Ridley Hall, Cambridge

Life Together...In Ridley

Living together in a college community offers great opportunities for learning with and from each other. Friendships struck up in college often last a lifetime in ordained ministry.

The proportion of married and single students, of men and of women, varies from year to year. Usually about half are married, many with children. A few families live on site; others have the use of houses within easy reach of Ridley. Cambridge has excellent schools and children's facilities. We welcome families into the life of the college - to meals, worship, lectures and pastoral courses, while being clear that the level of involvement will vary and is something for each family to decide. We have an all-age worship service once or twice a term.
 

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A thriving Partners Group seeks to offer support for husbands, wives and fiancé(e)s through friendship, prayer and various social events. There are regular morning and evening meetings to ensure that all, whether in paid employment or not, have the opportunity to be involved.

Single students live on site; each has a good study bedroom. The college is set around a group of staircases, which operate as significant social units. Each one has a well-equipped kitchen/dining area, and each room is equipped with a telephone socket and ethernet data point for connection to the University's Data Network, JANET, and the World Wide Web. The Common Room Committee organises a programme of social events.

Regular meetings between staff and members of the student Common Room take place. These ensure consultation over a wide range of issues, academic, pastoral and domestic.

Ridley Hall benefits from the presence of a stream of visitors from all parts of the world. Students from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Pacific keep us very much aware of the world-wide Church. They make an invaluable contribution to the life of the college and the Federation.

In addition, we have a thriving Clergy Sabbatical Scheme. A number of clergy come each term to stay at Ridley for a few weeks or for a full term. The college arranges special study programmes to suit their particular needs.

There are also several conferences held in the college, mainly during the vacations. Conference enquiries should be addressed to the College Secretary.

At the centre of our lives are prayer and worship. We come together every week day at 8.15am for Morning Prayer, and celebrate Holy Communion as a college on Thursday evenings. A rhythm of daily office is available for those who wish. In a pattern of corporate prayer which is rooted in the creative use of Common Worship and the Book of Common Prayer, there is also opportunity for occasional experimental worship. Students play a full part in planning and leading services, and variety, musical gifts and use of the imagination are much encouraged. Staircase groups meet twice a week for more informal times of worship. On Mondays this is followed by a fellowship group for mutual prayer and support. Various other groups meet for prayer on an entirely voluntary basis.

The Tutor for Prayer works with students and partners on a one-to-one basis. Students are helped to develop a strong pattern of personal prayer and to explore various traditions of spirituality. The community observes a quiet hour each Thursday morning after chapel, and a quiet day each term.

Retreats are arranged, both on a corporate and individual basis: places used include Lee Abbey, Iona, Burford, West Malling, St Beuno's, Tymawr and Spring Harvest. Advice may be sought from the Tutor in Prayer or from counsellors drawn from outside the college. A prayer room in the college has been set aside for those who want to be assured of complete quiet, or for use by groups. There are also seminars on 'Helping others to pray' which are available to final year students and to their spouses.