Gilchrist Educational Trust

The Gilchrist Educational Trust was founded on the bequest of Dr John Borthwick Gilchrist (1759-1841) who left the residue of his estate to the Trustees 'for the benefit advancement and propagation of education and learning in every part of the world as far as circumstances will permit'. After long litigation procedures the Educational Trust was founded in 1865.

The principle which guided the Trustees in the administration of the funds under their control was that of doing pioneering work, such as seeking to fill up educational gaps; making some provision for the educational needs of classes of persons not already provided for; aiding new educational movements which, for lack of public support at their initiation, needed financial help to enable them to grow in strength. They began by establishing scholarships to bring natives of India to England for a University education that would fit them to undertake public work on their return. These, later taken over by the Government of India, were followed by similar scholarships in the (then) Colonies which were, in turn, taken over by the appropriate authorities. There followed scholarships in England for women at the time when Women's Colleges were being established. The Trust is perhaps best known for its establishment of the Gilchrist Lecturers, 1867-1939, which were given in industrial communities by eminent men and were attended by many thousands of people. After the Lectures began, the University Extension movement started to develop; the Trust worked in close association with it and, later, with the Workers' Educational Association.