The principal of St Mary’s University College leaves his post next Thursday, less than two weeks after “the greatest moment” in its history.

Arthur Naylor, 61, is standing down from his position and will be replaced by Professor Philip Esler, currently working at the University of St Andrews.

Dr Naylor, who has held the post since 1992, was the first lay principal at St Mary’s, which for most of the 20th century was run by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) and had a priest as principal.

He brought his time to a close with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI last Friday and had no doubt it would go down as the high point of his time as principal.

He added: “The day itself was more than we could have expected.

“It went very, very well.

“The Pope came across in his time with us a gentle figure interested in people he met.”

He said the Big Assembly, where the pontiff had an audience with 4,000 youngsters from across the country, was the highlight as St Mary’s started off training teachers, had sent them out around the UK and welcomed many back for the event.

He said: “It will be seen as a unique moment and in its own way the greatest moment in the history of St Mary’s when you look at what it was set up to do.”

Dr Naylor, who lives close to St Mary’s in Strawberry Hill, has overseen many changes in his time. The university college was given powers to award its own degrees, breaking away from the University of Surrey, in 2007 and is approaching the required numbers to achieve full university status.

The sporting aspect of St Mary’s has also grown. It will play host to the South African Olympic team for the London’s Olympic Games and on Friday the pontiff marked the inauguration of the John Paul II Institute for Sport, in line with the previous Pope’s vision that sport and faith should work hand in hand.

Dr Naylor said it was for others to judge his legacy but he knew it was the right time to go after nearly 25 years in management positions.