Hartley Victoria College has two major foundations –   Hartley College of the Primitive Methodist Church and Victoria Park College of the United Methodist Church.  Ranmoor College Sheffield is also part of the history of the foundation, and this name is preserved in the name of one of our ‘chairs’.   The college therefore is rooted in the non-Wesleyan strands of Methodism and its constituent foundations represent noble commitments on the part of these small and financially poor connexions to providing education for ministry.  Hartley College was so called because of the benefaction of Sir William Hartley, a noted primitive Methodist industrialist.  Hartley’s jam may still be purchased!  One of the most distinguished tutors of Hartley College was Arthur Samuel Peake, the editor of the famous ‘Peake’s Commentary’, the first Rylands Professor of Biblical Criticism in Manchester University and also Pro Vice Chancellor.   His memory is honoured through the ‘Peake’ room in Luther King House.

At the time of Methodist union the two colleges came together in the building of the old Hartley College on Alexandra Road South in Manchester, a fine building which still stands.  It currently belongs to a Muslim school for boys.    In 1973 the building was sold by the Methodist Church and the college community moved to share the premises of the Northern Baptist College.  The Baptist and Methodist Colleges were shortly joined by the Northern College (United Reformed, Congregational and Moravian) and the Unitarian College, and a partnership with the Northern Ordination Course was consolidated.

In 1975 the Northern Federation for Training in Ministry was formed comprising the Baptist, Northern and Methodist Colleges, together with the Northern Ordination course, with the Unitarian College as an associate member.

The Partnership for Theological Education

In September 1998 the Federation ceased to exist, its members taking the initiative to form the Partnership for Theological Education.

The change of name expressed two very important related developments:

1. Whilst the Federation had only five members (full or associate) the Partnership includes a much larger number – including local Methodist districts and circuits – and their equivalent in other denominations.
2. Whilst the Federation (as its name implies) was concerned primarily with training for ordained ministry the Partnership is committed to theological education for the whole church.   Preparing people for ordination will remain an important part if its work – but only a  part.  Those preparing for  recognised ministry will study alongside others to their mutual enrichment.

Early in the life of the Federation the Manchester Christian Institute was formed as the ‘lay education’ arm of the Federation. In September 1998 the Institute ceased to exist as its work was incorporated into that of the Partnership.   This expressed a commitment to the whole people of God (lay, ordinand and ordained) learning together.  The Luther King Open College was created to serve as a collegial location within the Partnership for those studying without any direct church sponsorship channelled through the denominational colleges.

Hartley Victoria College Today

Hartley Victoria is not and does not have a building.   It is a college in the sense of being a collegial community.  The building was sold in 1972 and the college community since then has worked within the building currently known as Luther King House.  This is vested in the Luther King House Educational Trust in which the Methodist Church is a stake-holder.  The other stake-holders are The United Reformed Church, the Northern College (URC, Congregational Federation and Moravian) and the Northern Baptist College.

These colleges work on the same basis as Hartley Victoria in that they are educational foundations, legally separate because they have separate denominational constituencies, but working ecumenically within the same building and as one learning and worshipping community. At the same time there is a shared legal body and the Methodist Church has a legal and financial stake in the building.  The shared educational work has been through the Partnership for Theological Education.

Until recently Hartley Victoria College has worked in partnership with the Northern Baptist College, the Northern College, and the Unitarian College, on a validated programme in contextual theology.  This is gradually being superseded since the advent of the Southern North West Training Partnership. The programme was offered at Certificate, Diploma and Honours Degree level leading to the awards of Manchester University.  The focus of the programme was contextual theology and consistent with this offered pathways that were vocationally orientated.  Modules on Spirituality, Pastoral Theology, Pastoral Care, Worship and Liturgy, Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry, etc.  were part of the programme validated by the university alongside modules in more ‘traditional’ subjects. The latter are also studied with a contextual focus and this was expected in both teaching and assessment portfolios.    Because of this, placements with reflection on practice were at the heart of the curriculum. Placements, although the subject of report, were not separately assessed for the validated programme but rather served as a prime focus for the contextualisation of a person’s studies and assignments.  The BA also had a ‘pathway’ for those preparing for church related community work. This was initially developed for the United Reformed Church’s ‘Church Related Community Workers’ but now has a larger clientele. Though being phased out this BA will be offered to continuing students as long as necessary to allow them to complete their studies.

Manchester University also validates our MA, MPhil and PhD programmes.  These programmes are used for continuing ministerial development, but not only for this.    The research programme has now reached maturity, evidenced by the fact a number of students  have graduated with PhDs and others continue their research.  HVC tutors teach and supervise on our higher degree programme and the Principal of HVC has been chair of the Research Committee and Mentor to the PhD programme.  Our research programme has yielded some excellent PhDs manifesting an innovative contextual focus.

Teaching is offered on a wholly ecumenical basis. The Partnership thus means that we are able to draw from a tutorial team of over twelve people.  Peer group learning is also ecumenical.   We thus benefit enormously from one another’s strengths.  There is no way that the Methodist Church could alone support a staff team so large and embracing such expertise. The staff expertise embraces a wide range of specialisms in Biblical Studies, Science and Religion, Urban Theology, Community Work, Philosophical and Systematic Theology, History, Pastoral Studies, Liturgy and Hymnody, Feminist and Liberation Theology, Ethics, Art and Religion, World Church Studies, Inter Faith Dialogue with particular expertise in Sikhism and Islamic studies, etc.     

Through the Baptist and Northern College especially the partnership has important links with the world church – particular Latin America, South Africa, Prague and Taiwan.  In addition to validated elements there are denominational courses in Methodism and Ministerial Formation, along with regular tutorials.  Workshops in areas such as racism awareness, disability awareness, child protection, etc. are offered ecumenically. 

We are deeply committed to theological education for the whole church. A number of students study on our programmes ‘privately’ for their own personal interest and development. Their collegial location within the partnership is with the Luther King Open College, for which our President, Dr. David Goodbourn, formerly General Secretary of Churches together in Britain and Ireland, has particular responsibility.   

None of the colleges are residential and courses are offered midweek and over residential weekends.  There are also summer schools where a single module may be studied in one week.  This flexibility allows those in paid employment to access our programmes.    The residential weekend course is opted for primarily by lay people. A significant number of lay people have graduated after six years of part time study.  This represents a very impressive commitment and achievement.  Our ‘mixed mode’ approach thus permits maximum flexibility, modules are offered  midweek over the semesters; over residential weekends;  sometimes on a ‘block’ basis; and  over summer schools. Most modules are available as ‘standalone’ courses.

Over the last few years a taught Doctorate in ministry has been developed by Manchester University and members of Luther King House staff have been and are involved with this.

Southern North West Training Partnership

In 2005-06 as part of a desire on behalf of church leaders in the North West region to collaborate more closely in the provision of theological education the Southern North West Training Partnership came into being. Luther King House became part of the network comprising this Partnership which serves the North West Region by providing a developing FdA course entitled Learning for Mission and Ministry open to members of the constituent denominations of Luther King House and the Church of England.

The work and area of interest falls into three main areas:

• Education for Discipleship (an opportunity to enable lay Christians to further develop their learning. For Methodists this is consonant with EDEV.
• Training for Ministry through the  Learning for Mission and Ministry Course
• Continuing Ministerial and Professional Development for those in accredited lay and ordained ministries

Courses are being offered in various modes through six regional centres and also through e-learning.

The FdA will have a pathway developed to a full degree programme.

Currently Hartley Victoria College as part of Luther King House participates fully in the life and work of the RTP while continuing to service those completing the old Faith in Living BA of Manchester University. It continues to participate in the collegial responsibility for research and publication involving staff and the servicing of students wishing to continue on a taught MA validated by Manchester University and in research for MPhil and PhD degrees in the broad field of contextual theology.