Canterbury Christ Church University

The records currently available comprise minutes and meeting papers of the Governing Body and its associated committees. The first volume of Governors minutes includes the minutes of the steering committee which set up the College. There is also a large unofficial collection of photographs and ephemera.

The College was set up in 1961 by a steering committee of the Council of the Church Training Colleges, which first met in 1959. It was to specialise in Mathematics and Science as a new Church teacher training college. The College maintains its links with the Church to the present day.

A Principal Designate was appointed in 1960, and in 1961 the Board of Governors was established. The name of Christ Church College, Canterbury was agreed and a site in the centre of Canterbury was selected. Throughout the 1960s staff were appointed and an administrative structure was developed. The first students started in September 1962 and were based in a house called St Martins Priory. The new campus buildings were completed in October 1963.

When the College was established its awards were made by the Institute of Education of London University but it always hoped to forge links with the new University of Kent at Canterbury. In 1978, UKC became the validating body for Christ Church degrees although the College remained independent. In 1992, it became an accredited institution of UKC and in 1998 the College was awarded University College status, had its own Degree Awarding Powers and changed its name to Canterbury Christ Church University College.

From the 1980s onwards BA/BSc degrees were offered in addition to degrees in Education. Nursing, Radiography, Midwifery, Social Work and Occupational Therapy are now specialist areas. During the 1990s student numbers rose steadily from 2500 in 1990 to 12,000 in 2002.

In the 1990s the College expanded geographically. In particular it bought Salomons near Tunbridge Wells, opened a campus in Thanet and merged with the College of Guidance Studies.

The College was awarded University status in 2005.

To view this collection please apply in writing to Theresa Thurston, Deputy Director, Resources and Digital Discovery, Library and Learning Resources, Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU.

Email theresa.thurston@canterbury.ac.uk

Telephone 01227 782199

Description created by Nicola Waddington

Some hard copy lists are available.

This is an ongoing organisation and so the records are constantly accruing.

See also the records of: The Institute of Education, University of London Visitation files 1963-1974 IE/VSC/A/2/8 Correspondence 1963-1974 IE/DCO/B/8 Contact Sarah Aitchison lib.enquiries@ioe.ac.uk .

The College of Guidance Studies GB 2781 COGS These records are held in the University Library

The Church of England Record Centre Records relating to the founding of the College are among the files of the Board of Education and the Central Board of Finance. The finance files have the reference CBF/CTC28. Email archivist@c-of-e.org.uk .