About us

From the early Middle Ages, Salisbury was an important centre for theological training, its great cathedral and Close attracting students and scholars from the whole of Europe.

The history of theological study begins with St Osmund and the completion of the first cathedral at Old Sarum in 1092. After Old Sarum was abandoned in favour of New Sarum (or Salisbury, as it came to be known) and the new cathedral was built in the 1220s, several colleges were established as well as a medieval school of theology here on the site of 19 The Close.

The oldest part of Sarum College is the main building at the front of the site which was built in 1677. Attributed to Sir Christopher Wren, it was built for Francis Hill, a distinguished London lawyer and Deputy Recorder for Salisbury. He chose a particularly striking site, at the north end of Bishop’s Walk, facing directly down to the Bishop’s Palace, now the Cathedral School.

The establishment of the theological college in 1860 began with a gift. Walter Kerr Hamilton, Bishop of Salisbury used an anonymous donation to buy the house (then no. 87) from Miss Charlotte Wyndham – and the first students arrived in January 1861.

In the 1870s William Butterfield, foremost church architect of his day, and best-known for Keble College, Oxford, was commissioned to add a residential wing to provide accommodation for students, and then, in 1881, a chapel and library. In 1937 further extensions designed by William Randall Blacking were added, study bedrooms for students and a meeting room that is now the Common Room.

Eight students of Salisbury Theological College were killed in WWl. A memorial in Butterfield Chapel records their names.

During WWll the College was taken over by the women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the British Army.

The creepers which covered the front of the building were said to have been hastily removed ahead of a visit by the Queen as she did not like them.

In October 1971 the two theological colleges in Salisbury and Wells merged and became Salisbury & Wells Theological College.The additional students required more space, and two further extensions were built: a three storey block of flats and study bedrooms at the eastern end of the Butterfield building (the East Wing), and a new chapel (now the Royal School of Church Music’s administrative centre), refectory and library were added.

In 1994 Salisbury & Wells College closed, and the following year Sarum College was established to provide ecumenical theological education for all.

In 2006, the new link building joining the 1677 and 1877 buildings and incorporating lift access won the 2006 Salisbury Civic Society’s Conservation award. In early 2007 the five guest rooms in the Wren building were transformed from servants’ attic quarters to en-suite bedrooms with wonderful views across the Close to the cathedral. In 2008, two of the four meeting rooms in the Wren building were refurbished.

The college dining room was refurbished in 2011, and in 2013 the Victorian wings with residential accommodation were renovated, bringing the total number of en-suite bedrooms to forty. In 2015, the College library was given a comprehensive make-over thanks to a legacy from a keen library member, the late Heather Mathews. The Common Room was refurbished in early 2016 thanks to funding from The Mercers’ Company.

In 2022 the College is undergoing repairs and renovations to the Wren building and the building exterior.

Sarum College is an independent charity.

Charitable activity income comes from educational programmes, bookshop and library, charitable hospitality and property income.

Hospitality is an important part of Sarum’s life and purpose. The College has a trading subsidiary for hospitality revenue and gratefully accepts grants, donations and legacies. These funds help us to offer theological education more widely.

The full accounts can be found on the Charity Commission website and the financial review is on page 8 of that document.

The Bishops of Salisbury and of Bath and Wells are at all times Foundation Trustees by virtue of their office. New or additional Trustees are appointed by the existing body of Trustees. Trustees (other than the Foundation Trustees) serve for a four-year term and are then eligible for re-appointment for one further four-year term only.

The Trustees are responsible for overseeing Sarum’s management and administration. Their responsibilities include:

• Sarum’s policies, finances, budget and management;
• envisioning Sarum’s future;
• planning Sarum’s strategic development; and
• giving guidance and direction to the College Leadership team.

The Board of Trustees have three appointed committees. These are the Finance and General Purposes Committee, The Board of Studies and the Nominations and Remuneration Committee.

Sarum College is a registered charity in England and Wales, Charity No. 1161253, Company No. 951356. Sarum College’s trading subsidiary is Sarum College Services Ltd, Company No. 1931038.

In a time when formal religion seems to struggle to connect with people — Sarum, in its message and its methods, offers a special place and a series of imaginative communities for nourishing the soul, growing wholeness, and giving confidence for a richer future. The way of Christ being opened through joining in the seeking and sharing of a Spirit of grace and goodness. Sowing seeds of new hope amidst individual anxiety and institutional insecurity.

The Rt Revd Alastair Redfern, Chair of Trustees

Sarum College is located within the beautiful Cathedral Close in the centre of the medieval city of Salisbury

The most beautiful space in England
As pronounced by the author Bill Bryson in Notes from a Small Island (1995).

Salisbury has largest Cathedral Close in Britain, covering over 80 acres. There are shady trees and plenty of open space for picnics on the grass or one of the many benches dotted around the perimeter. In addition to the famous medieval cathedral, you can visit the following without ever leaving the medieval walls:

Salisbury Museum

This award-winning museum houses archaeological collections of national importance. Home to the Stonehenge Gallery and displays of pre-history, Romans, Saxons, the medieval history of Old Sarum and Salisbury, and the Pitt Rivers collection. There are regular exhibitions, a gift shop and a coffee shop.

Arundells

Home of the former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath. It houses collections of his sailing and musical memorabilia, Oriental and European ceramics, paintings, original political cartoons, bronzes and photographs. It also runs a lively programme of events, including music and public lectures.

Mompesson House

A National Trust property featuring notable plaster work, an elegant carved oak staircase, fine period furniture, a collection of 18th century drinking glasses, a charming walled garden and a tea room.

The Rifles Museum

Discover the story of the county infantry regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire. The riverside garden has views across the water meadows and The Rifleman’s table, a cafe and tearoom with a menu of simple British fare.

The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is an independent UK charity enabling the flourishing of church music. The charity has been supporting church music and church musicians for 96 years; for the last 15 of these this has been from our Administrative Centre on the top floor of Sarum College.

The RSCM is dedicated to supporting, nurturing and sustaining church music by providing education, training and resources to our members and to the wider church in countries all around the world. Its work aims to improve the study and standard of live music in Christian worship. The charity advocates music as a missional tool for church growth and is underpinned by our Christian faith. The RSCM values each person as bearing the image of God and strives to broaden the church music landscape to make it more inclusive and more active.

The RSCM works broadly in three ways:

1. Educating

The RSCM encourages the development of church music and musicians through a comprehensive programme of education to train current and future generations of church musicians. Its mandate is to provide a coherent, comprehensive educational offering that is relevant to the church and to members regardless of age or ability. Engagement with young people is a priority to enable a lifelong encounter with church music.

Opportunities for learning and continuing personal development to people of all levels of ability include:

• singing courses and choirs for young people and for adults;
• singing awards that celebrate and encourage progress;
• church music skills offering to train church musicians;
• Emerging Leaders programme to support a new generation of church musicians.

2. Supporting and resourcing

RSCM’s work aims to encourage our members and the wider church to view music as a tool for mission and growth, bringing people closer to God through music. New resources include Hymnpact!®, Voice for Life® Digital, and a range of publications, as well as guidance and advice documents for our members. The RSCM also facilitates  digital and in-person interaction with members at a local level to enable the exchange of practical, experience-led information.

3. Advocating

The RSCM promotes the value of church music in the wider world by acting as a thought leader to engage with big questions facing music in worship. In its advocacy efforts, the RSCM builds on the rich heritage of church music, while celebrating the diversity within the contemporary landscape. guiding question is what the wider world can bring to church music, and what sacred music can bring to the life of the church and society in general.

The RSCM works on a global scale, working with five international partners (in the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand).

Recognising its responsibility as custodians of the living tradition of church music, the RSCM is committed to the flourishing of church music both now and in the future.

For more information about the RSCM, visit the website

The RSCM