1440 God's House founded

A small college called God's House was established by William Byngham at a date around 1440 with the aid of the Master and some Fellows of Clare College. Precise dates reported for its foundation vary: the Blue Guide says circa 1436, Rawle late 1430s, Leedham-Green 1439 and Pevsner 1442.

The purpose of the College was to provide a supply of trained teachers for schools, and the studies were secular rather than theological.

William Byngham was a Rector in London, in the parish of St John Zachary, and the College was originally situated in the east side of Milne Street, and opposite a medieval church also called St John Zachary. The site was just South of where the antechapel of King's College chapel is now,

In 1446, Henry VI requested that Byngham vacate that site to allow King's College to expand, and offered help to move God's House to the present site of Christ's College, as it later became known as, just outside the Barnwell Gate.

Storylines using this article

College Foundations 1401-1600 [prev] [next]