Christ Church Oxford University - UK

We are delighted to welcome you to Christ Church. It is a unique place, combining in one institution both a college of Oxford University and an Anglican Cathedral, I hope you will enjoy the absorbing atmosphere of the place, and come to appreciate one of the most iconic colleges of Oxford.  Christ
Church has a vibrant history, rich culture and wonderful buildings.  Shaped by the past, we continue to educate the next generation of students who will help to shape our future.

The Tour

Although Christ Church attracts many thousands of visitors each year, its purpose remains two folds the pursuit of learning and the worship of God, in this sense Christ Church preserves the ethos of Cardinal Wolsey's original Cardinal College which sought to renew both education and spirituality.

The Meadow and Meadow Building

The Meadow Building through which was built to provide undergraduates in the nineteenth century with more and better housing.  The rooms are still used by students and staff and overlook Christ Church  Meadow.  The Venetian Gothic style was reputedly flavoured by the famous Christ Church historian John Ruskin.  Ruskin was an undergraduate at the college between 1837 and 1842 and may well have seen the often flooded Meadow resembling a Venetian landscape

The Hall Staircase

Generations of students have ascended the magnificent staircase to Hall.  The broad flights enable large groups to climb the steps together, tall mullion windows illuminating the route and the delicate fan-vaulted ceiling above.

A door at the bottom of the staircase has the words 'No Peel' studded into it.  This was a protest against the Home Secretary, Sir Robert Peel (a Christ Church man') who in 1829 proposed greater freedom for Catholics.

The Great Hall

The Hall is at the centre of college life; the academic community congregates here to dine each day and banquets are held on special occasions.  During these times the Hall is closed to visitors.  Breakfast, lunch (brunch at weekends) and dinner are all eaten in the Hall.
Dinner consists of a served two or three course meal.  There are two dinner sittings: informal Hall at 6.20pm and Formal Hall at 7.20pm. At the Formal Hall gowns are worn, a latin grace is said at the lectren by an undergraduate scholar and senior members dine at High Table, Wine, beer and other drinks can be bought before dinner from the adjacent Buttery.

Christ Church is a royal foundation.  The reigning British monarch acts as the representative of the
Founder and is known as its 'Visitor'.  A bust of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth can be seen behind the High Table, as can a portrait of the college's Founder, King Henry VIII

Tom Quad - South Corner

Passing back down the Hall Staircase you emerge unto Torn Quad, Originally known as ' the Great Quadrangle due to its grand scale, it is the largest quad in Oxford and measures 79.5 x 80.5 metres.
It became known as Torn Quad in the seventeenth century after the six -ton bell 'Great Torn'  was installed in Sir Christopher Wren's new tower.

Christ Church
St Aldates
Oxford  OX1 1DP

Tel:   01865 276172