St Barnabas College joins the University of Divinity

The University of Divinity is delighted to welcome St Barnabas College as its newest College. St Barnabas College is part of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide, serving the educational needs of the Diocese and the Province of South Australia. It delivers high quality undergraduate and postgraduate theological education, equipping clergy, laity, and ordination candidates for ministry in the church and for Christian life in the world. Students will be able to study at the University of Divinity directly through St Barnabas College from 2023.

Situated in picturesque North Adelaide, the College was established in 1880 by Bishop Augustus Short and is housed in its original bluestone building. It is co-located with the Anglican Diocesan Offices, adjacent to St Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, parklands and the Adelaide Oval and a short walk from Adelaide CBD. As the University’s third College in Adelaide, St Barnabas further strengthens opportunities for collaboration with current and future students, teachers and researchers based in South Australia from a wide range of churches and institutions.

St Barnabas College values the diversity of Anglican traditions, and, with a longstanding commitment to ecumenical collaboration, already has strong relationships with the University’s other Colleges, locally and nationally.

The admission of a new College to the University follows a process of rigorous assessment, during which the College must demonstrate its capacity to meet the academic, governance and financial obligations required to deliver education and research at university level.

The Most Reverend Geoffrey Smith, Archbishop of Adelaide, said:

“The vision of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide is Adelaide Anglicans Flourishing and United in God’s love and there are four areas of focus: Growing in discipleship and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ; Connecting in and with communities; Advocating and working together for social justice; and Caring for creation and each other. In order for us to live out our vision the people of God will need encouragement, training and education. The partnership with the University of Divinity will give us great opportunity for the wide scale ministry development we need and I welcome the partnership very much”.

Professor Peter Sherlock, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said:

“St Barnabas has delivered high quality theological education for well over a century, forming people for ministry in South Australia and beyond in the Anglican tradition. The passion and dedication of its staff and students to Christian mission and preparation for service in the world is a perfect fit for the University’s vision and mission. As our fourth Anglican and third Adelaide-based College, we look forward to the fruits of collaboration across Australia brought by this exciting new partnership.”

The Reverend Dr Joan Riley, St Barnabas College Principal, said:

“As St Barnabas College enters a new era of theological education to equip and enable the whole people of God, a new partnership with University of Divinity presents diverse opportunities for teaching, learning, and research and a bright and hopeful future. The St Barnabas College community will be refreshed and strengthened as a college of a dynamic and growing University which has ministry, theology, and the church engaging the world as its core business.”

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