Training routes | The Church of England

Training is funded by the Church and can take different forms:

Full-time or part-time
Residential or non-residential training
Context-based pathways

The right route depends on your circumstances and calling. Find out more about the different pathways and training providers using the links below. You can also talk through these options with your Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO).

Residential pathways

Residential training involves living in college or travelling into college several times a week during term. You become part of a close-knit community, learning, growing, praying, and worshipping together.

Students training residentially are usually eligible for maintenance support for them and their dependents.

The links below will allow you to explore the residential training options.

Full-time non-residential pathways

Full-time non-residential (sometimes called context-based) training combines study with parish placement, allowing you to learn through practical experience alongside your academic work.

Some full-time non-residential programmes have weekly teaching on a set day during term time plus a number of residentials, while others operate a block week model where students gather for a week of teaching several times each year. The balance between study and practical learning also varies between individual courses

Students training on full-time non-residential pathways are usually eligible for maintenance support for them and their dependents.

The links below will allow you to explore the full-time non-residential training options.

Part-time pathways

Part-time training enable you to continue in paid employment while training. Ordinands on these pathways gather for an evening of teaching each week during term time plus a number of residentials, with the exact details varying between colleges. The programmes are widely available all over the country and so there should be one accessible to you.

From autumn 2026, ordinands training on part time pathways will be eligible for a grant of £1000 per year.

The links below will allow you to explore the part time training options.

Research degrees for potential theological educators

The Church requires ministers with a wide range of gifts, including those who may be called to serve as future theological educators and researchers. If you are considering undertaking a research degree, including doctoral study, contact your diocesan vocations team. They can help you explore your vocation and advise on the opportunities and pathways available within your diocese.

You can usually find contact details for your diocesan vocations team on your diocesan website, often under sections titled “Vocations”, “Ministry”, or “Discerning a Calling”. If you are unsure which diocese your church belongs to, you can find this information using A Church Near You. Once you have made contact, we will work with you and your diocese to agree a suitable pathway for your formation and development.

List of Theological Educational Institutions

This list can also be downloaded as a PDF.

Institution	Campus/Teaching Centre	Address	Postcode	Website	Full-time residential	Full-time non-residential	Part time
Church Mission Society	Oxford	Watlington Road, Oxford	OX4 6BZ	churchmissionsociety.org/pioneer	No	No	Yes
College of the Resurrection	Mirfield	Stocks Bank Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire	WF14 0BW	college.mirfield.org.uk	Yes	No	No
Cranmer Hall	Durham	3 South Bailey, Durham	DH1 3RJ	cranmerhall.com	Yes	Yes	Yes
Eastern Region Ministry Course	Cambridge	1a The Bounds, Westminster College, 2 Lady Margaret Road, Cambridge	CB3 0BJ	ermc.cam.ac.uk	No	Yes	Yes
Emmanuel Theological College	Blackburn	Blackburn Cathedral, Cathedral Close, Ewood, Blackburn	BB1 5AA	emmanueltheologicalcollege.ac.uk	No	No	Yes
Emmanuel Theological College	Isle of Man	St. John’s Mill, Mill Road, St. John’s, Isle of Man	IM4 3AF	emmanueltheologicalcollege.ac.uk	No	No	Yes
Emmanuel Theological College	Liverpool	St Aidan's Centre, 20 St James Road, Liverpool	L1 7AZ	emmanueltheologicalcollege.ac.uk	No	Yes	Yes
Emmanuel Theological College	Manchester	Nazarene Theological College, Dene Road, Didsbury, Manchester	M20 2GU	emmanueltheologicalcollege.ac.uk	No	No	Yes
Emmanuel Theological College	Penrith	Church House, 19-24 Friargate, Penrith	CA11 7XR	emmanueltheologicalcollege.ac.uk	No	No	Yes
Lindisfarne College of Theology	Durham	Cuthbert House, Stonebridge, Durham	DH1 3RY	lindisfarnect.org	No	Yes	Yes
Lindisfarne College of Theology	North Shields	Church House, St John's Terrace, North Shields	NE29 6HS	lindisfarnect.org	No	Yes	Yes
Oak Hill College	London	Chase Side, Southgate, London	N14 4PS	oakhill.ac.uk	Yes	No	Yes
Ridley Hall	Cambridge	Ridley Hall Road, Cambridge	CB3 9HG	ridley.cam.ac.uk	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ripon College Cuddesdon	Gloucester	St Mary de Crypt, Southgate Street, Gloucester	GL1 1TP	rcc.ac.uk	No	No	Yes
Ripon College Cuddesdon	Ludlow	The Ludlow Mascall Centre, Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, Shropshire	SY8 1RZ	rcc.ac.uk	No	No	Yes
Ripon College Cuddesdon	Oxford	Wheatley Road, Cuddesdon, Oxford	OX44 9EX	rcc.ac.uk	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sarum College	Salisbury	19 The Close, Salisbury	SP1 2EE	sarum.ac.uk	No	Yes	Yes
Spiritus Theological College (formerly SWMTC)	Truro	Epiphany House, Kenwyn, Truro	TR1 3DR	spirituscollege.ac.uk	No	No	Yes
St Augustine's College of Theology	Kent	Malling Abbey, 52 Swan Street, West Malling, Kent	ME19 6JX	staugustinescollege.ac.uk	No	Yes	Yes
St Augustine's College of Theology	London	Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, Southwark, London	SE1 1HW	staugustinescollege.ac.uk	No	Yes	Yes
St Hild College	Lincoln	Edward King House, Minster Yard, Lincoln	LN2 1PU	sthild.org	No	Yes	Yes
St Hild College	Mirfield	Stocks Bank Road, Mirfield	WF14 0BW	sthild.org	No	Yes	Yes
St Hild College	Online	Online	-	sthild.org	No	No	Yes
St Hild College	Sheffield	St Thomas Church, Nairn Street, Sheffield	S10 1UL	sthild.org	No	Yes	Yes
St Martha's College (formerly Local Ministry Programme)	Guildford	Church House Guildford, Stag Hill, Guildford, Surrey	GU2 7UP	stmarthascollege.org.uk	No	No	Yes
St Mellitus College	East Midlands	Trinity Church Nottingham, 192 Mansfield Road, Nottingham	NG1 3HX	stmellitus.ac.uk	No	Yes	Yes
St Mellitus College	London	24 Collingham Road, London	SW5 0LX	stmellitus.ac.uk	No	Yes	Yes
St Mellitus College	South West	St Matthias Church, North Hill, Plymouth	PL4 8HF	stmellitus.ac.uk	No	Yes	No
St Stephen's House	Oxford	16 Marston Street, Oxford	OX4 1JX	ssho.ac.uk	Yes	No	No
The Queen's Foundation	Birmingham	Somerset Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham	B15 2QH	queens.ac.uk	Yes	Yes	Yes
Trinity College Bristol	Bristol	Stoke Hill, Bristol	BS9 1JP	trinitycollegebristol.ac.uk	Yes	Yes	Yes
Westcott House	Cambridge	Jesus Lane, Cambridge	CB5 8BP	westcott.cam.ac.uk	Yes	No	Yes
Wycliffe Hall	Oxford	54 Banbury Road, Oxford	OX2 6PW	wycliffe.ox.ac.uk	Yes	Yes	Yes

Curacy and IME Phase 2

Ordination is not the end of training. After ordination, newly ordained ministers continue their formation through IME Phase 2, often known as curacy.

During curacy, you will serve in a parish, chaplaincy, or other ministry setting under the guidance of a Training Incumbent and with support from the wider diocesan team.

Curacy normally lasts around three to four years and combines:

practical ministry experience
theological reflection
diocesan training
ongoing supervision and support

This is a significant time of growth, learning, and formation as you continue to develop in ordained ministry.

Talk and pray with someone you trust

A friend, your church leader, or someone in your diocese.

They can help you begin to make sense of what God might be calling you to do.