Our History
Ridley College began on 1st March 1910 (we have celebrated 100 years). It was established by a group of evangelicals, including the Bishops of Bendigo and Gippsland, who were anxious to ensure that there was a place to train future generations of gospel-focused leaders.
Their plan was to open a residential college where people could train for Christian ministry, including ordinands and future missionaries. They could study at Ridley for qualifications from the Australian College of Theology, the Melbourne College of Divinity, and the University of Melbourne.
Ridley was an affiliated residential college of the University of Melbourne from 1965–2005. It was the first college of the University to be co-residential for men and women.
The Principals of Ridley College have been:
- George Aicken, 1910–1917
- Eustace Wade, 1918–1938
- Bishop Donald Baker, 1938–1952
- Stuart Barton Babbage, 1953–1963
- Leon Morris, 1964–1979
- Maurice Betteridge, 1979–1992
- Graham Cole, 1992–2001
- Peter Adam, 2002–2012
- Brian Rosner, 2012–Current
Proclaiming Christ: Ridley College Melbourne 1910–2010
This book marks the centenary of Ridley. It has been published on the story and the life of Ridley College with multiple contributions celebrating our past and looking to our future. Contributions to our Archive are welcome.
Contents: Overview
- The Founding of Ridley Peter Adam
- Ridley College after the Second World War Bishop John Wilson
- At the end of the twentieth century Rhys Bezzant
- The principals of Ridley Darrell Paproth
- Ridley, Melbourne and beyond Wei Han Kuan
- Ridley, CMS, and Global Mission Bishop Barbara Darling
Origins
7. Nicholas Ridley: Scholar and Reformer Maurice Betteridge
8. Reformation training for ministry Gerald Bray
9. The Reformed Anglican Tradition: theology and priorities Graham Cole
10. Anglican, Reformed, Evangelical? Rhys Bezzant
11. The Perry heritage Wei Han Kuan
Future
12. Ridley: the future Peter Adam
Foreword: Archbishop Philip Freier
