Sion College

Sion College, 1791 engraving by John Thomas Smith.

Sion College, in London, is an institution founded by Royal Charter in 1630 as a college, guild of parochial clergy and almshouse, under the 1623 will of Thomas White, vicar of St Dunstan's in the West.[1]

The clergy who benefit by the foundation are the incumbents of the City parishes, of parishes which adjoined the city bounds when the college was founded, and of parishes subsequently formed out of these.

History

Sion College was created by the first charter granted by King Charles I in 1630.

The original buildings in London Wall were on a site previously occupied by Elsing Spital, a hospital for the blind founded in 1329, and earlier still by a nunnery. They comprised the almshouses, a hall and chapel, and the library added to the foundation by Dr John Simson, rector of St Olave Hart Street, one of White's executors. There were also, at least originally, apartments for students. The site was bounded by London Wall, Philip Lane, and Gayspur Lane (now Aldermanbury),[2] roughly where Aldermanbury Square now stands. The first Court (committee) from 1630 consisted of John Gifford (President), Thomas Worrall and John Simson (Deans), and Francis Dee, Cornelius Burges, Edward Abbott and Thomas Wood (Assistants).[3]

In the 1640s Sion College was regarded as a stronghold of the London presbyterians, their "de facto headquarters", and it took on a collective role from around 1645.[4] The administration of the College fell into the hands of the parliamentarian side during 1643, as John Sedgwick of St Alphage London Wall took on the royalists President James Marsh, archdeacon of Chichester, and Edward Sparke.[5] A work from 1646 by Anthony Burges claimed support from College members including the President Arthur Jackson,[6] There were attacks on the College by the Independents John Goodwin (Sion-Colledg visited and Neophytopresbyteros) and John Price (1625?–1691) (The Pulpit Incendiary, 1648), and it was defended by Cornelius Burges (Sion College what it is, and doeth, 1648). William Jenkyn also attacked Goodwin (The Busie Bishop, or the Visitor Visited, and The Blind Guide, or Doling Doctor, 1648).[7]

Sion College, the North Front (1800)

From 1647 to 1659 the provincial synod met there, leading to the name "Sion College Conclave";[8] There was a practical distinction, the London Provincial Assembly consisting of elders rather than all ministers.[9] The first synod took particular aim at John Milton's divorce tracts, beginning a polemic relationship with Milton. The Serious and Faithfull Representation (January 1649) of 47 London ministers, a work against Oliver Cromwell, arose from an assembly in the College;[10] Milton's The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates from February of that year is in part an answer, and snipes at the ministers.[11]

The former Sion College building on Victoria Embankment

The College was badly damaged in the Great Fire of London. In 1884 the almshouses were abolished, and the almsfolk became out-pensioners. It was subsequently found possible to extend their numbers from the original number of two men and two women to 40 in all, and to increase the pension. In 1886 Sion College was moved to new buildings at 56 Victoria Embankment, between Carmelite Street and John Carpenter Street. It became principally known for its theological library which served as a lending library to members of the college, and was accessible to the public. A governing body appointed by the members to administer the foundation includes a president, two deans and four assistants.

In 1996, the college disposed of its large Victorian premises on the banks of the River Thames. The building has been converted into offices. The library was closed June 1996, with the manuscripts, pamphlets, and pre-1850 printed books going to Lambeth Palace Library, and newer books to The Maughan Library, King's College London. Its activities now take place in a variety of locations.

Presidents

Source: Pearce, Appendix A.

Charter to 1699

1700–1799

1800–1891

Later Presidents

Manuscripts housed in the library

Notes

  1. ↑ "Shutters Court – Sir John Fouches | A Dictionary of London". British-history.ac.uk. 2003-06-22. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  2. ↑ Pearce, p. 14.
  3. ↑ Pearce, pp. 35–6.
  4. ↑ Francis J. Bremer, Tom Webster, Puritans and Puritanism in Europe and America: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia (2006), p. 39.
  5. ↑ Pearce, Ch. VI.
  6. ↑ Jason Peacey, Politicians and Pamphleteers (2004), p. 78.
  7. ↑  Lee, Sidney, ed. (1892). "Jenkyn, William". Dictionary of National Biography. 29. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  8. ↑ Pearce, p. 110.
  9. ↑ Bacon, Richard. "note 20". Fpcr.org. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  10. ↑ "Online Library of Liberty". Oll.libertyfund.org. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  11. ↑ John Milton. "The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates – Online Library of Liberty". Oll.libertyfund.org. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  12. ↑ "John Hackett (HKT609J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  13. ↑ "Richard Houldsworth (HLDT607R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  14. ↑ "Matthias Stiles (STLS614M)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  15. ↑ "Arthur Jackson (JK613A)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  16. ↑ "Samuel Clarke (CLRK617S)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  17. ↑ "John Hall (HL652J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  18. ↑ "Richard Lucas (LCS677R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  19. ↑ "Marmaduke Hopkins (HPKS665M)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  20. ↑ "Thomas Mangey (MNGY704T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  21. ↑ "Edward Cobden (CBDN713E)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  22. ↑ "Benjamin Newcome (NWCM734B)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  23. ↑ "Arnold King (KN749A)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  24. ↑ "William Vincent (VNCT757W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  25. ↑ "Wix, Samuel (WKSQ791S)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  26. ↑ "John Russell (RSL825J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  27. ↑ "William Scott (SCT845W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  28. ↑ "James William Worthington (WRTN824JW)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  29. ↑ "Percival Clementi Smith (SMT867PC)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  30. ↑ "John Nelson Burrows (BRWS868JN)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  31. ↑ "Edwin Curtis Bedford (BDFT881EC)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

References

Further reading

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Public Domain This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "article name needed". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

Coordinates: 51°30′41″N 0°6′24″W / 51.51139°N 0.10667°W / 51.51139; -0.10667

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