Sion College was founded by the Will of The Revd Thomas White (c. 1550-1624), Vicar of St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street. He was also the founder of White's Chair of Moral Philosophy at the University of Oxford. Dr White bequeathed £3,000 to endow a college where the London clergy could meet and ‘maintain love in conversing together’. Its name – Sion College – was settled by the first charter granted by King Charles I in 1630.

The College Charter has over the centuries called us to promote the charitable purposes of the Church of England and to encourage fellowship and learning through sponsorship of lectures and discussions.

Fellows of Sion College are Incumbents and Team Vicars of certain parishes and guild churches, designated by statute. In practice, the Court of Governors has sought to include as many of those clergy of the London Diocese and informed lay people as have shown interest in the College’s activities.

Having disposed of large Victorian premises on the banks of the River Thames, and donated a valuable collection of volumes and manuscripts to Lambeth Palace Library and King’s College, London, activities now take place in a variety of locations. The College is now administered from offices at the Wax Chandlers’ Hall.