Emmanuel College

EMMANUEL COLLEGE - "the Protestant and religious foundation of Emmanuel College" - as it is styled in the Bidding Prayer, was founded in 1584, by Sir Walter Mildmay, who was an ardent adherent to the reformed religion, a native of Chelmsford and student of Christ's College, and, subsequently, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth granted a charter dated June 10, 1584. It empowered Sir Walter Mildmay, his heirs and assigns "for the propagation of the pure Gospel of Christ and in praise and honour of Almighty God to erect, form, and establish for all time and endow a certain College of sacred theology, the sciences, philosophy, and good arts, such college to be called the College of Emmanuel."

The intentions of the founder seem to have been carried out, as in 1629 Laud speaks of the College as a nursery of Puritanism; and when about the year 1629 men "for conscience sake" left this country to form New England, Emmanuel sent forth a goodly contingent. Foremost was John Harvard, the founder of Harvard University.

By the aid of Ralph Symons. the conventual building was converted into the College. which had a medieval character with gables till 1716, when the southern range was rebuilt as we now see it.

The Hall is on the site of the Friars' Church. It contains a portrait, formerly supposed to be of the founder, over the dais; and one of Dr. Samuel Parr in the Combination Room which is on the east of the Hall. There are portraits of the founder, of Sir Wolstan Dixie, of Harold Browne, Bishop of Winchester, of Mandell Creighton, Bishop of London, and of Professor Hort.

The Library is said to have been the refectory of the Convent; and it at one time served as the College Chapel. It stands north and south, which would be in accordance with Puritanical views.

The tombstone of Chaderton (who was the first Master), at the entrance to the chapel, relates that he died in 1640, at the age of 103. The Library contains a folio manuscript of Wickcliffe's translation of the Bible, and also a quarto manuscript of his New Testament (of the former there are only twelve extant); a Hebrew manuscript of the Old Testament of the 13th century, purchased by Bishop Bedell, at Venice, in the reign of Charles I., besides a large number of manuscripts. It includes a great portion of Archbishop Sancroft's printed library.

The present Chapel, due to the energy of Sancroft, who became Master in 1662, and afterwards (1678) Archbishop of Canterbury, was built between 1668 and 1678, from Sir Christopher Wren's designs.

The wood-work in the interior was given by Archbishop Sancroft; and the altar-painting, representing the return of the Prodigal Son, by Giacomo Amiconi, was given by a fellow commoner.

The cloister along the western front of the chapel, like that at Peterhouse, connects the chapel with the sides of the quadrangle, and permits the free ventilation of the court.

Over it is a gallery, now used as a picture-gallery, which was probably in imitation of the galleries in the older colleges; it contains a remarkable collection of portraits, among others those of Sir Walter Mildmay and Archbishop Sancroft, and one of Ralph Symons, the architect, who did so much for this College and for Trinity and St John's Colleges.

It is connected with the Master's lodge, which stands on the northeast of the College, is approached from Emmanuel Street (formerly Emmanual Lane), and was built in 1875, Blomfield being the architect.

The Old Building, called also the "brick building," in medieval style, to the south-east of the quadrangle, was erected in 1633. A path through the ground at the back of the College, and beside the pond, in which are usually some swans, leads to the fellows' garden, which is very beautiful.

Website: Emmanuel College