The ‘unique?’ challenges of UCL – that ‘Godless’ place on Gower St.

UCL was radical in its beginnings. It was the first university to accept students regardless of their faith or their social background, establishing a teaching programme ‘in which religious beliefs would not constrain the dissemination of knowledge and exploration of ideas.’

Perhaps because of this, it is considered by some to be a hostile place for Christians and has gained a bit of a reputation as an atheist University.

As a CU, we want to unite under the Gospel, knowing that is as true here at UCL as it is anywhere else in the world. It can be challenging being part of a minority at a unique university, but it’s a constant reminder to look to our powerful God, for only through him can we see people changed. Spending time with other Christians on campus reminds us that this is true. It is a real privilege that we are even able to pray and speak openly about our beliefs, when many in the world cannot.

UCL feels different to other universities in other ways; the number of international students studying here means there is a huge spectrum of worldviews and opinions visible on campus. In Matthew 28 Jesus commands “go make disciples of all nations’ and incredibly, at UCL we have many nations around us already!

Studying at the heart of London is really exciting – there is a wealth of new places to visit and varied opportunities for meeting people. However unlike other places you may study at, it can be a very busy place to live, which can make it harder to slow down and spend good quality time with people. This is a wonderful challenge for Christians who want to make genuine relationships and serve others; it is so good to pray that in a such a hectic city we commit time and energy to loving and serving our friends.