Greenwich School of Theology was founded in 1958 as an independent, non-denominational, non-sectarian theological institute. Originally offering courses in the USA as the Geneva Theological College, the work of the School was extended to the UK by the perseverance of the late Dr Rupert Judge and, through the years, considerable academic research and study has been achieved. In 1990, the School changed its name to Greenwich School of Theology.

Now, as then, the School maintains its own independent board of governors, tutors, examiners and external examiners, offering students distance-learning opportunities that lead to fully accredited degrees at Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral levels. The School’s prospectus emphasises in its mission statement that prospective students “must be prepared to adopt a broad, scholarly and critical approach” and that its governing ethos is “firmly based on the academic study of Theology and related subjects”.

GST is a non-profit making organisation, offering opportunities for higher education to those students who, for valid reasons, may not be able to pursue or possibly afford such courses elsewhere. Its faculty members are appropriately qualified academically to provide tutorial support to students and every effort is made by the Registrar to facilitate direct contact between tutor/student wherever possible. This can be achieved directly or, as we are seeing in increasing measure, electronically.

The eight examiners of the School, as identified in the prospectus, are highly qualified academics with broad, varied experience and professional expertise. Their role is to offer guidance and advice to students as their course details are being decided, and to assess the finished work in accordance with the accrediting body, North West University (Potchefstroom Campus), South Africa.

As each student’s course work develops, the co-ordination between GST and NWU staff is the joint-responsibility of the Registrar and Liaison Administrator, under the consultancy supervision of the Vice-President, Revd Prof Dr D Byron Evans, BA, BD, MEd, DLitt, ThD (Honoris Causa). Professor Evans has been involved with the School since taking early retirement in 1979 as Principal Lecturer at Eaton Hall College of Education, Nottinghamshire, UK. From the outset, Professor Evans has recognised the necessity for the formal accreditation of the School’s degree programmes. With the support of all governors and staff of GST, this goal was finally realised in 1997 when the formal association between Potchefstroom University and Greenwich School of Theology was confirmed.

In recognition of the School’s mark of excellence, the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC) granted accreditation to GST in September 1997, welcoming its “important and distinctive role, which is not covered by any other accredited college ”.

In April 2003, the ODLQC granted elite status to Greenwich School of Theology, chief executive Dr David Morley commenting that “It is impossible to fault the commitment of all those involved in GST to the promotion of learning. And the quality of that learning is excellent".