The Bible College, Melbourne was established by the Churches of Christ in 1907 in Carlton, Victoria, by Henry George Harward (died 12 April 1944),[1] with Alexander Russell Main, MA (died 13 October 1945),[2] as lecturer.[3] Main was previously pastor of the Brisbane Church of Christ.
In 1910 the college moved to a new building on a 5 acres (2.0 ha) property in the township of Glen Iris, re-established as the College of the Bible, a wholly owned institution of the Churches of Christ. Its initial intake was around 40 students. Two courses were offered: a three-year Bible course, from which successful students were issued with a Certificate of Proficiency, and a five-year course, entry for which required matriculation, after which successful students would be granted a Degree issued by the University of Melbourne, which body conducted various course modules.[4]
By 1912 there were "44 students in residence, including two women students".[5]
The first principal of the college was A. R. Main. He was succeeded around 1938 by one of the lecturers, Thomas Henry Scambler (died 31 October 1944)[6] and in 1945 by E. L. William, MA.
It changed its name to Churches of Christ Theological College in 1989 when it moved to 44-60 Jacksons Road, Mulgrave and in September 2011 changed its name to Stirling Theological College in honour of former graduate and vice-principal, Gordon R. Stirling, who ministered in all Australian states and in New Zealand; after retiring he became editor of The Australian Christian.
Gordon Moyes AC - Head of Wesley Mission in Sydney and Member of Parliament in New South Wales[citation needed]
Principals
Three presidents of the council of the University of Divinity and its predecessors, the Melbourne College of Divinity and MCD University of Divinity, came from Stirling Theological College: K. R. Bowes (1978–79), W. Tabbernee (1986-1987) and M. A. Kitchen (2004-05). A. F. Menzies served as Deputy Chancellor of the University of Divinity from 2012 to 2020.
^"College of the Bible". Darling Downs Gazette. Vol. LIII, no. 9152. Queensland, Australia. 20 January 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 6 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
