Our vision

At Trinity, our passion is to see people embrace the call to ‘live like the kingdom is near’. But what does that actually mean for us? How do we grapple with the now-and-not-yet tension, partially experiencing kingdom life through our relationship with God but still waiting for it to come in all its fullness?

Although there are many things we don’t know about the nature of God’s kingdom, the Bible doesn’t leave us in the dark: the Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5, describe the key blessings and promises of the kingdom and the character of those who live in it. So we know that kingdom life involves humility, dependence on God’s comfort, gentleness, hunger for the right ways of God, mercy towards others, purity in deeds and motives, a passion for peace and a willingness to face opposition, even persecution, for his sake.

Therefore we want those kingdom values to permeate every area of our lives, affecting how we live and work each day, how we learn more of God and how we lead his people in being a light to the world. As an evangelical theological college we’re preparing people for ordained ministry in the Church of England, church leadership in other denominations, local and international mission work and the gaining of theological knowledge to take back into the workplaces, homes and communities of our nation. It’s our aim that people would be equipped to live like the kingdom is near in all of those different callings.

Of course we don’t always get it right and in studying here you won’t be joining a perfect community. But you will be joining a passionate community, looking to God every day to help us ‘seek first his kingdom and his righteousness’ by living the kind of kingdom lives that draw others towards the King.

Our vision

is for kingdom living, kingdom learning and kingdom leading


Our task

is shaping leaders of Christ-like character in community for a missional church


Our commitment

is to kingdom values

Humility

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

We know that we’re all equally undeserving before God, yet all equally redeemed and loved, so regardless of our role in the community each of us expects to both shape and learn from others.

Wholeness

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted

We aim to graciously but honestly confront our weaknesses together, so that we can know God’s forgiveness and healing and extend that invitation of wholeness to others.

Service

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth

We encourage one another towards servant-hearted living, learning and leading, striving for all our interactions to be characterised by gentleness, kindness and a deep love for others.

Holiness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled

We believe there really is beauty in holiness and we’re wholeheartedly pursuing it, wanting a Jesus-like character to be recognisable in every member of our community.

Justice

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy

We want the compassion of God to be evident in our lives, teaching us to make sure that people who are vulnerable or oppressed are protected, valued and given a voice.

Worship

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God

We aim to learn and worship together in a way that allows the Holy Spirit to move through every activity, reminding us that everything we do is ultimately about better knowing, loving and serving God.

Diversity

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God

We believe that all followers of Jesus are united by an identity in him, regardless of background, leadership style or theological views, and our task is to love one another as we stay focused on the mission he’s given us.

Courage

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom

We strive to be courageous leaders, passionately and persistently sharing the good news of the Kingdom and living out its values in every area of our lives.

Latest blog posts

New Chair of Trustees and Other Trustees

NEW CHAIR OF TRUSTEES AND OTHER TRUSTEES   Trinity College Bristol is inviting expressions of interest from people to join the board of trustees, including a new Chair to succeed the Right Revd Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford. We are particularly keen to widen the diversity of the board.    The college is a lively learning and […]

Howard takes on new role as Lead Tutor for Academic Inclusion

Our Tutor in Missiology, Howard Worsley, has taken on an additional role as Lead Tutor for Academic Inclusion – a newly-created position. Howard will be supporting students on our Relay and Jubilee Scholarships and developing provision at Trinity for theological study and formation which especially meets the needs of students who are under-represented at Trinity […]

Trinity Newsletter Autumn 2023

Dear friends, I am very pleased to share with you the latest edition of Trinity College News, which you can download here. We’re greatly looking forward to another academic year, and we’re excited to share some stories with you from the past year, including news of our first Jubilee Scholar, Trinity’s first appearance on the […]

Scholarships available!

We are delighted to share the news that we are offering several fully-funded scholarships for full- and part-time independent study, particularly aimed at those who might struggle to meet the cost of fees or are otherwise disadvantaged. The scholarships, available in partnership with the Relay Trust, are for candidates who either live in the South-West […]