Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

Christ Church Cathedral
Cathedral Church of Christ

Christ Church Cathedral

Crossing tower and spire from the cloisters
51°45′00″N 1°15′17″W / 51.75°N 1.254722°W / 51.75; -1.254722Coordinates: 51°45′00″N 1°15′17″W / 51.75°N 1.254722°W / 51.75; -1.254722
Location Oxford, Oxfordshire
Country England
Denomination Church of England
Website chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral
Architecture
Style Romanesque, Gothic
Years built 1160–1200
Administration
Diocese Oxford (since 1546)
Province Canterbury
Clergy
Dean Martyn Percy
Subdean Edmund Newey
Canon(s)
Archdeacon Martin Gorick

Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxford, Buckingham and Berks. It is also the chapel of Christ Church at the University of Oxford. This dual role as cathedral and college chapel is unique in the Church of England.[1]

History

The choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
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 now in the Latin Chapel, originally containing relics translated at the rebuilding in 1180, was the focus of pilgrimage from at least the 12th until the early 16th century.[2]

In 1522, the priory was surrendered to Cardinal Wolsey, who had selected it as the site for his proposed college. However, in 1529 the foundation was taken over by King 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 King 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 Cardinal Wolsey's original college, initially called Cardinal College, mentioned 16 choristers and 30 singing priests.

Christ Church Cathedral has been said to be the smallest cathedral in England, and although it once was, there are now smaller cathedrals, as several parish churches were elevated to cathedral status in the 20th century.[3]

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 (ie botanical) type.

Dean and Chapter

Music

Organ

The organ is a 43-rank, four-manual and pedal instrument built in 1979 by Austrian firm Rieger Orgelbau.[8]

Organists

First among the notable organists of Christ Church Cathedral is the Renaissance composer John Taverner, who was appointed as the first organist by Cardinal Wolsey in 1526. Other organists (and directors of the choir) have included Basil Harwood, Thomas Armstrong, W. H. Harris, Simon Preston, Francis Grier and Nicholas Cleobury. The post of organist is currently held by Stephen Darlington. (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

The main choir, the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, consists of 12 men (6 professional "lay-clerks" and 6 student "academical clerks") and 16 choristers (boys aged 7 – 13), and is directed by Stephen Darlington. They sing in university term time, at Christmas and Easter, and have an extensive touring and recording programme.

Former choristers include the composer Sir William Walton.

The Cathedral Singers consists of volunteers and is currently directed by James Potter. 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.

Notable burials

John Locke memorial engraving

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Cathedral | Christ Church, Oxford University". Chch.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Levin, Carole (2013). The Heart and Stomach of a King. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 20. ISBN 978 0 8122 2240 1.
  3. ↑ "Christ Church Cathedral - Miscellany". Web.archive.org. 6 December 2004. Archived from the original on 6 December 2004. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  4. ↑ "News | Christ Church, Oxford University". Chch.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  5. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20131616022600/http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/whos-who/dean-chapter-staff. Archived from the original on 1 January 1970. Retrieved 22 October 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20131715453100/http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2004/1/19/ACNS3745. Archived from the original on 1 January 1970. Retrieved 10 March 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. 1 2 "News | Christ Church, Oxford University". Chch.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "The National Pipe Organ Register (NPOR) V2.11". Npor.org.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  9. ↑
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