St Philip's Theological College 

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Welcome to St Philip’s Theological College, Kongwa, Tanzania.

St Philip’s Theological College belongs to the Anglican Church of Tanzania under the leadership of the Archbishop of Tanzania. Apart from the diversity of the dioceses represented in both staff and students, there has also been a diverse representation of nationalities from abroad. Administrators and tutors are qualified Christian educators from Tanzania and abroad who hold master’s and bachelor degrees with teaching experience in schools of theology or Bible Colleges.

St. Philip’s Theological College is administered by a ten-member board representing various Dioceses, the College Principal and one other staff member.


Historical Background

Founder of the College and Builder of Westgate House 

Principal of Huron Training College with 12 of 13 first students of the College in 1914
















The 1st Mission (Bibi Bullard) House at Mulanga (1904). The Building is the first to be build at St Philip's College and later was renovated and now used as staff House.

St Philip's Theological College is the product of CMS missionaries who came and planted the Church in East Africa back in 1876 in Mpwapwa area. In 1899 the Church was planted in Kongwa and small congregations were starting up throughout the area as revival spread, but how to bring these young Christians to spiritual maturity posed a problem.  Missionaries could only visit the scattered churches once or twice a year. Because of that, missionary started some training to Local church leaders providing them with some initial training which equipped them for the role of evangelists. As the work grow they came to realization the church needs more local lay leaders and African clergy who will have to be trained to minister to the needs of the growing congregations.  After much prayerful discussion the decision was made to minister to the needs of the growing congregations.

 

After much prayerful discussion the decision was made in 1913 by CMS UK to commission Rev. Dr Westgate of CMS Canada to launch a Theological College at Kongwa. The building work started in the same year and the College was officially started its ministry in 1914 to train Christian leaders for the Anglican Church and other Protestant Churches. Since then St Philips' emphasis has been in the training of men and women towards Church leadership and the ordained ministry with additional emphasis in offering special training to the pastor's wives so that the couples are prepared together. 

Due to its reliable reputation, St Philips has for many years been receiving students from other denominations such as the Lutheran and Moravian churches and even from neighboring countries such as Kenya, Rwanda and Congo (DRC); and therefore has managed to train hundreds of men and women for Christian Leadership. Over the years St. Philip?s has seen many changes to staff, buildings and syllabus but the emphasis remains the same: to equip men and women for the task of serving the Christian Church in East Africa. Apart from the diversity in the dioceses represented in both staff and students who come from different denominations. The College has also been a diverse representation of nationalities from abroad. 

Please read more about our history in a our kindle book available in the following link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Kongwa-Centenary-Theological-Tanzania-ebook/dp/B00NCQHC3C 

WHAT WE BELIEVE

St Philip’s believes in:

  • One God who has revealed in three persons
  • The divine inspiration and authority of the Bible, and that its teachings must be biblically sound and relevant to the Church it serves.
  • The centrality of the Cross of Christ to the Christian life and thought.
  • The need and importance of individual conversion to Christ.

St Philip’s is committed to values centred on Bible reading and prayer, which are reflected through our emphasis on daily public and personal devotion.


OUR GOAL

St Philip’s is committed to training and equipping men and women for pastoral ministry and church leadership with advanced knowledge and understanding in Theology, Mission and Development Studies, Practical skills are learned to enable students to work more effectively in their local environment in a more holistic and practical way building God’s Kingdom.