Study Centre
Study Centre
Partnership vision
The centre is hosted at the Round Church in partnership with Forming a Christian Mind, the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, the Christian Graduate Society, UCCF and the Gospel and Academia Project.
An integrated intellectual tradition
The Round Church is the oldest venue being used for study in Cambridge. Pre-dating the University, it is a symbol of the Christian heritage of Western civilisation. Built between 1114 and 1130 on the wave of the monastic renewal and at the outset of the twelfth century Renaissance, its rounded shape itself speaks of an integrated intellectual vision for the glory of God.
The origin and goal is Christ himself: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” So, “in him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3, 1:17).
Christ himself is the integration of each section of the reference library:
- University and Life of the Mind
- Christian Worldview
- Theology
- Philosophy
- Ethics
- Law and Politics
- Natural Sciences
- Maths and Applied Sciences
- Art, Music and Literature
- History
- Introduction to Christianity
- Hermeneutics and Epistemology
Learning together
Faculty reading lists within mainstream universities are often shaped by secular assumptions. Sadly, the wealth of Christian literature on the academic disciplines can go unappreciated. Our study centre offers both the resources and the context for Christian students to gain the intellectual and theological foundations they need.
Learning is not an individual process. We can help one another with the shared discipline necessary to devote a regular time and place to the intentional study of what Scripture says concerning God’s world and its relation to Christ.
Open during the week in term-time, we offer protected periods for productive quiet study interspersed with mutual encouragement and rich conversation over coffee and lunch times.
Membership and Guests
Post-CV19 the study centre is open through library membership and a desk booking arrangement. We welcome you to apply for membership using the link below.
Book a trial visit
Being a member does not commit you to visiting the Study Centre – it is a gateway to the desk booking system. If you would like to trial the use of the Study Centre, please complete the membership form and book a desk. If you discover it’s not for you, there is no obligation to use your membership, and you may also contact us to cancel your membership.
Weekly Timetable
- Monday: Postgraduates
- Tuesday: Postgraduates and undergraduates
- Wednesday: Postgraduates, undergraduates and their guests
- Thursday: FACM Fellows (opening in a few weeks)
- Friday: Undergraduates and their guests
Daily Schedule
- 9:00-11:00: Quiet study session
- 11:00-11:20: Coffee
- 11:20-1:00: Quiet study session
- 1:00-2:00: Lunch (please bring your own)
- 2:00-4:30: Quiet study session
Staffing:
- Monday: Matt Lillicrap (Tutor, Crosslands Training; formerly Associate Minister at Eden Baptist Church, now Pastor, Hope Community Church)
- Tuesday: Anja Lijcklama à Nijeholt (UCCF Research)
- Wednesday: Andrew Fellows (Apologist in Residence, and former Chairman of L’Abri International)
- Friday: Jon Savage (Christian Heritage)
Guests and Lunches:
- Please note: on guest days members may bring a guest who is a student member of Cambridge University.
- On Fridays there is no discussion lunch, but undergraduates are still welcome to eat their lunch in the Study Centre. They are also encouraged to attend Big Question lunches instead when these take place.