Canterbury Christ Church College (CCCC) was founded in 1962 by the Church of England in order to meet the needs of church schools at a time of teacher shortage. Classes were originally held in the Priory next to St Martin's Church, a building which has seen many uses including the private residence of a Bishop of Dover and also the residence for the Principal of CCCC.The campus for Christ Church College was constructed at North Holmes Road, Canterbury, on land which had once been used for orchards and domestic buildings of the adjacent St Augustine's Abbey, part of Canterbury's World Heritage Site.
In the early 1970s, the first degree programme, the Bachelor of Education, was established. In 1977 the College began to offer joint honours degrees in other subjects. In the late 1980s the College was substantially enlarged by the addition of Health Studies.In 1995, the College was awarded the power by Privy Council to grant its own degrees for taught courses, which entitled the change of name to Canterbury Christ Church University College.
In 2000 the Broadstairs campus was opened and in 2004 the Medway campus was opened.The award of University title in 2005 recognised the successful delivery of degree programmes. With the title came a new name; Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU).The Archbishop of Canterbury was later appointed, by virtue of office, as Chancellor, the honorary head of the institution. The inauguration of the University and the installation of Dr Rowan Williams as Chancellor took place in a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in December 2005.Recently the University has attracted publicity due to its controversial policy to forbid civil partnership ceremonies to take place at its properties.This decision by the University's governing body has now since been reversed.In September 2007 a campus was opened in Folkestone in collaboration with the University of Greenwich.
In the early 1970s, the first degree programme, the Bachelor of Education, was established. In 1977 the College began to offer joint honours degrees in other subjects. In the late 1980s the College was substantially enlarged by the addition of Health Studies.In 1995, the College was awarded the power by Privy Council to grant its own degrees for taught courses, which entitled the change of name to Canterbury Christ Church University College.
In 2000 the Broadstairs campus was opened and in 2004 the Medway campus was opened.The award of University title in 2005 recognised the successful delivery of degree programmes. With the title came a new name; Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU).The Archbishop of Canterbury was later appointed, by virtue of office, as Chancellor, the honorary head of the institution. The inauguration of the University and the installation of Dr Rowan Williams as Chancellor took place in a ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in December 2005.Recently the University has attracted publicity due to its controversial policy to forbid civil partnership ceremonies to take place at its properties.This decision by the University's governing body has now since been reversed.In September 2007 a campus was opened in Folkestone in collaboration with the University of Greenwich.