Blackfriars Hall#Overview
{{Short description|Permanent private hall of the University of Oxford}}
{{Third-party|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox residential college
| name = Blackfriars Hall
| university = University of Oxford
| photo = DominicanHall.PNG
| shield = 125px
| blazon = Gyronny sable and argent, a cross flory counterchanged.
| scarf = {{scarf|{{cell|#000}}{{cell|#FFF}}{{cell|#000}}{{cell|#FFF}}{{cells|3|#000}}{{cell|#FFF}}{{cell|#000}}{{cell|#FFF}}{{cell|#000}}}}
| location = St Giles', Oxford
| coordinates =
| established = 1994
| named_after = The black cappa of the Dominican friars
| head_label = Regent
| head = Rev. John O’Connor, OP{{cite web |url=https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/news/new-regent-announced/ |title=New Regent Announced |author= |website=Blackfriars, Oxford |access-date=25 August 2020 }}
| undergraduates = 0 (4 visiting students)
| website = {{official website|https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/|Hall website}}
| location_map =
}}
Blackfriars Hall is a Roman Catholic permanent private hall of the University of Oxford. Unlike a college, a hall is owned and governed by an outside institution (in this case, the resident community of the Priory of the Holy Spirit and the English Province of the Order of Preachers) and not by its fellows. Although historically a centre for the study of theology and philosophy informed by the intellectual tradition of St Thomas Aquinas, it now admits men and women of any faith to a wide range of postgraduate degree programmes in the humanities and social sciences. The current Regent of Blackfriars is Fr. John O'Connor, O.P.
Overview
Blackfriars Hall is the home of a number of other institutes including, the Las Casas Institute on ethics, governance and social justice.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/casas_intro.php|title=Blackfriars - Hall - Las Casas Institute|publisher=Bfriars.ox.ac.uk|access-date=5 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709191728/http://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/casas_intro.php|archive-date=9 July 2013}} Launched in November 2008, the institute contributes to the hall's founding vision to be a centre of the social as well as the sacred sciences.{{cite web|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2008/081201.html|title=New Las Casas Institute launched at Blackfriars Hall|publisher=Ox.ac.uk|access-date=5 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007045455/http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2008/081201.html|archive-date=7 October 2014}} Its founding director (from October 2008 to January 2011) was Francis Davis;{{cite web|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2009/091116.html|title=Las Casas director appointed government advisor|publisher=Ox.ac.uk|access-date=5 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007063959/http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2009/091116.html|archive-date=7 October 2014}} {{as of|2022}} the director is Richard Finn.{{cite web |url=https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/discover/people/?keyword=&department=35#pageContent |title=People: Las Casas Institute |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Blackfriars Hall |access-date=31 March 2022 |quote=}}
The Aquinas Institute was established in 2004 under the directorship of Fergus Kerr.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/hall_aquinas_institute.php|title=Blackfriars - Hall - Aquinas Institute|publisher=Bfriars.ox.ac.uk|access-date=5 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709185412/http://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/hall_aquinas_institute.php|archive-date=9 July 2013|url-status=dead}} It aims to foster study of St Thomas at Oxford through seminars, conferences, summer schools and programmes. Patrons of the institute include John Haldane, Alasdair MacIntyre and Eleonore Stump.{{cite web |url=https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/discover/people/?keyword=&department=34#pageContent |title=People: Aquinas Institute |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Blackfriars Hall |access-date=31 March 2022 |quote=}}
Profile
Blackfriars Hall describes itself as "small, friendly and welcoming environment for intellectual encounter".https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/discover/ Blackfriars is unique in the Oxford environment for its smallness and specialist focus. The Hall is growing smaller as enrolment has fallen from 55 in 2022https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/news/welcome-to-our-new-students/ to 20 in 2024. This allows the friars to provide a personal service where "students are known by name, not only by other students, but also by the staff."https://cherwell.org/2025/01/25/oxford-university-pphs-financial-strains-and-inclusivity/
In response to a 2022 Freedom of Information Request the Hall reported that it has no full-time employees.https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/recruitment_and_retention_britis_231#incoming-1997872
The relationship between the Dominican friars and the Hall is very close. Friars always make up the majority of the Hall governing body (known as Moderators). Blackfriars Hall occupies the buildings owned and inhabited by Dominican friars. The friars financially subsidise the working of the Hall.https://cherwell.org/2025/01/25/oxford-university-pphs-financial-strains-and-inclusivity/ Blackfriars Formal Halls are "substantially subsidised by the community of Friars [...] catering team services for the formals are offered directly by the Friars
as a service to the community, at no additional cost to Blackfriars Hall."https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/high_table_costs_2#incoming-2004847
Development
In 2018 Blackfriars invested £1.5 million converting a disused Bank into additional facilities, including four student bedrooms, offices for various academic departments and seminar rooms.https://mebdesign.co.uk/projects/blackfriars-annexe-university-of-oxford/ The project was necessary due to "lack of space and logistical constraints" in the Priory building.https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17555457.oxford-hall-make-use-former-st-giles-bank/ It was intended to enable the student and religious "communities can live alongside each other within the limited space". In particular "pressure on space has been felt" "especially by friars who live here and need space of their own for prayer, study and relaxation."https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/news/blackfriars-to-expand-into-new-annexe-building/ The first students moved into purpose built accessible accommodation in 2019.https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/news/new-building-first-students-move-in/
Like many similar colleges Blackfriars was very severely impacted by the Covid pandemic. Reporting financial "harm being suffered at the current time by Blackfriars Hall" a 'Fighting Fund' was launched raising £25k from alumni and others.https://www.blackfriars.org.uk/news/new-video-launches-fighting-fund-for-blackfriars-hall/ A further £62.5k was raised in 2021 placing the Hall back on secure financial footings.https://www.blackfriars.org.uk/news/2021-appeal-target-achieved/
In 2023 the Hall announced a second phase of redevelopment to the former bank building. Moving academic offie to their former location in the Priory, the Hall announced plans to open a profit making cafe on the ground floor in September 2024. This would provide a steady income for the Hall and to meet an "urgent need for dining space for students".https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/supporters-alumni/the-blackfriars-annexe-phase-2/ As of February 2025 work has not yet begun on this conversion.
People associated with Blackfriars
=Notable former students=
{{Further|:Category:Alumni of Blackfriars, Oxford}}
- Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Cardinal prelate and Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark
- Anthony Fisher {{post-nominals|list=OP}}, 9th Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
- Delia Gallagher, journalist, CNN Faith and Values Correspondent
=Fellows and academics=
{{Further|:Category:Fellows of Blackfriars, Oxford}}
- John Battle - former MP for Leeds West
- Brian Davies - philosopher and former Regent
- Richard Finn - former Regent and Novice Master for The English Province of The Order of Preachers
- Timothy Radcliffe - Master of the Order of Preachers from 1992 to 2001
- Fergus Kerr - Regent (1998–2004)
- James MacMillan - classical composer and conductor, Honorary Fellow
- John Loughlin - Emeritus Fellow of St Edmund's College, Cambridge
Gallery
{{Gallery
|title=
|width=240 |height=200
|align=center
|footer=
|File:Blackfriars entrance, Oxford.jpg
|Entrance gate to the Priory surmounted by a statue of the Virgin Mary
|alt1=Blackfriars, Oxford
|File:The tower at Blackfriars, Oxford - geograph.org.uk - 3808763.jpg
|Courtyard and bell tower
|alt2=Blackfriars, Oxford
|File:Blackfriars Chapel, Oxford.jpg
|Priory Chapel
|alt3=Blackfriars, Oxford
|File:Blackfriars statue, Oxford.jpg
|Alabaster statue of the virgin in the chapel
|alt4=Blackfriars, Oxford
}}