@castlesofscotland: New College is one of the most distinctive buildings in Edinburgh and amongst the largest and most renowned centres for studies in Theology and Religious Studies in the UK. The founding of this institution came as a result of a religious conflict that emerged out of the Disruption of 1843 in which clergy and laity left the Church of Scotland to establish the Free Church of Scotland. The College aimed to educate future ministers and opened its doors to 168 students in November 1843 and, under the guidance of its first principal Thomas Chalmers, oversaw the construction of the current building in 1846. In 1935, New College was merged with the Faculty of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh, following the reunion of the Church of Scotland and United Free Church in 1929. Today New College is two things. It is the place in Edinburgh where the Church of Scotland trains its ministerial candidates, and the name of the building which houses both that training college and the University’s School of Divinity. In 2018, for the first time, the roles of Principal of New College and Head of the School of Divinity were both held by women – Professor Susan Hardman Moore and Professor Helen Bond respectively. These roles are now held by other individuals. #Scotland #edinburgh #HarryPotter #beautifuldestinations #travel

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Thursday 29 October 2026 13:12:26 GMT