Service marks Roehampton’s anniversary

The University of Roehampton celebrated its 175th anniversary with a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, writes Liz Dodd.

The service last week marking the anniversary of the founding of the university’s oldest college, Whitelands, was led by Roehampton pro-chancellor and dean of Westminster, John Hall. It was attended by students and honorary alumni including Sr Dorothy Bell, Dr Priscilla Chadwick, Dr Daleep Mukarji and Julian Filochowski.

Whitelands was founded by the Church of England’s National Society as a teacher training college in 1841. The university is also home to Digby Stuart College, founded by the Society of the Sacred Heart. It began in 1850 as a Catholic girls’ school and became a women’s teacher training college in 1874.

The dean of Westminster said: “We celebrate the beginning of women’s higher education and the Church of England’s role in providing well-qualified teachers for [its] schools ...  Roehampton continues as one of the oldest and newest providers of excellent higher education for women and men.”