Madras Christian College traces its origin to the General Assembly School founded by the Rev. John Anderson, a Missionary from the Church of Scotland, on 3rd April 1837. Anderson was a pioneer in introducing English medium education in South India. He was ably assisted by Rev. Johnston, Rev. Braidwood and Margaret Locher Anderson. Rev. William Miller, who arrived in 1862, upgraded the school to a college by adding F.A. and B.A. courses in 1865 and 1867, respectively. Along with a few other Protestant missions in Madras, Miller transformed the institution and named it ‘Madras Christian College’ on 1st January 1877. His bold academic vision, supported by generous contributions from his family members, old students and the Madras Government, raised the most impressive array of college buildings and hostels (student homes) opposite the Madras High Court complex. Worthy leaders like Professors Skinner, E.M. Macphail, Meston and Hogg succeeded Miller.

The rapid expansion of the College and the crowded physical space necessitated the shifting of the college from George Town to the 400-acre sylvan Selaiyur forest in Tambaram. The ‘great migration’ took place on 30th January 1937 with a thanksgiving service in which Governor Lord Erskine participated. Professor Edward Barnes and his wife Alice Barnes, who had lived on the campus since 1932, painstakingly shaped and nurtured the atmosphere on campus by planting hundreds of rare plants and carving out dusty roads. Swiss Architect Henry Schaetti designed the majestic main buildings. The College hosted the famous International Missionary Conference in 1938. Women students were admitted from 1939.