”A founding principle of the University of London when it opened in 1828 was to break away from religious controversy. It was not necessary to be an Anglican to be admitted, as it firmly was at Oxford and Cambridge; it was not necessary even to be a Christian. Religion was to feature neither among the entrance requirements nor on the syllabus. The secular tradition has been maintained – with a few wobbles – up to the present day, as one of UCL’s major contributions to the improvement of civilisation.”