The Presbyterian College was
founded, prior to the establishment of the Presbyterian church in
Canada, by the Synod of the Canada Presbyterian Church in response
to an overture from the Presbytery of Montreal, and received its
charter in 1865. Classes started in 1867 in the basement of Erskine
Presbyterian Church.
Erskine
Church 1866-1894
St. Catherine Street at the S.E. corner of Peel
From the start the
College was affiliated with McGill University and depended on McGill
for the non-theological part of its curriculum. From 1869 until
1925 it included also a French theological department. In 1912 it
formed together with the Anglican, Methodist and Congregationalist
Colleges the Joint Board of Theological Colleges, but was forced
to withdraw from this ecumenical cooperative venture at the time
of church union in 1925. In 1969 the College rejoined the Joint
Board of Theological Colleges and now forms a consortium together
with McGill's Faculty of Religious Studies, the Montreal Diocesan
Theological College, and the United Theological College.
Illustration of the Presbyterian
College from the Canadian Illustrated News, January 8, 1876
The College moved in 1872 to its own building on McTavish Street
and Sherbrooke Street adjoining McGill University, and was enlarged
in 1882 with the addition of
David Morrice Hall.
David
Morrice Hall,
McGill
Archives
This building was eventually sold to McGill and the College moved
in 1963 to a new building located on the corner of
University and Milton Streets
just east of the McGill campus, close to the Faculty of Religious
Studies and United Theological College, and next to Diocesan Theological
College.
The building includes administrative offices, classrooms, a library,
a residence and cafeteria, and a chapel which was beautifully restored
in 1991 after it burned down due to arson. Full historical information
can be found in History of the Presbyterian College,
Montreal, 1865-1986 by H. Keith Markell (The Presbyterian
College, 1987).
The College is governed by a Board of Governors made up of clergy
and lay persons appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in Canada which maintains oversight through its Committee
on Theological Education. The Board includes faculty as well as
student and alumni/ae representatives.
The Presbyterian College is a member of the Joint Board of Theological
Colleges, Montreal, affiliated with the Faculty of Religious Studies,
McGill University, both of which are accredited by the Association
of Theological Schools.
see also:
The Presbyterian College Wikipedia page.
![[click for close-up]](images/drawing.jpg)
