Theological School Reaches Agreement on Newton Campus Sale

NEWTON, MA – Andover Newton Theological School has reached an agreement to sell its historic Newton Centre campus.

In an announcement Friday, Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver, Andover Newton's president, said the property will be sold to a "respected foundation" that wished to remain anonymous until the deal is finalized. However, Copenhaver assured the community that the land would not be sold to a real estate developer and the foundation plans to use the campus for educational purposes.

"We are confident this foundation will carry on the tradition of educational excellence that has been set here and look forward to working with it, with the community, the city and our neighbors to ensure a seamless transition," Copenhaver wrote.

The school announced it would relocate last year after close to two centuries in Newton Centre. It will move to New Haven, CT through a partnership with Yale Divinity School.

Andover Newton plans to offer classes in the Boston area during the 2017-18 school year, but this is its last year in Newton.

"Of course, this is a bittersweet announcement to make: bitter because we are leaving our beloved campus, yet sweet because of the ways we now know the campus will be used and loved into the future," Copenhaver wrote.

Photo by Daderot (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons