Wesley House 1.33

Wesley House was founded as a Methodist theological college (or seminary) in Jesus Lane, Cambridge, England. It opened in 1921 as a place for the education of Methodist ministers within the precincts of the University of Cambridge. It was a founding member of the Cambridge Theological Federation. Today, Wesley House is a gateway to theological scholarship for students and scholars of the Wesleyan and Methodist traditions from around the world.HistoryThe college was founded and endowed by Michael Gutteridge, a Methodist businessman in Naples, well known in Italy for philanthropy. After four years at 2 Brookside, Cambridge, in cooperation with Cheshunt College, it moved in 1925 to its present site, which was purchased from Jesus College.The principal's house was completed in 1929, and the chapel, which originally contained paintings by Harold Speed, in 1930. The buildings were designed by Maurice Webb. The garden was designed in 1925 by Sir Aston Webb in a Tudor revival style.On 1 September 2014 the Jesus Lane site was sold to Jesus College and a long lease taken out by the Trustees of Wesley House on the eastern part of the site. The Principal's house and Chapel are retained whilst a new gatehouse building containing a library, dining hall and teaching rooms is being constructed on Jesus Lane. At the back of the site a new student accommodation block is being constructed. The new buildings will open in time for the start of the 2015-16 academic year.