At the college , Tutu studied the Bible , Anglican doctrine , church history , and Christian ethics , earning a Licentiate of Theology degree . The college 's principal , Godfrey Pawson , wrote that Tutu " has exceptional knowledge and intelligence and is very industrious . At the same time he shows no arrogance , mixes in well and is popular ... He has obvious gifts of leadership . " He won the archbishop 's annual essay prize for his discussion of Christianity and Islam . During his years at the college , there had been an intensification in anti-apartheid activism in South Africa , accompanied by a growing government crackdown on this dissent ; in March 1960 several hundred casualties resulted from the Sharpeville massacre . Tutu and his other trainees did not mobilise in support of the anti-apartheid movement ; he later noted that " we were in some ways a very apolitical bunch "
Sharpeville massacre
Sharpeville massacre
Desmond Tutu