John Anderson, the founder turned his own residence in Black Town and that of colleague Johnston into hostels and accommodated several students. Likewise Mrs Braidwood and Mrs Anderson looked after the hostel separately erected for the girl students (Today it still survives in the Northwick School, Royapuram) .

But it was Miller's vision that transformed the residential set up into 'student homes'. He was an innovator *par excellence*. He had initiated a highly successful hostel movement, which enabled students to develop leadership qualities and an all-around personality. There were many reasons for the starting of hostels for the College. Many of the students were from moffusil areas of Madras, and were without guardians. The private lodging was always expensive and without hygiene. These were ill-drained and unventilated lodgings and often managed by termagant landladies.

Miller, through his own generosity and that of the old students, general public and the government, went on to build one hostel after another:

• for the majority Vaishnavite Brahmins(1882);
• for Indian Christians (1888);
• for non-Brahmins(1895);
• for non-Brahmins from rural areas (1902);
• Rungiah Chetty hostel for Vaisya students(1911);
• and finally a non-sectarian, cosmopolitan hostel was opened in 1919.

There were several activities and competitions inside as well as among these hostels. Miller's bold initiative had inspired both the Government and private organizations to start hostels all over the Presidency.

The Lindsay Commission on Christian Higher Education in India visited Tambaram in 1930, and in its Report released in 1931 recommended that instead of the hostels, semi-autonomous halls may be built in Tambaram which could accommodate residential teaching staff, besides the students so that
the tutorial system of education could be better promoted. It also recommended that Bishop Heber College at Tiruchirapalli be incorporated into MCC as one of those Halls.

Thus the three halls of residence for boys—St Thomas's, Selaiyur and Bishop Heber Halls- were raised on Tambaram site. The Girls' hostel which was functioning in Guindy since 1950 was moved into Tambaram in 1968, which was subsequently named after Mrs Agnes Martin.