St Catharine’s College | |
---|---|
University | Cambridge University |
Location | Trumpington Street (map) |
Full name | The College or Hall of Saint Catharine the Virgin in the University of Cambridge |
Latin name | Aula sancte Katerine virginis infra Universitatem Cantabrigie |
Motto in English | For the wheel! (unofficial) |
Founder | Robert Woodlark, Provost of King's College |
Established | 1473 |
Named for | Catherine of Alexandria |
Previous names | Katharine Hall (1473-1860) |
Sister college | Worcester College, Oxford |
Master | Sir Mark Welland FRS FREng |
Undergraduates | 436 |
Postgraduates | 165 |
Website | www |
JCR | catzjcr |
MCR | www |
Boat club | hadriel |
St Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473 as Katharine Hall, it adopted its current name in 1860. The college is nicknamed "Catz". The college is located in the historic city-centre of Cambridge, and lies just south of King's College and across the street from Corpus Christi College. The college is notable for its open court (rather than closed quadrangle) that faces towards Trumpington Street.
St Catharine’s is unique in being the only Oxbridge college founded by the serving head of another college. The college community is moderately sized, consisting of approximately 70 fellows, 150 graduate students, and 410 undergraduates. As of 2013, the college's endowment stood at £48.3 million, placing the college 18th richest of the University's colleges.
Robert Woodlark, Provost of King’s College, had begun preparations for the founding of a new college as early as 1459 when he bought tenements on which the new college could be built. The preparation cost him a great deal of his private fortune (he was suspected of diverting King’s College funds), and he was forced to scale down the foundation to only three Fellows. He stipulated that they must study theology and philosophy only. The college was established as "Lady Katharine Hall" in 1473. The college received its Royal Charter of Incorporation in 1475 from King Edward IV. Woodlark may have chosen the name in homage to the mother of King Henry VI who was called Catharine, although it is more likely that it was named as part of the Renaissance cult of St Catharine, who was a patron saint of learning. At any rate, the college was ready for habitation and formally founded on St Catharine’s day (November 25) 1473. There are six Saints Catharine, but the college was named for Saint Catharine of Alexandria.