EDMOND—Nine Herbert W. Armstrong College students and one graduate landed at Birmingham International Airport today, joining the pcg’s regional office staff for the first-ever semester on the estate that contains the Church’s new regional office and college campus.

Regional Director Brad Macdonald and his UK/Europe regional office staff members have worked overtime at Edstone Hall since November 12, the day the Church’s real estate agent handed the keys to the building to Mr. Macdonald. Staff members David Howard, Richard Palmer and Richard Howard, along with assistance from other volunteers, moved the office from the Northampton city center to Edstone the same day. They finished vacating the former facility on Dec. 31, 2014.

During November and December, the staffers lived at Edstone Hall and did refurbishing work for about six weeks. Along with England member John Bird and volunteer Kathy Howard, dozens of members from England—as well as some from France, Belgium and beyond—have helped the staff clear out and clean the interior of the building, pull computer networking cables, build partition walls, pick up yard waste along the grounds and otherwise improve the estate.

The staff also converted a detached garage into a space that doubles as a television set and a dance studio. The work has been full-on and ongoing, as office manager David Howard indicated in early January: “The date Mr. Macdonald, Richard Howard, Richard Palmer and I had desks in our new offices at Edstone was Sunday, the 28th of December,” he said. “I’ve barely had time to sit behind it since then.”

Although most of the work lies ahead for office operations, renovation of the building, maintenance of the grounds and housing the new students, Edstone is ready to take on new life as the home of the pcg’s work in the United Kingdom and Europe and of the second campus of Herbert W. Armstrong College.

The names of the students who are now assisting the regional office and helping establish the new campus were first announced by assistant dean Eric Burns on October 29 during an assembly at Armstrong Auditorium. The group consists of six men and four women representing the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Germany.

One freshman let out an audible gasp after each name was announced. And those whose gasp-punctuated names were read off said they felt the excitement on an even more literal, physical level.

“When Mr. Burns pulled the list out of his pocket, my heart started pounding wildly, even though I didn’t think I would be going,” sophomore Kaitlin Eames said. “I typed the names on my laptop as he read them out, and when he said my name, I had fully typed out my first name before I even registered that it was actually me. … I never dreamed anything this incredible would ever happen.”

Fifth-year senior Jessie Hester said that when he heard his name, he experienced “a blast of excitement … and tinges of nervousness.”

Junior Kiall Lorenz said he felt “humbled knowing what an honor and responsibility it is to be a part of the first pioneering group.”

“I have always wanted to see something grow right from its start, to see the foundation of it, to learn what works and what doesn’t,” said junior Samuel Livington. “And this is the perfect opportunity to do that.”

“I’m really excited about representing God’s college in Britain—which means I have to set a really good example in the community,” junior Victoria Lancaster said.

German sophomore Emmanuel Michels said he looks forward to living closer to his mother, whose three sons are all attending AC.

Staff member and graduate Christopher Eames, originally from New Zealand, smiled when he said, “I hope to raise the Union Jack over the campus.”

“We never know what God has planned for us, and that’s what’s so exciting,” sophomore Paris Turgeon said. “We are pioneering a new frontier, and the possibilities are endless.”

The spring semester for Herbert W. Armstrong College begins January 12 for 62 students in Edmond, Okla., and 10 groundbreakers in Edstone, England.

Above are the nine students and one graduate who begin classes on Monday at Edstone Hall in England. (Pictured from left to right):

• Victoria Lancaster (junior)

• Nick Irwin (sophomore)

• Christopher Eames (graduate)

• Brooke Davis (junior)

• Kiall Lorenz (junior)

• Kaitlin Eames (sophomore)

• Samuel Livingston (junior)

• Jessie Hester (fifth-year senior)

• Paris Turgeon (sophomore)

• Emmanuel Michels (sophomore)