{{about|the Anglican theological college in Popondetta, Papua New Guinea|the former Baptist theological college in Massachusetts|Newton Theological Institution}} {{short description|Anglican theological college in Papua New Guinea}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} '''Newton Theological College''' is a Papua New Guinean educational institution in Popondetta, Papua New Guinea. It trains candidates for ordination in the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea.

==History== Anglican mission activity commenced in the Territory of Papua in 1891. Theological training was taking place in Dogura at least as early as 1918.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251030656 |title=Church And State. |newspaper=Papuan Courier |volume=8 |issue=36 |location=International, Australia |date=13 September 1918 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60292380 |title=NEW GUINEA ACTIVITIES. |newspaper=Healesville And Yarra Glen Guardian |location=Victoria, Australia |date=15 January 1927 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Originally located in Dogura, the base of the New Guinea Mission and the seat of the Bishop of New Guinea, Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral, Dogura,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201774119 |title=Papuan Bishop to Visit Western Australia |newspaper=The Beverley Times |volume=62 |issue=43 |location=Western Australia |date=4 November 1966 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> the college moved to Popondetta some years after the Mount Lamington volcanic eruption in 1951 as part of the rebuilding efforts. It was still located in Dogura in 1970.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250230984 |title=A SACRIFICE BY SAMSON |newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-courier |volume= |location=International, Australia |date=26 June 1970 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1972 there was a proposal to relocate the college to near to the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102007751 |title='Massive aid' required |newspaper=The Canberra Times |volume=47 |issue=13,248 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=7 October 1972 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The proposal was still under active consideration in 1975.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250313970 |title=New Anglican college for Moresby |newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-courier |volume= |location=International, Australia |date=4 December 1975 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Instead it moved to Popondetta in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/mjt/03-2_047.pdf|title=''Curriculum Reform at Newton Theological College'', "Melanesian Journal of Theology" 3-2 (1987) p 47|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>

The college was originally named St Aidan's Theological College (along with the teacher training college, subsequently moved to Lae).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163453917 |title=REV. JAMES BENSON. |newspaper=Circular Head Chronicle |volume=XXXIX |issue=11 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=20 March 1946 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It was separated from the teacher training college and renamed after the Rt Rev Henry Newton after his death in 1947.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anglicanhistory.org/religious/campbell2007.pdf|title=Campbell, T W, ''Religious Communities of the Anglican Communion: Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific'', (2007: published privately), ISBN 9780975700426, p 138|access-date=28 March 2021}}</ref>

Until 1977 the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea was the Diocese of New Guinea (renamed the Diocese of Papua New Guinea in 1971)<ref>''Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74'', 85th Edition, p 1347.</ref> and part of the Province of Queensland in what was then called the Church of England in Australia.

The college is supported financially by ABM-Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abmission.org/pages/papua-new-guinea-newton-theological-college.html|title=ABM-Australia: Newton Theological College|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>

==Notable staff== *James Ayong, Principal, later Archbishop of Papua New Guinea<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukpressonline.co.uk/ukpressonline/view/pagview/ChTm_2002_11_01_009|title=''Church Times'': "Obituary – Canon Michael Francis Hunt", 1 November 2002, p 9|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> *Eric Lefroy Cassidy (formerly CA), Warden 1952-70<ref>''Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74'', 85th Edition, p 157.</ref> *Sister Margaret Dewey SSM<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukpressonline.co.uk/ukpressonline/view/pagview/ChTm_2017_06_16_033|title=''Church Times'': "Sister Margaret Dewey SSM", 16 June 2017, p 33|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> *Jeffrey Driver, acting Principal following retirement as Archbishop of Adelaide<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anglicanfocus.org.au/2020/08/10/newton-theological-college-archbishops-abm-appeal-update/|title=Anglican Focus: Newton Theological College|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> *Robin Gill, theologian<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250152158 |title=HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM FOR DOGURA |newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-courier |volume= |location=International, Australia |date=20 August 1971 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> *Michael Hough, Principal 1993-96, later Bishop of New Guinea Islands, Port Moresby, and Ballarat<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anglicannews.org/news/1996/02/aco-episcopal-appointments.aspx|title=Anglican News: Episcopal Appointments|access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> *Roger Jupp, Principal 2000-2003, later Bishop of Popondetta *Joseph Kopapa, acting Principal, 1999, later Bishop of Popondetta and Archbishop of Papua New Guinea<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2005/10/new-bishop-for-the-diocese-of-popondota.aspx|title=Anglican News: New Bishop for the Diocese of Popondetta|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> *Paul Richardson, Principal, later Bishop of Wangaratta *Walter Siba, Principal, later Bishop of Ysabel<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/mjt/03-2_047.pdf|title=''Curriculum Reform at Newton Theological College'', "Melanesian Journal of Theology" 3-2 (1987) p 47|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref>

==Notable alumni== *George Ambo, first Papuan to be an Anglican bishop<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201774119 |title=Papuan Bishop to Visit Western Australia |newspaper=The Beverley Times |volume=62 |issue=43 |location=Western Australia |date=4 November 1966 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> *James Ayong, Archbishop of Papua New Guinea <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukpressonline.co.uk/ukpressonline/view/pagview/ChTm_2002_11_01_009|title=''Church Times'': "Obituary – Canon Michael Francis Hunt", 1 November 2002, p 9|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> *Clyde Igara, Archbishop of Papua New Guinea *Rhynold Sanana, Bishop of Dogura<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article250313843 |title=2 new bishops for church |newspaper=Papua New Guinea Post-courier |volume= |location=International, Australia |date=3 December 1975 |accessdate=28 April 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Portal|Christianity}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Newton Theological College}} Category:Anglican seminaries and theological colleges Category:Education in Papua New Guinea