MEMBERSHIP of this College is restricted to those who belong to the Church of England. Another primary purpose of Keble is to provide a less expensive education than that afforded by other Colleges. At the moment when the scheme was formulated died John Keble, author of the Christian Year, and it was decided to name the new foundation after him, at once as a tribute to his memory and in order to enlist the active sympathies of his many admirers. An appeal for funds met with a liberal and widespread response, and Keble College was opened in the Michaelmas term of 1870.

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The external appearance of Keble is not commonly admired. It is a pleasanter task to dwell for a moment on the beauty of the interior of the Chapel, which was presented by Mr. William Gibbs, and completed in 1876. The visitor will be struck by the noble proportions of this edifice, its finely toned windows and its elaborate mosaics. A small ante-chapel contains Holman Hunt's celebrated picture—The Light of the World, presented by Mrs. Combe.

Keble soon took its place among the other Colleges, both in work and play. It has a splendid Hall and Library, given by the Gibbs family. In accordance with the economy of the scheme, the rooms of the undergraduates are small, and all meals are taken in common in Hall. There is consequently more of the air of a public school about Keble than is looked for in ordinary College life. Its first warden, Dr. Talbot, is now Bishop of Southwark.