Blog Interview: Anthony Royle – King’s Evangelical Divinity School

Hello, my name is Anthony Royle, and I am the Principal at King’s Evangelical Divinity School (KEDS)

2) Tell us a little about King’s Evangelical Divinity School {brief history, courses offered, number of students, etc.}

KEDS was founded in 1990 by a group of pastors with a vision to establish a theological training centre in Wolverhampton. Originally known as the Midland Bible Institute, the organisation soon expanded its courses beyond pastoral training to serve lay people as well. As a result, the focus developed into equipping students with strong skills in biblical interpretation.

Today, KEDS offers accredited Bachelor’s and Master’s level programmes (validated by the University of Chester and in the process of accreditation with the European Council for Theological Education) with a strong emphasis on biblical interpretation, alongside non-accredited Foundation Certificate programmes and the Knowing Your Bible course, designed to support and equip everyday Christians. Additionally, we have started to offer doctoral supervision through Columbia International University.

3) Are the courses full time, part-time or a mixture of both?

We offer a blend of both approaches. All our courses are delivered asynchronously, allowing students to study at their own pace, and we take a highly flexible approach to learning. Our programmes are specifically designed to fit around busy lives.

4) How do KEDS students fund their studies?

Our students are primarily self-funded. However, we are beginning to offer scholarships to pastors serving in developing countries. In addition, we provide tuition discounts for students who volunteer with KEDS, as well as several discounted enrolment periods throughout the year.

5) Does KEDS take students from overseas?

Yes, we have students living all over the world. Most are from the UK, USA, and Australia, but we do have students who live in some interesting places, such as Saudi Arabia.

6) What type of ministry is KEDS intended to prepare students for?

Our core focus is biblical interpretation, equipping students with a strong foundation for any form of ministry. Graduates have gone on to serve as pastors, missionaries, Bible translators, and in many other ministry roles—some even returning to KEDS as tutors and lecturers. Sound biblical interpretation lies at the heart of every effective ministry. So whatever your calling is, we are here to help you rise up and reach out to your world.

7) When students leave KEDS what kind of ministries / jobs do they go into

As mentioned earlier, our students go on to serve in a wide range of ministries. However, it is always especially rewarding when they return to serve with us—whether by developing new short courses, tutoring the next generation of students, or contributing in other ways to the ongoing growth and flourishing of the school. I like to see people go from our Knowing Your Bible course, all the way through our degree courses, and then teach the next generation of students. That’s the dream.

8) What is distinctive about what KEDS offers compared with other colleges in the UK and overseas?

There are several features that set us apart. Our courses are fully online, delivered asynchronously, and offer accredited learning—three elements rarely found together in a single institution. We also maintain a dedicated focus on biblical interpretation. In addition, our community is truly global: we have connected students from around the world who have gone on to form lasting friendships and meaningful ministry partnerships. I am thankful for our community.

9) Please tell us about the library and other research facilities

All of our resources are fully digital. We are grateful for the wealth of open-access materials available, and we also deeply appreciate your ministry, Rob. As a small college, we strive to be creative and strategic in our use of resources, subscribing to several key platforms—such as Galaxie Journals and Perlego—to ensure our students have access to current and high-quality academic publications.

10) Does KEDS offer a distance or online learning option. If yes, please tell us more about it

All of our courses, including seminars, are delivered fully online. However, over the past two years, we have also offered in-person teaching days and conferences in partnership with local churches.

Many thanks Anthony.

Over the years I have interviewed faculty members from Bible Colleges all over the world, If you would like to be interviewed or update a previous interview, please get in touch.