Queen's Theological College, Kingston

Queen’s Theological College, now known as the Queen’s School of Religion, is a historic institution affiliated with Queen’s University in Kingston. Located on the university campus in Theological Hall, one of Kingston’s landmark buildings, the school has evolved from a seminary for Presbyterian ministers into a center for multidisciplinary, non-confessional religious studies.

The roots of the institution trace back to 1841, when the Presbyterian Church in Canada received a Royal Charter from Queen Victoria to establish Queen’s College. The college opened in 1842 with just 11 male students, aiming to train Scottish Presbyterian missionaries to serve settlers in Upper Canada.

In 1911, Queen’s College became Queen’s University at Kingston, a secular institution, separating from its theological roots to qualify for government funding. This led to the formal establishment of Queen’s Theological College by an Act of Parliament in 1912, continuing its religious mission within the newly formed United Church of Canada after 1925.

Through the decades, the institution expanded its offerings. By the 1970s, it began teaching undergraduate courses in religious studies, eventually founding the Department of Religious Studies, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Science. Meanwhile, theological education continued under the Department of Theology.

In 2010, to reflect the growing emphasis on academic religious studies, the institution rebranded as the Queen’s School of Religion, housing both theological and academic programs. However, due to a decline in enrolment, theological programs were discontinued in 2015.

Today, the Queen’s School of Religion is fully integrated within Queen’s Faculty of Arts and Science. It administers the Department of Religious Studies, offering research-driven, non-confessional, and multidisciplinary programs. Though its role in theological training has ended, the School remains a vital academic hub for the study of religion in Canada.