North Wales Baptist College (Y Coleg Gwyn)

About Us

A Short History:

The Welsh Baptists in north Wales were responsible for the creation of 'Yr Athrofa' (The Institute) in Llangollen in 1862. By the end of the nineteenth century, with the development of universities within the Principality, it was decided to move to a new site.

Following much debate and discussions, The North Wales Baptist College was established at BANGOR, Gwynedd, in 1892 and has continued at the same site until today. 

We have close links with the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Wales, Bangor. Traditionally, at least one member from the college staff assists in the training of undergraduate and post-graduate students at the university. 

Our current Warden, the Reverend Professor D. Densil Morgan, has been associated with the university for many years; and following a period as the head of the School of Theology and Religious Studies, and gaining a personal chair from the university, he is now Head of the College of Arts and Humanities.

The history of the first century of the college was recorded by our previous Principal the Reverend John Rice Rowlands,  in a Welsh language book,               Y Coleg Gwyn - Canrif ym Mangor 1892-1992. ISBN 0 901330 96 5, Gwasg Pantycelyn, Caernarfon, June 1992.

The college is located in two impressive semi-detached Victorian properties, with views over the city of Bangor, with the mountain ranges of Snowdonia in the background.

 

Teaching for Ministry:

The college has specialised over the years in preparing candidates for ordained and local ministry, predomionantly for churches in membership of the Baptist Union of Wales (BUW) and for those in the Baptist Union of Greaty Britain (BUGB). We have also assisted those of other traditions in their training, and some of our students have gone into the overseas missionary field with the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS).

As we are located in a Welsh speaking area, many of our students have followed their studies through the medium of the Welsh language. We have also conducted training for our English speaking colleagues who have gone on to be ministers all over Great Britain. Today we are a completely bilingual college and all our courses are available in Welsh or English.