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Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

Coordinates: 51°45′00″N 1°15′17″W / 51.75°N 1.2547°W / 51.75; -1.2547
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Christ Church Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Christ
Christ Church Cathedral
Crossing tower and spire from the cloisters
Christ Church Cathedral is located in Oxfordshire
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral
51°45′00″N 1°15′17″W / 51.75°N 1.2547°W / 51.75; -1.2547
LocationOxford, Oxfordshire
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
Previous denominationRoman Catholic
Websitechch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Functional statusCathedral
Heritage designationGrade I listed
Designated12 January 1954[1]
StyleRomanesque, Gothic
Years built1160–1200; 824 years ago (1200)
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseOxford (since 1546)
Clergy
Bishop(s)Steven Croft (diocesan), Gavin Collins (suffragan), Alan Wilson (suffragan)
DeanSarah Foot
SubdeanPeter Moger
PrecentorPhilippa White
Canon(s)Sally Welch (Diocesan Canon)
4 theology professors (ex officio)
ArchdeaconJonathan Chaffey
Laity
Director of musicSteven Grahl

Christ Church Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of England in Oxford, England. It is the seat of the bishop of Oxford and the principal church of the diocese of Oxford. It is also the chapel of Christ Church, a college of the University of Oxford; this dual role is unique in the Church of England.[2] It is administered by the dean of Christ Church, who is also the head of the college, and a governing body.[3]

The first church on the site of the cathedral was a nunnery and parish church which was burnt during the St Brice's Day massacre in 1002; it was re-founded as a priory of Augustinian canons by 1122. The priory was suppressed in 1524 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who intended to demolish the church in order to found a new college on the site. The cardinal fell from favour in 1529 and the project was taken over by Henry VIII, who preserved the church. When the diocese of Oxford was created in 1542 its cathedral was the former Osney Abbey, however it was supplanted by Christ Church in 1546.[4][5]

History

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The choir, looking towards the organ and entrance

The cathedral was originally the church of St Frideswide's Priory. The site was historically presumed to be the location of the nunnery founded by St Frideswide, the patron saint of Oxford, and the shrine is now in the Latin Chapel; originally containing relics translated at the rebuilding in 1180, it was the focus of pilgrimage from at least the 12th until the early 16th century.[6]

In 1522, the priory was surrendered to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who had selected it as the site for his proposed college. However, in 1529 the foundation was taken over by Henry VIII. Work stopped, but in June 1532 the college was refounded by the King. In 1546, Henry VIII transferred to it the recently created See of Oxford from Osney. The cathedral has the name of Ecclesia Christi Cathedralis Oxoniensis, given to it by Henry VIII's foundation charter.

There has been a choir at the cathedral since 1526, when John Taverner was the organist and also master of the choristers. The statutes of Wolsey's original college, initially called Cardinal College, mentioned 16 choristers and 30 singing priests.

Christ Church Cathedral is one of the smallest cathedrals in the Church of England.[7]

The nave, choir, main tower and transepts are late Norman. There are architectural features ranging from Norman to the Perpendicular style and a large rose window of the ten-part (i.e., botanical) type.

John Wesley and Charles Wesley, leaders of the Methodist revival, were ordained at Christ Church Cathedral when they were Anglicans.[8]

Memorial to John Wesley and Charles Wesley, leaders of the Methodist revival in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, where they were ordained while they were Anglicans

Dean and chapter

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As of 19 October 2023:[9]

The university's four senior theology professors are also ex officio canons residentiary:

There are also other full-time clergy of the cathedral and college, including the college chaplain, school chaplain and precentor.[9]

On 19 September 2023, the governing body of Christ Church voted to separate the ecclesiastical role of Dean from the position of Head of House of the College.[14]

Music

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Organ

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The organ is a 43-rank, four-manual and pedal instrument built in 1979 by Austrian firm Rieger Orgelbau.[15]

Organists

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See also: List of musicians at English cathedrals

First among the notable organists of Christ Church Cathedral is the Renaissance composer John Taverner, who was appointed as the first organist by Wolsey in 1526. Other organists (and directors of the choir) have included Basil Harwood, Thomas Armstrong, W. H. Harris, Simon Preston, Francis Grier, Nicholas Cleobury and Stephen Darlington. The post of organist is currently held by Steven Grahl. (As in many English cathedrals, the organist is also director of the choir and much of the organ playing is delegated to the sub-organist or organ scholar.)

Choirs

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The main choir, the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, as of 2024 is directed by Peter Holder.[16] It consists of twelve adults (six professional "lay-clerks" and six student "academical clerks") and sixteen choristers (boys aged 7–13 from Christ Church Cathedral School). The choir was all male until 2019, when they welcomed alto Elizabeth Nurse as their first female clerk.[17] They sing in university term time, at Christmas and Easter, and have an extensive touring and recording programme. Former choristers include the composer William Walton.

Choir, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

The Cathedral Singers consists of volunteers and as of 2024 is directed by Hilary Punnett.[18] They are usually in residence outside of term time when the choristers and academical clerks of the main choir are on holiday.

The College Choir sings every 1–2 weeks in term time and is made up of current undergraduates and postgraduates from the college.

Since September 2019, the cathedral has also had a choir for girls aged 7–14 called Frideswide Voices. The choristers are drawn from schools around Oxford, and sing Evensong once a week. Helen Smee was appointed director when the choir was formed.[19]

Bells

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The cathedral has a ring of 12 bells hung for full circle ringing. The tenor weighs 31 long cwt 0 qr 23 lb (3,495 lb or 1,585 kg), diameter 56 inches (1,400 mm) tuned to D. It was cast in 1589 and is historically important according to the Church Buildings Council. Two other bells are also historically important, numbers 10 and 9 (16 long cwt 2 qr (1,850 lb or 840 kg) in F♯ and 12 long cwt (1,300 lb or 600 kg) in G respectively) which were both cast c.1410.[20]

As well as the bells used for ringing there are also two other bells. The litany bell of c.1410 is also historically important. It weighs 1 long cwt 2 qr (170 lb or 80 kg) and sounds the note of G.[20] The Bourdon bell is Great Tom. This dates from 1680, weighs 124 long cwt 2 qr (13,940 lb or 6,320 kg), diameter 85 inches (2,200 mm) sounding A.[20] Great Tom is only swung "on a very small number of occasions",[21] but it is sounded every night.[22]

Notable burials

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John Locke memorial engraving
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  • View of the cathedral
    View of the cathedral
  • Altar and vault
    Altar and vault
  • Cloisters
    Cloisters
  • The chancel's pendant lierne vault
    The chancel's pendant lierne vault
  • Tomb of John de Nowers
    Tomb of John de Nowers
  • Stained glass window
    Stained glass window

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Historic England. "Cathedral Church (Grade I) (1283787)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Cathedral | Christ Church, Oxford University". Chch.ox.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Governing Body". Christ Church, University of Oxford. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  4. ^ Page, William, ed. (1907). "Houses of Augustinian canons: The priory of St Frideswide, Oxford". A History of the County of Oxford. Vol. 2. London: Victoria County History. pp. 97–101. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  5. ^ Pevsner, Nikolaus; Metcalf, Priscilla; et al. (and various hands) (1985). The Cathedrals of England: the South East. London: The Folio Society (published 2005). pp. 239–255.
  6. ^ Levin, Carole (2013). The Heart and Stomach of a King. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-8122-2240-1.
  7. ^ "Christ Church Cathedral – Miscellany". 6 December 2004. Archived from the original on 6 December 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  8. ^ "The Wesleys in Oxford". Wesley Memorial Church. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Who's Who in the Cathedral | Christ Church, Oxford University". Christ Church. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Appointment of the Dean of Christ Church: 16 March 2023". Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  11. ^ "The Revd Dr Sally Welch appointed Diocesan Canon". Diocese of Oxford. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  12. ^ "No. 64530". The London Gazette. 2 October 2024. p. 19142.
  13. ^ "Canon Professor Carol Harrison – Christ Church, Oxford University". Christ Church. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  14. ^ "Christ Church votes to separate Dean position from head of college". Christ Church Cathedral. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  15. ^ "The National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) V2.11". Npor.org.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Cathedral Choir". Christ Church, University of Oxford. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  17. ^ "New Chapter for Christ Church Cathedral Choir". Christ Church. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  18. ^ "Hilary Punnett". Christ Church, University of Oxford. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Helen Smee". Christ Church, University of Oxford. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  20. ^ a b c Dove, Ron; Baldwin, Sid (2022). "Oxford, Oxfordshire, Cath Ch of Christ". Dove’s Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Central Council Publications. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  21. ^ "Great Tom in Tom Tower". Oxford Society of Change Ringers. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  22. ^ Simmonds, Tricia (1989). In and Around Oxford. Bath: Unichrome. p. 4. ISBN 1-871004-02-0.
  23. ^ "Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford". Britain Express. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  24. ^ McGee Morganstern, Anne (2000). Gothic Tombs of Kinship in France, the Low Countries, and England. Penn State Press. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-2710-18-591 – via Google Books.
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