The University of Divinity is over a century old, having been established in 1910 as the Melbourne College of Divinity to provide Australian theology degrees and other qualifications that support the growth and vitality of Christian churches and their leadership.
1910: The Melbourne College of Divinity (MCD) is founded by an Act of the Victorian Parliament. The College is constituted by a group of churches based in Victoria, and its awards overseen by its President and Registrar. The founding degrees are the BD and the DD
1913: The first degrees are awarded.
1972: The Act is revised to introduce the Roman Catholic Church into the College. The Act allows the recognition of Colleges or ‘Associated Teaching Institutions’ that teach the degrees of the MCD. The role of Dean is created. A BTheol is created as a new undergraduate degree.
2012: The University of Divinity (UD) begins operation as a University, following approval in 2011 by the Victorian Government. The first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor are appointed.
2021: The School of Indigenous Studies is established, as Australia’s first University program in theology led by and for Indigenous people.
Office-bearers
Chancellors of the University of Divinity 2012-
| 2012- | Dr Graeme L Blackman AO |
Vice-Chancellors of the University of Divinity 2012-
| 2012-2024 | Professor Peter Sherlock |
| 2024- | Professor James McLaren |
Presidents of the Melbourne College of Divinity 1910-2011
| 1911-1913 | The Most Revd Henry Lowther Clarke (Anglican) |
| 1914-1915 | The Revd Dr John Laurence Rentoul (Presbyterian) |
| 1916-1917 | The Rt Revd Thomas Henry Armstrong (Anglican) |
| 1918-1919 | The Revd Dr Edward Holdsworth Sugden (Methodist) |
| 1920-1921 | The Revd John Mathew (Presbyterian) |
| 1921-1923 | The Most Revd Harrington Clare Lees (Anglican) |
| 1924-1925 | The Revd Prof William Henry Holdsworth (Baptist) |
| 1926-1927 | The Revd Prof Arthur Edward Albiston (Methodist) |
| 1928-1929 | The Rt Revd Thomas Henry Armstrong (Anglican) |
| 1930-1931 | The Revd James Shaw Griffith (Congregational) |
| 1932-1933 | The Revd Dr A Law (Anglican) |
| 1934-1935 | The Revd W Borland (Presbyterian) |
| 1936-1937 | The Revd Prof Arthur Edward Albiston (Methodist) |
| 1938 | The Revd Prof J Gillies (Presbyterian) |
| 1939 | The Most Revd Frederick Waldegrave Head (Anglican) |
| 1940-1941 | The Revd J W Grove (Methodist) |
| 1942-1943 | The Rt Revd Donald Baker (Anglican) |
| 1944-1945 | The Revd James Douglas Northey (Congregational) |
| 1946 | The Revd Prof George Calvert Barber (Methodist) |
| 1947-1948 | The Revd Prof A J Grigg (Baptist) |
| 1949-1950 | The Revd D F Mitchell (Presbyterian) |
| 1951-1952 | The Rt Revd J McKie (Anglican) |
| 1953-1954 | The Revd Dr Alfred Harold Wood (Methodist) |
| 1955-1956 | The Revd Prof D S Hopkirk (Presbyterian) |
| 1957-1958 | The Revd James Douglas Northey (Congregational) |
| 1959-1960 | The Very Revd Stuart Barton Babbage (Anglican) |
| 1961-1962 | The Revd Prof D Mervyn Himbury (Baptist) |
| 1964-1965 | The Revd Prof Norman Lade (Methodist) |
| 1965 | The Revd Dr J Davis McCaughey (Presbyterian) |
| 1966-1967 | The Rt Revd Felix R Arnott (Anglican) |
| 1968-1969 | The Revd Dr Harold F Leatherland (Congregational) |
| 1970-1971 | The Revd Prof D Mervyn Himbury (Baptist) |
| 1972 | The Revd G T Inglis (Methodist) |
| 1973 | The Revd Prof Robert A Anderson AM (Presbyterian) |
| 1974-1975 | Prof Robin Lorimer Sharwood AM (Anglican) |
| 1976-1977 | The Very Revd Dr Austin Cooper omi AM (Catholic) |
| 1978-1979 | The Revd Dr K R Bowes (Churches of Christ) |
| 1980-1981 | The Rt Revd James Alexander Grant (Anglican) |
| 1982-1983 | The Revd Prof Norman J Young (Uniting Church) |
| 1984-1985 | The Revd Dr Anthony J Kelly CSsR (Catholic) |
| 1986-1987 | The Revd Dr William Tabbernee (Churches of Christ) |
| 1987-1989 | The Revd Dr Richard W A McKinney (Anglican) |
| 1989-1990 | The Revd Prof Ian Breward (Uniting Church) |
| 1991-1992 | The Revd Dr Norman M Ford sdb (Catholic) |
| 1993-1995 | The Revd Prof Kenneth R Manley (Baptist) |
| 1995-1997 | The Revd Dr Norman G Curry AM (Anglican) |
| 1997-1999 | The Revd Prof Graeme M Griffin (Uniting Church) |
| 2000-2001 | The Revd Dr Brendan J Byrne sj (Catholic) |
| 2002-2003 | The Rt Revd Andrew W Curnow (Anglican) |
| 2004-2005 | The Revd Merrill Kitchen OAM (Churches of Christ) |
| 2006-2007 | The Revd Prof Christiaan Mostert (Uniting Church) |
| 2008-2009 | The Revd Prof Frank Rees (Baptist) |
| 2010-2011 | The Revd Dr Terence Curtin (Catholic) |
Deans and Registrars of the Melbourne College of Divinity 1910-2012
From 1910 to 1975 the Registrar was the executive officer of the Melbourne College of Divinity. From 1976, following changes to the Melbourne College of Divinity Act, the chief executive officer of the institution was designated as the Dean (who initially also held the office of Registrar).
- The Revd Dr John Mathew (Registrar, 1910-1916)
- The Revd Professor David Stow Adam (Registrar, 1917-1924)
- The Revd James Shaw Griffith (Registrar, 1925-1928)
- The Revd Professor Frederick Ernest Oxer (Registrar, 1928-1947)
- The Revd Professor George Calvert Barber CBE (Registrar, 1947-1966)
- The Revd Alfred Bird (Registrar, 1967-1975)
- The Revd Dr John Henley (Dean, 1976-1990; Registrar 1976-1990)
- The Revd Dr Harold Pidwell (Dean, 1991-2001; Registrar 1991-2001)
- Professor Paul Beirne (Dean, 2001-2012; Registrar 2001-2002)
Fellows of the Melbourne College of Divinity 1982-2011
In 1982 the Melbourne College of Divinity resolved to appoint Fellows of the MCD. Four Foundation Fellows were appointed, and provision was made for appointment of up to twenty Fellows.
- + The Very Revd Dr Percy Jones (1983)
- + The Revd Dr J Davis McCaughey AC (1983)
- + Prof Robin L Sharwood AM (1983)
- + E Lyall Williams (1983)
- + The Revd Prof Austin Cooper omi AM (1990)
- + The Revd Dr Norman G Curry AM (1990)
- + The Revd Dr Mervyn Himbury (1990)
- + Sr Dr Joan Nowotny ibvm (1990)
- + The Revd Prof George S S Yule (1990)
- + The Revd Prof Robert A Anderson AM (1993)
- + The Revd Prof Harry R Wardlaw (1993)
- + The Revd Prof Nigel M Watson (1993)
- + The Revd Dr William J Dalton sj (1994)
- + The Revd Dr Humphrey O’Leary CSsR (1995)
- The Revd Prof Norman J Young (1995)
- The Revd Bruce L Barber (1996)
- The Revd Brian Kingston Smith (1997)
- + The Revd Prof Ian Breward (1999)
- + The Revd Emeritus Prof Norman M Ford sdb (2001)
- The Revd Dr Kenneth R Manley (2001)
- + The Revd Dr Campion Murray ofm (2003)
- + The Revd Dr John E Paver (2003)
- Sr Prof Maryanne Confoy rsc (2006)
- The Revd Dr William Tabbernee (2007)
- The Revd Merrill A Kitchen OAM (2011)
References
Paul Beirne, ‘The Melbourne College of Divinity: A Selective Historical Overview‘, Pacifica 23 (2010): 123-36.
Gabrielle McMullen, Paul Beirne and Peter Carpenter, ‘The creation of Australia’s first “University of Specialisation”‘, Pacifica 28/3 (2017)
Peter Sherlock, ‘The Foundation of the Melbourne College of Divinity‘, Journal of Religious History 40 (2016): 204-24.