Beneath the University of Manchester’s bustling atmosphere, a unique tale waits within the walls of Saint Anselm Hall. Founded in 1907 by Rev. Thomas B. Allworthy, Saint Anselm Hall started as Saint Anselm’s Hostel. It aimed to provide theological training for working-class men seeking holy orders. Allworthy found inspiration under a willow tree in Brookdale Park while reading about Saint Anselm.
Initially, the hostel opened at 105 Droylsden Road. It offered places for eight students. Allworthy became its first warden. As Saint Anselm’s grew, it moved to Kent House in 1914. Kent House was once home to physicist Arthur Schuster. It remains Saint Anselm Hall’s location today.
After reopening in 1914, Saint Anselm’s Hostel became Saint Anselm’s Hall. The apostrophe disappeared in 1933. In its early years at Kent House, Saint Anselm Hall merged with Gartness Hall. Gartness Hall also accommodated Anglican ordinands.
Saint Anselm Hall gained financial independence from the Church of England in 1933. The Junior Common Room committee formed in 1922. It marked a step toward greater autonomy. Revd. Canon Duncan Armytage’s wardenship from 1928 to 1933 brought development. The Senior Common Room, library growth, societies and events that still exist today were founded.
During World War II, Saint Anselm Hall housed men from the armed forces. They attended short training courses at the university. After the war, applications declined. A proposal suggested turning it into an Anglican theological college. Instead, ownership transferred to the university in 1956.
The transfer reshaped Saint Anselm Hall’s ethos. It moved away from being solely Anglican. The requirement for a cleric as warden ended. Wardens became theologians and academics from various fields. Admissions broadened to accept residents from all disciplines.
A major building project in 1961 added Manor and Summerfield wings. These wings, along with a dining hall and chapel, expanded capacity to around 140 residents. Saint Anselm Hall became a Grade II listed building on October 2, 1974.
Partnerships formed with nearby all-female halls like Ashburne Hall and St. Gabriel’s Hall. Canterbury Court opened opposite Saint Anselm Hall in 1992. The two halls have maintained a close relationship ever since.
A significant change occurred in 2016. The decision was made to admit female students. Saint Anselm Hall had been the last all-male university-owned hall in the UK. It became mixed in September 2017. Now, almost half its residents are female.
Saint Anselm Hall stands on Kent Road East. It includes the main building, chapel, gym and warden’s lodge. The main building houses the dining hall, bar and residential wings. Schuster wing, formerly Kent House, contains the library and common rooms. The Dewar wing, built in 1927, is named after Revd. Canon Lindsay Dewar. Manor and Summerfield are the newest wings built in the 1960s.
Communal dinner or Formal Hall takes place every weekday evening. It fosters community. Academic gowns are worn. The warden gives the traditional hall grace. Special dinners include a Harry Potter themed meal and a Christmas dinner. At Christmas, they toast Floreat Aula Sanctus Anselmi.
The Cellar Club, the on-site bar, is student-run. It hosts socials and a weekly pub quiz. The St Anselm Hall Association supports the hall through various projects. Scholarships like the Preston Scholarship and Dyer Scholarship reward contributions to hall life.
Notable Old Anselmians include Eric Laithwaite and J. S. Roskell. They have left their mark in engineering and history. Saint Anselm Hall continues to evolve while cherishing its traditions. It remains a vibrant part of the University of Manchester.