The college was founded in 1846 by Revd Dr Joseph Baylee, vicar of Birkenhead,[1] with the approval of John Bird Sumner, Bishop of Chester.

[1] Its purpose was to train Anglican clergy to serve in the Church of England,[4] in particular in the rapidly expanding cities and towns of Merseyside.

[6] It re-opened in 1869 under a new council, who appointed as principal William Saumarez Smith, who, like Baylee, had strong evangelical credentials.

Unlike previous principals, he was not of an evangelical persuasion, and brought with him other staff from high-church foundations such as Lichfield and Keble College, Oxford.

[1] The name has been continued at St Mellitus North West;[7] and its archives are located at the University of Liverpool.