Founded by
Edward White Benson, when he was
chancellor of
Lincoln Cathedral, the college opened on 25 January 1874. It was also known as
Scholae Cancellarii. The building it occupied on Drury Lane, which was originally the county infirmary, closed in 1995 after having its permit as a college recognised for ordination training withdrawn by the
Church of England owing to reduced numbers of residential ordination candidates nationally, with an increasing number training on part-time non-residential courses. The college had wanted to remain open, developing itself as a research institution, possibly affiliated to a nearby university. The buildings are now owned by the
Lincoln Theological Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (a registered charity), based at the
University of Manchester, established in 1997 by
Martyn Percy. Once Lincoln Theological College had closed, the only Anglican theological college in the
East Midlands offering training for those entering stipendiary ministry was
St John's College, Nottingham, in
Bramcote. == Name ==