Image of students having an animated discussion.
About

Anselm House exists to help students and faculty at the U of M connect faith & knowledge with all of life.

Life was never meant to be a collection of disconnected parts. We’re pursuing wholeness in community.

You long for places where you can bring all of yourself—your ideas, your questions, your experiences, your personality—and be met with genuine embrace. You long to explore, to be challenged, and to order your life and learning around the love of God. At Anselm House, we’ve made it our mission to help you make these heart connections. We’re pursuing the integrated life—a life of wholeness—in the context of rich, Christian community.

Our Story

From the University, for the University

For 40 years, Anselm House has sought to wholeheartedly serve the University of Minnesota from the center of campus. From the very beginning we’ve endeavored to help the campus community—from freshman to faculty—make meaningful connections. Our story is one of gathering, educating, and sending out whole leaders for the whole of life.

1974

Christian Student Fellowship is founded at the University of Minnesota.

1982

MacLaurin Institute is founded at the University of Minnesota.

2011

Christian Student Fellowship and MacLaurin Institute merge to form MacLaurinCSF.

2016

MacLaurinCSF becomes Anselm House with a renewed mission of connecting faith & knowledge with all of life.

2022

Anselm House opens the doors of a new home on campus, Melrose Station.

A Name to Match a Vision

St. Anselm of Canterbury was an 11th century theologian and philosopher. He is remembered, among other things, for the concept of “faith seeking understanding.” He believed that our faith and our knowledge of the world are intertwined. His life of thoughtful faithfulness and engagement with learning provides a model for our presence at the university.

An icon of St. Anselm with inscription "Fides quaerens intellectum".
An icon of St. Anselm with inscription "Fides quaerens intellectum".
Our Values

The Anselm House community has been characterized by four interlocking values since its founding four decades ago.

“Teach me to seek You,
and reveal Yourself to
me as I seek.”

ST. ANSELM OF CANTERBURY
OUR APPROACH
1/4

Connected Community

We host a wide-variety of casual, community gatherings for students, faculty, and staff to connect and engage in meaningful dialogue.

2/4

Christian Formation

We create on-ramps into circles of discovery and intentional, focused study for every stage in the journey of discipleship to Christ.

3/4

Shared Learning

We convene speakers and lecturers—thought leaders and scholars across various fields of study—for large public events.

4/4

Deep Inquiry

We offer curricular programming and robust academic support to students and faculty seeking deeper engagement.

OUR Team

Our staff combine Christian faith with academic training to develop both the moral and intellectual character of our community—and the individuals in it.

And Christ is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

COLOSSIANS 1:17