On 1 October two missionary traditions were brought together to form the United College of the Ascension in Selly Oak, Birmingham. The coming together of the Methodists and the Anglican United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (Anglican) in a United College has taken a number of years. Many Anglican leaders from around the world have trained at the College of the Ascension and recently the College has become pivotal for the new Centre for Anglican Communion Studies.

The merger followed the closure of the Methodist College, Kingsmead, at Selly Oak in 1993. The new college came into being during a special service on 1 October. A congregation of more than 200 people representing Churches from around the world stood to witness the Archbishop of Canterbury and the President of the Methodist Conference, representatives of the Selly Oak Colleges and two Churches, sign a statement of intent. With the signing the new college was born. The Archbishop spoke of the importance of the United College: "Thank you for leading the way and maybe our two Churches will catch up some day." He said he was encouraged that the inauguration of the United College sounded the message of strong, confident traditions coming together in the service of the Lord.

After the service the Archbishop of Canterbury and the President of the Methodist Conference planted three "trees of unity" near the new staff houses of the United College of the Ascension at Selly Oak.