Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford#Choirs

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.{{cite book |last=Levin |first=Carole |date=2013 |title=The Heart and Stomach of a King |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |page=20 |isbn=978-0-8122-2240-1}}

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 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/present/misc.html |title=Christ Church Cathedral – Miscellany |date=6 December 2004 |access-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041206173809/http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/present/misc.html |archive-date=6 December 2004}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.wesleymem.org.uk/heritage/our-heritage-atrium.html |title=The Wesleys in Oxford |publisher=Wesley Memorial Church |access-date=10 May 2023}}

File:Oxford's_Christ_Church_Cathedral,_floor_memorial_(d)_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2352762.jpg and Charles Wesley, leaders of the Methodist revival in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, where they were ordained while they were Anglicans]]

As of October 2024:{{Cite web|title=Who's Who in the Cathedral {{!}} Christ Church, Oxford University|url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/oxford-cathedral/whos-who-cathedral|access-date=2023-10-19|publisher=Christ Church}}

• Dean – The Very Reverend Professor Sarah Foot (since 1 July 2023 collation){{cite web |title= Appointment of the Dean of Christ Church: 16 March 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-the-dean-of-christ-church-16-march-2023 |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |access-date= 28 March 2023}}
• Archdeacon of Oxford– The Venerable Jonathan Chaffey (since 1 May 2020 collation)
• Sub Dean- The Reverend Canon Peter Moger

Diocesan Canon - Vacant

The University's four senior theology professors are also ex officio canons residentiary and members of the Cathedral chapter:

• Regius Professor of Divinity – The Reverend Canon Professor Andrew Paul Davison (since 2024){{London Gazette|issue=64530|page=19142 | date=2 October 2024 }}
• Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity – Professor Carol Harrison (lay; since 27 April 2015 installation){{cite web|url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/staff/canon-professor-carol-harrison|title=Canon Professor Carol Harrison – Christ Church, Oxford University|publisher=Christ Church|access-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628154330/https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/staff/canon-professor-carol-harrison|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=live}}
• Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology – The Revd Canon Professor Luke Bretherton (from 25 January 2025){{Cite web|url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/news/new-regius-professors-appointed-christ-church|title=New Regius Professors appointed at Christ Church | Christ Church, University of Oxford|date=13 June 2024|website=www.chch.ox.ac.uk}}
• Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History – Chair held concurrently by the Dean, The Very Revd Professor Sarah Foot

There are also other full-time clergy of the Cathedral and college who are not formal members of the Cathedral chapter, including the Precentor and School Chaplain The Revd Philippa White; the College Chaplain, The Revd Dr Kirsty Borthwick; and the Priest Vicar, The Revd Dr Zachary Guiliano.

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.{{cite web|title= Christ Church votes to separate Dean position from head of college |url= https://cherwell.org/2023/10/19/christ-church-votes-to-separate-dean-position-from-head-of-college/ |access-date= 19 October 2023 |publisher= Christ Church Cathedral}}

File:Christ Church Cathedral Interior 1, Oxford, UK - Diliff.jpg, looking towards the organ and entrance]]

The organ is a 43-rank, four-manual and pedal instrument built in 1979 by Austrian firm Rieger Orgelbau.{{cite web|url=https://www.npor.org.uk/survey/N11123 |title=The National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) V2.11 |website=Npor.org.uk |access-date=4 March 2016}} It is located in the west end. In April 2024 work began to install a new organ in the east end of the church; the current chancel organ, which is rented from the charity Pipe Up For Pipe Organs, was to be removed to allow floor surveys to be undertaken.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/news/new-east-end-organ-project-begins-ground-surveys|title=New East End Organ Project Begins With Ground Surveys | Christ Church, University of Oxford|date=19 April 2024|website=www.chch.ox.ac.uk}}

{{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, Stephen Darlington and Steven Grahl. The post of Organist is currently held by Peter Holder. (As in many English cathedrals, the organist's primary duties are as director of the choir, with most of the organ playing delegated to the sub-organist or organ scholar.)

The main choir, the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, {{As of|2024|lc=y}} is directed by Peter Holder.{{cite web | title=Cathedral Choir | publisher=Christ Church, University of Oxford | url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/worship-music/cathedral-choir | access-date=26 October 2024}} 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.{{cite web |title=New Chapter for Christ Church Cathedral Choir |url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/news/oxfords-cathedral/new-chapter-christ-church-cathedral-choir |publisher=Christ Church |access-date=13 November 2020}} 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.

File:Choir, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.png

The Cathedral Singers consists of volunteers and {{As of|2024|lc=y}} is directed by Hilary Punnett.{{cite web | title=Hilary Punnett | publisher=Christ Church, University of Oxford | url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/people/hilary-punnett | access-date=26 October 2024}} 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 students and staff from the college.

In May 2019, Frideswide Voices, a local group created to provide opportunities for girls to sing for the liturgy in the chapels of Magdalen College, New College, and Christ Church, were re-founded as a permanently endowed part of the Cathedral's choral foundation. The choristers are aged 7-14 and are drawn from schools around Oxford. They sing Evensong once a week with the clerks of the Cathedral Choir, and perform alongside the boys of the Cathedral choir in certain concerts and services. Helen Smee was appointed director in 2019, taking over from founding director William Dawes.{{cite web | title=Helen Smee | publisher=Christ Church, University of Oxford| url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/people/helen-smee | access-date=26 October 2024}}

The cathedral has a ring of 12 bells hung for full circle ringing. The tenor weighs {{long ton | |31|0|23}}, diameter {{convert|56|in}} 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 ({{long ton | |16|2}} in F{{sharp}} and {{long ton | |12}} in G respectively) which were both cast {{circa}}1410.{{cite web

| url = https://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?tower=14542

| title = Oxford, Oxfordshire, Cath Ch of Christ

| access-date = 5 October 2022

| last1 = Dove

| first1 = Ron

| last2 = Baldwin

| first2 = Sid

| date = 2022

| work = Dove’s Guide for Church Bell Ringers

| publisher = Central Council Publications

}}

As well as the bells used for ringing there are also two other bells. The litany bell of {{circa}}1410 is also historically important. It weighs {{long ton||1|2}} and sounds the note of G. The Bourdon bell is Great Tom. This dates from 1680, weighs {{long ton||124|2}}, diameter {{convert|85|in}} sounding A. Great Tom is only swung "on a very small number of occasions",{{cite web

| url = https://www.oxfordsociety.org.uk/towers/great-tom-in-tom-tower/

| title = Great Tom in Tom Tower

| access-date = 5 October 2022

| work = Oxford Society of Change Ringers

}} but it is sounded every night.{{cite book|last=Simmonds|first=Tricia|date=1989|title=In and Around Oxford|publisher=Unichrome|location=Bath|page=4|isbn=1-871004-02-0}}

File:St Michael window.jpg]]

The Cathedral possesses a fine collection of stained glass, the oldest being the 14th-century Becket Window in the Lucy Chapel. It is one of very few images of Thomas Becket to survive the Reformation. There are two windows by the 17th-century Dutch artist Abraham van Linge, one depicting Jonah, the other dedicated to Bishop King. The firm of Clayton and Bell created the dramatic St Michael Window in the north transept in 1870, and from the same period are five windows by Morris & Co to designs by Edward Burne-Jones.{{cite web | title=Stained Glass| publisher=Christ Church, University of Oxford | url=https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/visiting | access-date=6 March 2025}}

The most recent window was unveiled in 2023, a memorial to E. H. Burn, depicting Francis of Assisi by John Reyntiens.{{cite web |last=Hildebrand|first=Peter| title=Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford | website= Visit Stained Glass| url=https://www.visitstainedglass.uk/location/oxford-cathedral-oxfordshire | access-date=6 March 2025}}

File:John Locke memorial stone.jpg

• John Bankes (1589–1644), English lawyer and politician
• George Berkeley, philosopher and Bishop of Cloyne (memorial in the nave)
• Robert Burton, author of The Anatomy of Melancholy
• Thomas Byron, Royalist officer in the First English Civil War
• John Fell, Bishop of Oxford
• Henry Gage (1593–1645) (buried in the Lucy Chapel, off the south transept)
• Richard Gardiner (1591–1670)
• Henry Liddell, father of Alice Liddell
• John Locke, buried at High Laver in Essex, has an engraved floor plaque to his memory in the church.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britainexpress.com/cities/oxford/cathedral.htm|title=Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford |website=Britain Express |access-date=6 April 2024}}
• Elizabeth Montacute (d. August 1354){{Cite book |first=Anne |last=McGee Morganstern |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awNAv9ieXwcC&pg=107 |title=Gothic Tombs of Kinship in France, the Low Countries, and England |publisher=Penn State Press |year=2000 |via=Google Books |page=107 |isbn= 978-0-2710-18-591}}
• Edward Bouverie Pusey
• George Stewart, 9th Seigneur d'Aubigny, cavalier
• Thomas Strong, Bishop of Oxford
• John Underhill (c.1545–1592), Bishop of Oxford
• John Urry, (1666–1715) literary editor
• Peter Wyche, (c. 1593–1643) ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and member of the Privy Council

File:Cathedral oxford.jpg|View of the cathedral

File:Christ Church Cathedral Interior 3, Oxford, UK - Diliff.jpg|Altar and vault

File:Christ Church Cathedral Interior 2, Oxford, UK - Diliff.jpg|The nave, looking towards the altar

File:Christ Church, cloister 03.JPG|Cloisters

File:Oxford cathedral 08.JPG|The chancel's pendant lierne vault

File:Oxford cathedral, nowers monumenat.JPG|Tomb of John de Nowers

File:Christ Church Cathedral(2014-06-14).JPG|Stained glass window

• List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom
• Christ Church, Oxford: more information on the college and the cathedral
• Christ Church Cathedral School
• The Clerks of Christ Church
• Bishop of Oxford
• Diocese of Oxford
• Architecture of the medieval cathedrals of England
• List of Gothic Cathedrals in Europe
• English Gothic architecture
• English Gothic stained glass windows
• Romanesque architecture
• Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch in New Zealand inspired by the Oxford cathedral

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford}}

• [https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/ Christ Church Cathedral website]
• [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Great_Britain/England/_Topics/churches/_Texts/KINCAT*/Oxford/1.html Oxford Cathedral information]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060820005907/http://www.ofchoristers.net/Chapters/OxfordChristChurch.htm A history of the choristers of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford]
• [http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/oxford-christ-church-cathedral.htm Sacred destinations photo gallery]

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