NONCONFORMISTS IN CHURCH TRAINING COLLEGES.
[To THE EDITOE OP THE " SPECTATOR.")
Sig,—May I tell you the results of some experience in a Church Training College (secondary) in regard to a question that has more than once been brought forward in the Spectator ? The entrance-form sent out to would-be students of the House of Education, Ambleside, inquires :—(a) Are you a member of the Church of England ? If so, are you a regular communi- cant ? (b) If not, to what body do you belong I Are you in full Church membership ? Should the lady reply that she is at Presbyterian or a Wesleyan, for example, she is told that it is the custom of the College that all students should attend the parish church, together with such daily prayers and religious teaching as are in use in the College. This appears to me to be necessary, because the common life of a residential Training College is a very important part of the training, and this common life goes less easily where there is an accentuated difference in the religious life. Of the thirty- three students in the College, some four or five, usually, are Nonconformists. These make no difficulty about the con- dition of church attendance; indeed, the opportunity of getting some insight into the teaching of the Church with- out committing themselves by any pledge appears, I think, to be welcomed by these educated young women. Our religious life is the most strongly felt bond in the College. The fact of Dissent in some cases, if it is known by the students who are Churchwomen, is lost sight of, and the heartiest good-fellowship prevails. I think Nonconformists leave us with respect, if not tenderness, for the Church, which during their two years' training they have learned to understand ; and for the Churchwomen I am sure it is wholesome that any arrogance of Churchmanship and scorn of Dissent should give place to respect and kindly feeling for fellow-students. It has happened that several Nonconformist students have been confirmed (with their parents' consent) during their training, but this course is entirely of their own adoption. In one case, of two sisters in training together, one was confirmed and the other not; but absolutely no pressure or influence is exerted towards this end. I should add that the fact of being a Nonconformist is in no way prejudicial to a student's after career. The College exists in order to train governesses for families; and many rich Nonconformist families are ready to pay to their governesses the rather large salaries to which the training of a student at the House of Education entitles her. I think it may interest some of your readers to know how practically easy is the working of what appears to be a difficult problem. I should add that, though a Church, this is not a Diocesan, Training (PrincipaL) Bad Nauheim.
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