House of the Epiphany
The House of the Epiphany is an Anglican educational institution in Kuching, Malaysia, providing theological education to candidates for ordination. It was established in 1952. There were a number of short-lived theological colleges in what is now the Diocese of Kuching before the House of the Epiphany was opened.
College of the Holy Way
The first theological college in the then Diocese of Labuan was established in 1921, as the College of the Holy Way in Kudat. The Warden from 1921 to 1928 was the Rev Ernest Parry. Five Chinese candidates were prepared for ordination, including the Rev Lim Siong Teck, the Rev Vun Nen Vun, the Rev Chong Paul En Siong, the Rev Lai Choon Sang, and the Rev Chin Phu Yin. The college closed in 1930.School of the Holy Spirit
The second theological school in the Diocese of Labuan was established by the Rev Wilfrid Linton in 1925. Linton opened the School of the Holy Spirit in Betong, for Indigenous candidates. Matius Senang and Thomas Buda were ordained priests in 1926 and Laurence Angking in 1932. Linton's health broke down, and the school then closed.Ordination Test School
Five members of the Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield arrived in Kuching in 1933: Frs Edward Oswald Philipps, Wilfred Percy Brightwen Shelley, Thomas, Andrew Hamish Blair and Richard Law Wrathall. The following year the Ordination Test School was opened in Kuching with six candidates, of whom Hope Hugh, Lim Yong Chua, Martin Nanang and Ng Thau Sin proceeded to ordination as deacons in 1936 and priests in 1937. In 1937 the last member of the CR left and the school closed.House of the Epiphany
The Rev Peter Howes was recalled to Kuching from Taee in 1952 and tasked with opening a theological college for local candidates by the newly appointed bishop, Nigel Cornwall. Ten students joined and initially the college met in the Bishop's house. The college building was completed and dedicated on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1953, and was thus named the House of the Epiphany. Six students proceeded to ordination as deacons in 1955 and priests in 1956: Edmund Paleng, James Gunyau, Peter Radin, Arnold Puntang, Ambrose Dunggat and Alfred Chabu. The college then closed temporarily until 1971.The House of the Epiphany reopened in 1971. It reformed itself in 1987, affiliating with the Australian College of Theology, and offering the Diploma in Ministry.
It re-established its independence in 1992 with the creation of the Bishop's Certificate of Ministry.
The ground breaking ceremony occurred in 2019 and the new building opened in 2022.
Wardens
- The Rev Peter Howes, 1952–56.
- The Rev William Alexander Reid, 1971–76.
- The Rev Robert Anthony Perry, 1976–79.
- The Rev Canon John Francis Edge, 1979–87.
- The Rev Fred Cooke, 1987–90.
- The Rev David Arthur Edwards, 1990-1992
- The Rev Aeries Sumping Jingan, 1992-?
- The Rev Bolly Lapok, 1999-?
- The Rev Michael Spencer Woods, 2009-2017
- The Rev Canon Alfred Damu, c 2020