Rowan Williams will swap one ancient and traditional institution for another when he takes up his role as the new Master of Magdalene College.
The college was founded in 1428 as a place for Benedictine monks to study law at a distance from the temptations of town. It has the longest river frontage of any Cambridge college and its beautiful setting on the banks of the Cam will provide tranquil surroundings for Dr Williams and his wife, Jane.
However, the Master’s Lodge at Magdalene is not as grand as it sounds — it is a 1960s brown-brick house, nestled amid the 15th century architecture. The cloisters, the Fellows Garden, and a 16th century hall decorated with the heraldic arms of Queen Anne will all be at his disposal.
After trying to steer the Church of England through the choppy waters of issues such as gay marriage and women bishops, Dr Williams may find Magdalene is a haven of convention. It has a reputation as one of the more conservative of Cambridge’s colleges.
Women were not admitted until 1986, only six years before the Church of England agreed to ordain female priests. Male students wore black armbands in protest.
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Thomas Cranmer, one of Dr Williams’s predecessors as Archbishop of Canterbury, was appointed a lecturer at Magdalene nearly 500 years ago.
Samuel Pepys is one of the college’s most famous alumni; others include Bamber Gascoigne, C. S. Lewis and Sir Michael Redgrave.
Michael Carpenter, president of the college, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have such a distinguished academic and public figure as our new Master.”
Dr Williams’s role will be part-time — his only obligation will be to live at the college during term time, to chair college committees and attend official dinners. He will be actively encouraged to pursue other scholarly interests. Professor Carpenter said that the Master’s position also involved “doing a lot of entertaining”.
The current master, Duncan Robinson, is a keen art historian and chairman of the Henry Moore Foundation. He stands aside for Dr Williams in January next year.
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Dr Williams said: “I am very grateful to the college for the honour they have done me, and look forward to being part of such a lively and intellectually rigorous community.”