there will be neither motive nor excuse for any parent to inflict upon his offspring the disgrace of education in the infidel and godless college in Gower Street.’
Leads to the founding of King’s College London
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1 Church Foundation
Proposal to instigate King’s by
Reverend Dr George D’Oyly,
Rector of Lambeth
21 st June 1828 – Founding meeting takes place with present:
Arthur Wellesley, Duke of
Wellington (PM in the Chair) the Archbishop of Canterbury eight other archbishops and bishops attend with a number of prominent laymen
Caricature from 1828: the bishops’ involvement in the founding of King’s weighs down one end of the seesaw against the “University of London”!
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 17

1 Church Foundation
Duel between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of
Winchilsea over Catholic emancipation and founding
King’s, Saturday 21 March 1829, Battersea Fields
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 18

1 Church Foundation
1829 Royal Charter: the objects of King’s College are to keep the connection of ‘sound learning’ with teaching the ‘doctrines and duties of Christianity’ and ‘the various branches of literature and science’
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 19

1 Church Foundation
To ensure this Christian vision King’s
Principals had to be ordained clergy of the Church of England
William Otter was the first Principal of
King’s College London, 1831–1836
Bishop of Chichester, 1836 –1839
Bp Otter College founded as a memorial April 1839
1.25 million children in
Sunday schools by 1831
Leads to
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1 Church Foundation
Chichester is typical of both the explosion of the decade 1839-1850, and in its admitting women
(1873) and subsequent mergers (Bognor Regis
College of Education) leading to university status.
Similarly, Chester’s foundation in 1839 involved prime ministers and Archbishop of Canterbury
1840 Winchester Diocesan Training School, again an Anglican foundation for training teachers
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1 Church Foundation
This decade also sees the founding of other
Anglican institutions for training teachers:
1840 St Mark’s and
1841 St John’s Colleges
1841 York Training School and
St John’s College with in 1862
St Margaret’s Ripon for women
1847 Cheltenham Training College which leads eventually to the
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1 Church Foundation
But it’s not just Anglicans:
1850 St Mary’s Hammersmith founded by the Catholic Poor Schools Committee
While other early foundations will later merge with ecumenical partners:
1841 Whitelands CofE for women,
1850 Digby Stuart, Roman Catholic,
1872 Southlands, Methodist,
1892 Froebel Institute; unite in 1975
1844 CofE Warrington College and
1856 Sisters of Notre Dame become
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1 Church Foundation
Meanwhile, back in Wales: 1822 St David’s
College for clergy of Church in Wales, later becoming the University of Wales, Lampeter.
1847 South Wales and Monmouthshire
Training College, Carmarthen, later Trinity.
Swansea College of Art founded 1853,
College of Education 1872 and the
Technical College 1895.
2010-13 various mergers finalise into UWTSD group.
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1 Church Foundation
The complications of the 19 th century for the church and education are also seen in Heythrop
Founded in 1614 to educate English Jesuits first in Louvain, then in Liège. Revolutionary France and Napoleonic war brought return to Stonyhurst in England, doing London degrees, then move to
Heythrop Hall Oxford 1926, moved into London
University in 1970 with own Charter.
1862 Lincoln CofE teacher training college, through several names to 13 th c Bishop of Lincoln
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1 Church Foundation
19 th century church impetus to train teachers led to
1870 Forster Elementary Education Act setting up compulsory primary schools for all children by law.
Next boom comes with 1960s, ROSLA up to 16;
Robbins expansion new universities & polytechnics both C of E and Roman Catholic foundations
1962 Christ Church College Canterbury
1964 St Martin’s College Lancaster
1966 Trinity College & All Saints College
1968 Newman College of HE
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1 Church Foundation
Our church foundations lie in the 19 th century response to religious pluralism in Europe and a deep desire to save children from child labour by training teachers to educate them instead.
This happened a generation before the state’s provision for universal primary education in 1870.
This was repeated again in the pluralistic 1960s.
Our church foundations were motivated by a strong faith in God who wants everyone to grow.
This is surely something in which to take pride!
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2 Pluralist Present
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2 Pluralist Present
Cambridge starts with a scary dinosaur before pages work through its various periods
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2 Pluralist Present
King’s overview:
‘founded by
King George IV and the Duke of
Wellington (PM)’
‘in the tradition of the Church of England’
‘now welcomes all faiths and beliefs’.
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2 Pluralist Present
Foundation of KCL:
‘eminent politicians, churchmen, others.
They wanted a
Church of England alternative to UCL’
But more interested in the Duke’s duel than in Archbishop of Canterbury!
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2 Pluralist Present
The Cathedrals
Group: ‘sixteen universities with
Church foundations’
‘Ethical principles informed by faithbased values’
‘Share a common faith heritage’
Clear links to the three Churches
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2 Pluralist Present
This is indeed a strong and proud statement about ‘founded by the churches for purpose of training teachers before state provided education for all’ and admitting ‘women on an equal footing’
33 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

2 Pluralist Present
12th November 2015
‘Campus based’
‘Attractive locations’
‘Excellent facilities’
‘Welcoming atmosphere’
Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 34

2 Pluralist Present
When you follow the links: the four Catholic members identify themselves: Heythrop,
Leeds, St Mary’s, Newman
Liverpool Hope is ‘ecumenical’
Of the others, only Chester and
Bishop Grossteste say C of E
Rest prefer to stress other attributes, location, community, facilities – being ‘different’
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2 Pluralist Present
Individual websites are more forthcoming
Like Oxford, Cambridge and King’s, not on front page, but requires 2 or 3 clicks through sections
‘about us’ to find an account of ‘our history’
Other key words include ‘heritage’, ‘tradition’,
‘experience’ leading to ‘vision’, ‘mission’, ‘ethos’
‘inspired by our Christian / church foundation’
‘proud of our rich heritage’
Often long and complex process with mergers to get to today’s Cathedral Group university
36 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

2 Pluralist Present
Welcome / Home page: ‘faith-based values’
Excellent list of four areas where faith-based values will have an important impact.
Not clear how are these based on faith or whether other universities would not also say the same without values being based on faith.
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 37

2 Pluralist Present
‘only grouping in HE . . informed by faith-based values’
‘a distinctive contribution . reflects our identity & values’
‘a distinctively ethical perspective in HE landscape’
‘celebrates our heritage as Christian foundations’ strong statements – how do they get worked out?
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2 Pluralist Present
‘Church / Christian foundation’ – only in past?
‘Strong ethical principles’
‘Social justice’ and the ‘public good’
‘Responsible stewards of the environment’
‘Embrace diversity, combat prejudice, respect’
What is the link between the first and the rest?
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2 Pluralist Present
Analysis of individual websites:
10 had page on ‘values’; no ‘values’ found in 3; another 3 had ‘values’ placed under local area heritage, the constituent colleges, or ‘jobs’.
Excellence – mentioned by 10 (everyone today)
Diversity, inclusive – 10 (WP; Equality Diversity)
Environment, sustainability, fair trade – 8
Holistic, whole person, dignity, worth – 7
Public good, social justice, service society – 6
Are these ‘faith-based’ or ‘distinctive’?
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2 Pluralist Present
Analysis of individual websites:
Truth and intellectual freedom of enquiry – 4
‘celebrate’, ‘recognise’, ‘take faith seriously’ – 4 interfaith dialogue – 3
‘regardless of faith or belief’, ‘different faiths’ – 2
‘all faiths or none’, ‘don’t profess faith’ – 2
No challenge from faith-based academy to the
Agora, or economic values of the market place
Lord Nolan ‘Standards in Public Life’ 1994-7 values without faith lasts a generation, no ethics
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2 Pluralist Present
So who or where is the keeper of the foundation?
GORs for V-Cs or senior staff is a sensitive area
4 Catholic foundations require a Catholic GOR.
Also GOR at Liverpool Hope (R-C / C of E union)
Thank V-C of Bp Grossteste sending his job spec; some places require V-C to be a church member.
Others use words like ‘empathy with’, ‘supportive’
Even atheists need someone to hold the tradition;
I was appointed as Dean of KCL by an atheist: ‘I need someone to do the believing for both of us’!
42 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

2 Pluralist Present
How did it move from strong church foundation to present pluralist coyness or embarrassment?
1960’s ‘death of God’ and rise of ‘new atheists’,
R Dawkins etc – hence references to ‘no faith’.
Multicultural and pluralist challenge of recent decades, immigration, international students.
BIS’ stress on equality, diversity and inclusivity.
As new universities, CG needs to compete in the market place: will the values and mission be still ‘faith-based’ and distinctive, or the same as everybody else’s in the uncertain future?
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3 Uncertain Future?
Understandable tendency to assume that this slide from proud ‘church foundations’ through a
‘pluralist present’ will lead inexorably to the end of Christian distinctiveness in Cathedral Group.
Final section will argue that this is not inevitable: partly because of changes in our society partly because of initiatives already happening within the Cathedral Group and elsewhere.
But now is the time for action to be taken.
First, a view from over the water in the USA:
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3 Uncertain Future?
“Many American universities were founded as religious institutions, explicitly designed to cultivate their students’ spiritual and moral natures. But over the course of the
20th century they became officially or effectively secular. Religious rituals like mandatory chapel services were dropped. Academic research and teaching replaced character formation at the core of the university’s mission.
Administrators and professors dropped spiritual language and moral prescription either because they didn’t know what to say or because they didn’t want to alienate any part of their diversifying constituencies .”
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3 Uncertain Future?
“ Universities are more professional and glittering than ever, but in some ways there is emptiness deep down.
Students are taught how to do things, but many are not forced to reflect on why they should do them or what we are here for. But things are changing. . . Institutes are popping up — with interdisciplinary humanities programs and even meditation centers — designed to cultivate the whole student: the emotional, spiritual and moral sides and not just the intellectual. The trick is to find a way to talk about moral and spiritual things while respecting diversity.”
46 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

3 Uncertain Future?
The failure of the secularization hypothesis:
1960s theory that religion would die away.
Yet perhaps it is the most important political and social issue facing the world in 21 st century
–and the one most misunderstood by politicians
1960s-1970s assumption that science would have all the answers & put God out of business
Star Trek ‘to boldly go’ came home with the 4 th series, Voyager ; nostalgic prequel, Enterprise.
Post-Christian – or post-atheistic? R Dawkins?
47 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

3 Uncertain Future?
Church-going may have declined recently:
5 million members; 2-3m in church on Sundays.
Compare 350,000 at Premier League matches.
Total capacity Premier League grounds: 750,000
Total capacity of 92 football grounds: 2 million.
Total membership of all political parties: 700,000
150k Conservatives; 110k SNP; 61k LibDem;
65k Greens; 42k UKIP; 290k Labour (plus 148k union affiliates and 112k £3 members to vote).
British Humanist Association 40k; Secular similar
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3 Uncertain Future?
2011 National Census :
59.3% Christian (2001: 71.1%);
4.8% Muslim (3%); 1.5% Hindu
(1%); 0.8% Sikhs (0.5%); 0.5%
Jews (0.5%); 0.4% Buddhist
(0.3%); 25.1% ‘no religion’
(14.1%); 7.2% ‘no answer’
Large Christian majority, with a tenth for other world faiths and a quarter stating ‘no religion’.
Linda Woodhead’s 2013 Lecture
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3 Uncertain Future?
‘They’re all old people – what about students today?’
CUE project 2010-2013 in five different HE contexts
51% Christian; 34% none;
15% others. Backed up by other surveys, 44-50%
Christians: 50% church in term, and 66% in vacations
40% religious, 31% ‘spiritual’
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3 Uncertain Future?
The rise of the ‘spiritual’ category from ECU now being used in HEFCE/HESA statistics:
Used in KCL staff survey – concludes tomorrow
‘spiritual . . . without conventional religion’
Linda Woodhead’s definition; as 2013 lecture showed, decline in Christians ≠ not religious
‘Mindfulness’ appearing in classes & meetings
‘Atheist church’ and Sunday Assemblies
Rituals – e.g. Remembrance Sunday being replaced by Remembrance Services yesterday.
51 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

3 Uncertain Future?
‘Faith-based values’: what is the doctrinal basis for our ethics?
Compare EIAG policies; needed to be distinctively Christian
How does Creation –fall–election
–incarnation–atonement–eschat
-ology drive our view of human beings? This can provide a real
‘faith-basis’ for ethical values.
See also Mike Higton Theology of Higher Education OUP 2012
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3 Uncertain Future?
Several recent projects on
Christian or C of E identity
In May 2009, I gave the first keynote at the inaugural
CUAC-UK conference with
Jeremy Law giving the other.
Fascinating set of essays from around the world.
Concluding reflections from
Archbishop Rowan Williams.
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3 Uncertain Future?
CG report from HE Leadership
Foundation, HEFCE, 2011
“These values contrast strongly with a vision of the future of HE which is marketfocused.” (p. 1)
Distinctive features and definable identity: core values, holistic approach, student volunteering, community, vibrant Chaplaincies, handling change, supporting staff, other faith-based partnerships.
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3 Uncertain Future?
Gloucester: ‘Anglican Identity report’ and the Foundation
Fellows, 201213; filed under ‘Gloucestershire>heritage’;
Foundation
Fellows;
Anglican identity report was endorsed by Council
April 2013.
glos.ac.uk log-in only.
55 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

3 Uncertain Future?
CofE web: CG & CUAC
Anglican Identity
Project 2011-12
Year One Report and plan for Year Two
Literature Review
‘Identity and Character’
Stephen Heap and
Jeremy Law Nov 2013
Day conference +Tim
Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 56

3 Uncertain Future?
Canterbury Christ Church
Jeremy Law’s two papers:
‘vision statement’ using the triquetra symbol to ground the vision in three dimensions – the Trinity.
‘Religion and Belief’ paper on link to C of E, including
GOR’s, C of E Ethos,
Christian distinctiveness and Inter-Faith. March 2015
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3 Uncertain Future?
‘Vibrant Chaplaincies’ in
Cathedral Group universities
Evident in most of websites
But true of many HEIs
Faiths in HE Chaplaincy project funded by Dept of
Communities & Local Gov’t
Survey 2006-7 of all HEIs
95% have prayer spaces
75% Christian Chaplains
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3 Uncertain Future?
Pluralist context today: 51% have Chapels,
58% multi-faith rooms, 68% Muslim prayer rooms
Other faiths do not want a ‘soft-pedal’ approach but respect Christians who pray, or keep Lent
Rabbi Lord Sacks’ latest book argues for us to be strong together
Muslim chaplaincy in prisons & NHS – HE?
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3 Uncertain Future?
The church colleges originally had a distinctive curriculum for teacher training with faith basis
Various attempts to include something today
Winchester: online course on ‘making sense of religion’, plus new King Alfred award programme
CCC ran Associateship Programme 2001-2010; now planning on-line course for launch 2016-17
Associateship of King’s College London: original award, predates London degrees; one hour a week with annual exam; 2,000 students enrolled; distance learning version – possible extension?
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3 Uncertain Future?
How to build on church foundation in the pluralist present and still include diversity?
KCL’s 1829 Charter ‘CofE’; 1980 ‘Christianity’
2009 Ordinance E.3: “The Dean shall be responsible for ensuring that the College builds upon the
Anglican tradition associated with its foundation and, in recognition of the multi-ethnic and international nature of its community, encourages and supports all its members of all beliefs and backgrounds (as required by the Charter, Article 3(1)).”
Lord Sacks’ defence of the establishment of C of E
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Conclusion
We have looked at the role & calling of faith-based institutions in Higher Education today in the light of
Church Foundation,
Pluralist Present,
Uncertain Future?
Churches in the 1840s and 1960s responded to needs of society and to challenge of pluralism
Extraordinary vision of founders and foundation
We must draw on this deep and sound foundation to go forward into a certain future.
62 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

Conclusion
The contribution the Cathedral Group might make to HE today is evidenced in all these reports
Be founded on church foundations
Ensure values are truly faith-based and distinctive
Graeme Davies, HEFCE, 1995, had Golden Rule:
“the man who has the gold, makes the rules!”
Jesus’ Golden Rule different: “God and Mammon”
Can the faith-based academy challenge the
Agora/market-place in future – or will it be assimilated & its distinctive individuality erased?
63 12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL

Conclusion
Dearing: relationship between the market and academy?
View across Agora from the Acropolis towards Plato’s Academy
Tonight I may have been Socrates, goading some questions
But I hope and pray we can all avoid drinking the hemlock!
12th November 2015 Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 64

The role and calling of faith-based institutions in
Higher Education today
Rev'd Canon Prof Richard Burridge, Dean of KCL 12th November 2015 65