Madras Christian College traces its origin to the General Assembly School founded by the Rev. John Anderson, a Missionary from the Church of Scotland, on April 3, 1837. Anderson was a pioneer in introducing English medium education in South India. He was ably assisted by Rev. Johnston, Rev Braidwood and Margaret Locher Anderson. Rev. William Miller, who arrived in 1862, upgraded the school to a college by adding F.A. and B.A. courses in 1865 and 1867, respectively. Along with a few other Protestant missions in Madras, Miller transformed the institution and named it ‘Madras Christian College’ on January 1, 1877. His bold academic vision, supported by generous contributions from his family members, old students and the Madras Government, raised the most impressive array of college buildings and hostels (student homes) opposite the Madras High Court complex. Leaders like Professor Skinner, Rev. Dr E.M. Macphail, Rev. Dr Meston, and Rev. Dr Hogg succeeded Rev. Dr Miller.
The rapid expansion of the College and the crowded physical space necessitated a shift from George Town to the 400-acre sylvan Selaiyur forest in Tambaram. The ‘Great Migration’ took place on January 30, 1937, with a thanksgiving service in which Governor Lord Erskine participated. Professor Edward Barnes and his wife, Alice Barnes, who had lived on the campus since 1932, painstakingly shaped and nurtured the atmosphere by planting hundreds of rare plants and carving out dusty roads. Swiss Architect Henry Schaetti designed the majestic main buildings. The College hosted the famous International Missionary Conference in 1938. Women students were admitted from 1939.
Dr Alexander Boyd, who served as Principal for 18 years (1938-1956), further shaped the character and ethos of the College. A host of European and Indian faculty ably assisted him. Rev Dr J.R. Macphail was the last Scottish Principal to serve the college.
A new era dawned in 1962 (125th Year of MCC) when Dr Chandran Devanesen took over as the first Indian Principal. He further enriched the college’s academic stature and broadened the scope of the educational process by taking it to the neighbourhood. Dr Devanesen’s successors have each contributed in their way to the growth and development of the Institution.
The year 1978 was path-breaking, as MCC became one of the earliest colleges to be granted autonomy status. This status enabled the college to introduce new courses and innovative curricular changes that are in tune with changing times and examination reforms, focusing on learner-centred continuous assessments. Autonomy also helped the College introduce diploma and certificate courses through the School of Continuing Education. The College introduced vocational degree programmes in the Departments of History, Zoology and Commerce in 1994.
The Self-Financed Stream was introduced in 1999. Degree programmes of contemporary relevance and employability are offered in the Self-Financed Stream. The College now has thirty-nine departments under both the Aided and Self-Financed Streams offering Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Research programmes (PhD).
The Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS) was introduced in 2003–2004, enabling the College to provide more choices for students by offering interdisciplinary options and rationalising the workload of each paper in tune with the credits awarded.
The Halls of residence for men – Selaiyur, St. Thomas’s and Heber and for women – Martin, Margaret and Barnes, contribute to campus life’s rich diversity and liveliness. The sprawling sports fields and the cultural ambience of the college provide impetus towards nurturing students’ personalities and holistic development.
All key milestones in the college’s history were befittingly celebrated, and the 50th year, i.e., 1887, witnessed the birth of the Philosophy and History Unions, as well as the Tamil and Telugu Associations. The centenary of the College, celebrated in 1937, was marked by the college’s relocation to the Tambaram campus. In 1962 (125th Year) Dr S. Radhakrishnan, our distinguished alumnus, visited the college and the MCC school in his capacity of the Vice-President of India. The 150th year was commemorated in 1987, with Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi participating in the primary function and declaring the Miller Memorial Library open. Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the then President of India, lent his gracious presence at the 170th-year celebrations in 2007 and inaugurated the Centre for International Social Work.
The Quartoseptcentennial (175th) was celebrated in the year 2012. Shri. Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India, Prof. P.J. Kurien, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Dr K. Rosaiah, Governor of Tamil Nadu, graced the occasion. “Celebrating History and Serving Humanity” was the theme of the Quartoseptcentennial year. A 100 kWp Solar Power Plant, located in the Commerce Block and IGH Extension wing, marked some 175th-year celebration activities. In 2013 and 2016, the College was reaccredited by the NAAC with an “A” Grade. In 2016, the College was awarded the ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ status. The College was ranked 14th in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024.
Madras Christian College established the ‘MCC Boyd-Tandon School of Business’ in 2016, which aims to offer world-class business education.
The College is first among Arts and Science colleges in Tamil Nadu in meeting its solar purchase obligation, as it generates 50 per cent of its power needs through solar energy.
The MCC-MRF Innovation Park was inaugurated on March 17, 2021. Being one of its kind among Arts and Science Colleges in India, this landmark project, funded by MRF Ltd., can host numerous contemporary laboratories and collaborative spaces for students, enabling them to develop innovative ideas that result in start-ups.
The College, with its rich history of Research, embarked on a journey of innovation and entrepreneurship through the launch of the MCC Institution’s Innovation Council (MCC IIC), MCC Research Colloquium (MCC RC), MCC Entrepreneurship Development Cell (MCC EDC), and MCC Ideation Club in 2020. The Best Innovators Award was introduced the following year to encourage the Staff members and Students to engage in active research leading to Innovation.
Prof. Edward Barnes’ Tree Plantation Drive, which began in 2020, re-emphasised the importance of preserving the green cover on campus. Many students were driven with enthusiasm to the newly formed MCC Wildlife Conservation Club and MCC NDLI club.
New Undergraduate Programmes such as B.Com. (Professional Accounting), B.Sc. Psychology and B.Sc. Hospitality & Tourism were introduced in 2020 and 2021, respectively, in addition to the revival of the B.A. History (Vocational) programme specialising in Archaeology & Museology.
MCC spontaneously responded to the global pandemic, namely Covid-19, through its MCC Covid Task Force, which reached out to the unreached during the most critical time. The MCC Covid-19 Telecounselling Centre was established through a fruitful collaboration with the District Administration. The College received the IMA Tambaram Doctors’ Day Award 2021 for its yeoman services to society during the pandemic.
The Senate of Serampore recognised MCC as an Examination Centre for the Bachelor of Christian Studies Programme of Serampore College.
In 2022, MCC witnessed the dedication of the Meston Centre for Teaching and Learning, the MCCMRF Innovation Park Prototype, the Renovated Children’s Park, and the Research Scholars Chamber. The MCC Community College was recognised as a Training Centre by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Research Paper Publication Awards for Faculty, Scholars and Students were introduced, and the B.Sc Computer Science Programme was introduced under the Self-Financed Stream.
In 2023, the Alumni and Public Relations Office was refurbished and expanded as the Alumni Development Office to facilitate engagement with the alumni network and to create opportunities for alumni to give back to their alma mater with their ‘time, treasure and talent’. MCC-IAS Academy’s Satellite program was launched on the college campus, and the Ideation Club was renamed the Innovators Club, bringing it under Part V of the curriculum framework.
A historic funding by MRF Ltd. in 2021 led to the establishment of the MCC-MRF Innovation Park, the first of its kind in Arts and Science Colleges in India. Dedicated on March 17, 2021, the Park features advanced laboratories and collaborative spaces to foster innovation, research, and student-led start-ups. It was formally inaugurated on December 14, 2024, by the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. Udhayanidhi Stalin. This ecosystem would foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among liberal arts and science students as a trend-setting measure. Promoting value creation through the arts and sciences as domains, as part of the Innovator’s Club under the Institution Innovation Club (IIC), will be realised through MCC-MRF Innovation Park as a student support system.
On July 26, 2024, MCC celebrated the rededication of its rejuvenated lake, now capable of holding nearly 20 million litres of water. Implemented by Mega Foundations and Scrub Society, under the patronage of Bisleri International Limited, the project involved desilting, planting native vegetation, and introducing IoT-based water quality monitoring — marking a significant step toward sustainable environmental stewardship.
The SFS Silver Jubilee (1999–2024) celebrations at Madras Christian College (MCC) featured a range of events that reflected its core values.
Academic excellence, spiritual vitality and social relevance remain the Institution’s guiding principles down the decades.
