58-716: The Holy Club was an organization at Christ Church, Oxford , formed in 1729 by brothers John and Charles Wesley , who later contributed to the formation of the Methodist Church . The brothers and associates, including George Whitefield , met for prayer , Bible study , and pious discipline. The "Holy Club" started in November 1729 when John Wesley went to live at the University of Oxford . When he came to reside there, three of his friends along with himself agreed to spend three or four evenings together, every week. Their intention
116-425: A Cardinal. The arms are depicted beneath a red cardinal's galero with fifteen tassels on either side, and sometimes in front of two crossed croziers. There are also arms in use by the cathedral, which were confirmed in a visitation of 1574. They are emblazoned: "Between quarterly, 1st & 4th, France modern (azure three fleurs-de-lys or), 2nd & 3rd, England (gules in pale three lions passant guardant or), on
174-514: A cross argent an open Bible proper edged and bound with seven clasps or, inscribed with the words In principio erat Verbum, et Verbum erat apud Deum and imperially crowned or." The college preprandial grace reads: Īnsuper petimus, ut cibum angelōrum, vērum panem cælestem, verbum Deī æternum, Dominum nostrum Iēsum Christum, nōbis impertiāris; utque illō mēns nostra pascātur et per carnem et sanguinem eius fovēāmur, alāmur, et corrōborēmur. Āmen. And above all we beseech thee to impart to us
232-473: A number of architecturally significant buildings. These include: Grade I listed: Grade II* listed: Others: The college buildings and grounds are the setting for parts of Evelyn Waugh 's Brideshead Revisited , as well as a small part of Lewis Carroll 's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland . More recently it has been used in the filming of the movies of J. K. Rowling 's Harry Potter series and also
290-530: A popular and inclusive sport. Rowing and punting is carried out by the boat-house across Christ Church Meadow – the Christ Church Boat Club is traditionally strong at rowing, having been Head of the River more than all other colleges except Oriel College. The college also owns its own punts which may be borrowed by students or dons. The college beagle pack (Christ Church and Farley Hill Beagles), which
348-514: A resident tortoise for the annual Oxford tortoise races. However, since 2020, due to the pandemic, there has not been a tortoise. Recently, there have been two "resident" ducks, which can be seen in Tom Quad , affectionately named "Tom" and "Peck" after two of the famous quadrangles in Christ Church. The Mercury fountain also houses carp, notably a large koi carp named George, which was a gift from
406-562: Is a direct imitation of Tom Tower, though its details have been Georgianised, and stones from Christ Church are installed in one of the house's main entryways. Tom Tower was the inspiration for the Clock Tower (formally the Old Arts Building) at the University of Auckland . Great Tom, housed in the tower, is the loudest bell in Oxford. It weighs six and a quarter tons and was moved from
464-427: Is also appointed to act as the dean's deputy; this post is currently held by Professor Ian Watson. The form "Christ Church College" is considered incorrect, in part because it ignores the cathedral, an integral part of the unique dual foundation. The governing body of Christ Church consists of the dean and chapter of the cathedral, together with the "Students of Christ Church", who are not junior members but rather
522-502: Is off-site. Accommodation is generally spacious with most rooms equipped with sinks and fridges. Many undergraduate rooms comprise 'sets' of bedrooms and living areas. Members are generally expected to dine in hall, where there are two sittings every evening, one informal and one formal (where gowns must be worn and Latin grace is read). The college offers subsidies on the costs of accommodation and dinners for UK and ROI students from families with lower household incomes. The buttery next to
580-438: Is over Tom Gate, on St Aldates , the main entrance of Christ Church, Oxford , which leads into Tom Quad . This square tower with an octagonal lantern and facetted ogee dome was designed by Christopher Wren and built 1681–82. The strength of Oxford architectural tradition and Christ Church's connection to its founder, Henry VIII , motivated the decision to complete the gatehouse structure, left unfinished by Cardinal Wolsey at
638-603: Is the reigning British sovereign (currently King Charles III ), and the Bishop of Oxford is unique among English bishops in not being the Visitor of his own cathedral. The head of the college is the Dean of Christ Church. Christ Church is unique among Oxford colleges in that its Head of House, who is head of both college and cathedral, must be an Anglican cleric appointed by the Crown as dean of
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#1732845461124696-427: Is the subject of a number of Oxfordshire Morris tunes and rounds , including "Old Tom of Oxford" (from Bampton ), and the rounds "Great Tom Is Cast" and "Bonny Christ Church Bells", which were composed by the Dean of Christ Church, Henry Aldrich (1647–1710). However, "Great Tom Is Cast" is also credited to Matthew White as having been written in 1667. The two versions are identical except for two notes. Considering
754-488: Is unique in that it has both a cathedral choir and a college choir. The cathedral choir comprises twelve adults and sixteen boys. The adults are made up of lay clerks and choral scholars, or academical clerks. The choir was all male until 2019, when they welcomed alto Elizabeth Nurse, the first female clerk of Christ Church Cathedral Choir. The boys, whose ages range from eight to thirteen, are chosen for their musical ability and attend Christ Church Cathedral School . Aside from
812-473: The 100 original scholars of the college plus one (added in 1663). It is rung at 21:05 current UK time, which corresponds to 21:00 in what used to be " Oxford time " (local mean time for Oxford, noon in Oxford always occurring five minutes later than noon in Greenwich), and was at one time the signal for all the Oxford colleges to lock their gates. The bell is only rung by swinging on very special occasions. The bell
870-540: The 12th-century Osney Abbey after the dissolution of the monasteries . Aside from a student prank in 2002 when the clapper was lagged (enclosed or covered with a material providing insulation), Tom has sounded every night since the Second World War . Originally called "Mary", Great Tom was moved from Osney Abbey to St Frideswide's Priory in 1545, after which at some point it was renamed "Tom". It had caused problems since its first casting, wearing out its clapper, and
928-581: The Committee that it is well known that a match between an archer and a golfer can be fairly close. I spent many a happy evening in the centre of Peckwater Quadrangle at Christ Church, with a bow and arrow, trying to put an arrow over the Kilcannon building into the Mercury Pond in Tom Quad . On occasion, the golfer would win and, on occasion, I would win. Unfortunately, that had to stop when I put an arrow through
986-817: The Empress of Japan. A heron may also be frequently seen visiting the pond as their hunting ground. This stopped, in September 2022, when the fishes were moved to a spacious lake home somewhere in Oxfordshire while the College perform essential maintenance on the pond. Outside the Meadow Building in the Christ Church Meadow, there are also cows present during the day. The cows are of rare English Longhorn breed. Long associated with High Church Anglicanism , Christ Church
1044-751: The Great Dining Hall, which was the seat of the parliament assembled by King Charles I during the English Civil War . The buildings have inspired replicas throughout the world in addition to being featured in films such as Harry Potter and The Golden Compass , helping Christ Church become the most popular Oxford college for tourists with almost half a million visitors annually . The college's alumni include 13 British prime ministers (the highest number of any Oxbridge college), as well as former prime ministers of Pakistan and Ceylon. Other notable alumni include King Edward VII , King William II of
1102-708: The Hall serves drinks around dinner time. There is also a college bar (known as the Undercroft), as well as a Junior Common Room (JCR) and a Graduate Common Room (GCR), equivalent to the Middle Common Room (MCR) in other colleges. There is a college lending library that supplements the university libraries (many of which are non-lending). Law students have the additional facility of the Burn Law Library, named for Edward Burn . Most undergraduate tutorials are carried out in
1160-453: The Holy Club recited a popular ditty: By rule they eat, by rule they drink, By rule do all things but think. Accuse the priests of loose behavior. To get more in the laymen's favor. Method alone must guide 'em all When themselves "Methodists" they call. Currents of opposition became a furor following the mental breakdown and death of a group member, William Morgan. In response to
1218-459: The Holy Club who distinguished themselves later in life. Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church ( Latin : Ædes Christi , the temple or house, ædes , of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England . Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII , the college is uniquely a joint foundation of the university and the cathedral of
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#17328454611241276-680: The Holy Club's members went on to lead the Evangelical Revival within the Church of England , this organisation is often said to be the root of Methodism . Jeering college students scoffed at these "Methodists" who tried to systematically serve God every hour of the day. The club members set aside time for praying, examining their spiritual lives, studying the Bible , and meeting together. In addition, they took food to poor families, visited lonely people in prison, and taught orphans how to read. Members of
1334-589: The King, who had broken from the Church of Rome and acquired great wealth through the dissolution of the monasteries in England, refounded the college as Christ Church as part of the reorganisation of the Church of England , making the partially demolished priory church the cathedral of the recently created Diocese of Oxford. Christ Church's sister college in the University of Cambridge is Trinity College, Cambridge , founded
1392-697: The Netherlands , William Penn , writers Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland ) and W. H. Auden , philosopher John Locke , and scientist Robert Hooke . Two Nobel laureates, Martin Ryle and John Gurdon , studied at Christ Church. Albert Einstein is also associated with the college. The college has several cities and places named after it. In 1525, at the height of his power, Thomas Wolsey , Lord Chancellor of England and Cardinal Archbishop of York , suppressed St Frideswide's Priory in Oxford and founded Cardinal College on its lands, using funds from
1450-516: The Oxford diocese, Christ Church Cathedral , which also serves as the college chapel and whose dean is ex officio the college head. As of 2022, Christ Church had the largest financial endowment of any Oxford college at £770 million. As of 2022, the college had 661 students. Its grounds contain a number of architecturally significant buildings including Tom Tower (designed by Sir Christopher Wren ), Tom Quad (the largest quadrangle in Oxford), and
1508-453: The UK, including works by Leonardo da Vinci , Raphael and Michelangelo . The collection is composed of approximately 300 paintings and 2,000 drawings, a rotated selection of which are available to the public for viewing in the purpose-built Christ Church Picture Gallery . Many of the works were bequeathed by a former member of the college, General John Guise (1682/3-1765), enabling the creation of
1566-579: The United Kingdom on Channel 4 in March 2000. Treasures of Christ Church (2011) is an example of the choir's recording and debuted as the highest new entry in the UK Specialist Classical chart. The disc featured on BBC Radio 3's In Tune on 26 September 2011 and on Radio 3's Breakfast Show on 27 September that year. Christ Church holds one of the most important private collections of drawings in
1624-614: The University and Christ Church) as well as early-career Career Development Fellows on fixed-term contracts. Sir John Bell and Sir Tim Berners-Lee are both members of the governing body of Christ Church. Christ Church sits in approximately 175 acres (71 hectares) of land. This includes the Christ Church Meadow (including Merton Field and Boathouse Island), which is open to the public all year round. In addition Christ Church own Aston's Eyot (purchased from All Souls College in 1891), Christ Church recreation ground (including
1682-480: The bell in the tower, Great Tom , is rung 101 times at 9 pm measured by Oxford time , meaning at 9:05 pm GMT / BST every night, once for each of the 100 original scholars of the college, plus one more stroke added in 1664. In former times this was done at midnight, signalling the close of all college gates throughout Oxford. Since it took 20 minutes to ring the 101, the Christ Church gates, unlike those of other colleges, did not close until 12:20 am. When
1740-591: The bowler hat of the head porter. Luckily, he was unhurt and bore me no ill will. From that time on he always sent me a Christmas card which was signed 'To Robin Hood from the Ancient Briton'" "There is one oddity; Rudge. Determined to try for Oxford, Christ Church of all places! Might get into Loughborough , in a bad year." Tom Tower Tom Tower is a bell tower in Oxford , England, named after its bell, Great Tom . It
1798-489: The cathedral choir has attracted many distinguished composers and organists – from its first director, John Taverner , appointed by Cardinal Wolsey in 1526, to William Walton in the twentieth century. In recent years, the choir have commissioned recorded works by contemporary composers such as John Tavener , William Mathias and Howard Goodall , also patron of Christ Church Music Society. The choir, which broadcasts regularly, have many recordings to their credit and were
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1856-580: The cathedral church. The Dean lives on site in a grand 16th-century house in the main quadrangle. The college's activities are managed by a senior and a junior censor (formally titled the Censor Moralis Philosophiae and the Censor Naturalis Philosophiae ) the former of whom is responsible for academic matters, the latter for undergraduate discipline. They are chosen from among the members of the governing body. A Censor Theologiae
1914-466: The charge that "rigorous fasting" had hastened his death, Wesley noted that Morgan had left off fasting a year and a half since. In the same letter, which was widely circulated, Wesley referred to the name "Methodist" which "some of our neighbors are pleased to compliment us." That name was used by an anonymous author in a published pamphlet (1733) describing Wesley and his group, "The Oxford Methodists". The individuals listed below are notable members of
1972-482: The clouds. And now, a solemn and plangent token of Oxford's perpetuity, the first stroke of Great Tom sounded." "I must say my thoughts wandered, but I kept turning the pages and watching the light fade, which in Peckwater, my dear, is quite an experience – as darkness falls the stone seems positively to decay under one's eyes. I was reminded of some of those leprous façades in the vieux port at Marseille, until suddenly I
2030-486: The college postprandial grace. As well as rooms for accommodation, the buildings of Christ Church include the cathedral, one of the smallest in England, which also acts as the college chapel, a great hall, two libraries, two bars, and separate common rooms for dons, graduates and undergraduates. There are also gardens and a neighbouring sports ground and boat-house. Accommodation is usually provided for all undergraduates, and for some graduates, although some accommodation
2088-556: The college, though for some specialist subjects undergraduates may be sent to tutors in other colleges. Croquet is played in the Masters' Garden in the summer. The sports ground is mainly used for netball, cricket, tennis, rugby and football and includes Christ Church cricket ground . In recent years the Christ Church Netball Club, which competes on the inter-college level in both mixed and women's matches, has become known as
2146-524: The date of his fall from power in 1529, and which had remained roofless since. Wren made a case for working in a Late Gothic style—that it "ought to be Gothick to agree with the Founders worke" —a style that had not been seen in a prominent building for a hundred and fifty years, making Tom Tower a lonely precursor of the Gothic Revival that got underway in the mid-18th century. Wren never came to supervise
2204-497: The director, Peter Holder , there is also a sub-organist and two organ scholars. The college choir, however, is always a student-run society, and sings Evensong once a week in term time. In vacations the services are sung by the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church – a choir drawn from semi-professional singers in and around Oxford. The cathedral also hosts visiting choirs from time to time during vacations. Throughout its history,
2262-414: The dissolution of Wallingford Priory and other minor priories . He planned the establishment on a magnificent scale, but fell from grace in 1529, with the buildings only three-quarters complete, as they were to remain for 140 years. In 1531 the college was itself suppressed, but it was refounded in 1532 as King Henry VIII's College by Henry VIII , to whom Wolsey's property had escheated . Then in 1546
2320-507: The equivalent of the fellows of the other colleges . Until the later 19th century, the Students differed from fellows in that they had no governing powers in their own college, as those resided solely with the dean and chapter. The governing body of Christ Church now has around 60 members. Serving alongside the seven members of Chapter, the other members include statutory professors and associate professors with joint appointments (employed both by
2378-567: The film adaptation of Philip Pullman 's novel Northern Lights (the film bearing the title of the American edition of the book, The Golden Compass ). Distinctive features of the college's architecture have been used as models by a number of other academic institutions, including the NUI Galway , which reproduces Tom Quad . The University of Chicago , Cornell University , and Kneuterdijk Palace have reproductions of Christ Church's dining hall (in
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2436-511: The first public art gallery in Britain. The college arms are those of Cardinal Wolsey and were granted to him by the College of Arms on 4 August 1525. They are blazoned: Sable, on a cross engrailed argent, between four leopards' faces azure a lion passant gules; on a chief or between two Cornish choughs proper a rose gules barbed vert and seeded or . The lion refers to Leo X who created Wolsey
2494-446: The food of angels, the true bread of heaven, the eternal Word of God, Jesus Christ our Lord, so that the mind of each of us may feed on him and that through his flesh and blood we may be sustained, nourished and strengthened. Amen." The first part of the grace is read by a scholar or exhibitioner before formal hall each evening, ending with the words Per Iēsum Christum Dominum nostrum ("Through Jesus Christ our Lord.") The remainder of
2552-676: The forms of Hutchinson Hall , the dining hall of Risley Residential College , and the Gothic hall of Kneuterdijk Palace, respectively). ChristChurch Cathedral in New Zealand, after which the City of Christchurch is named, is itself named after Christ Church, Oxford. Stained glass windows in the cathedral and other buildings are by the Pre-Raphaelite William Morris group with designs by Edward Burne-Jones . Historically, there has been
2610-471: The grace, replacing Per Iēsum Christum etc., is usually only read on special occasions. There is also a long postprandial grace intended for use after meals, but this is rarely used. When High Table rises (by which time the Hall is largely empty), the senior member on High Table simply says Benedictō benedīcātur ("Let the Blessed One be blessed", or "Let a blessing be given by the Blessed One"), instead of
2668-658: The high Victorian era. For over four centuries Christ Church admitted men only; the first female students at Christ Church matriculated in 1980. Christ Church, formally titled "The Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Oxford of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth", is the only academic institution in the world which is also a cathedral , the seat ( cathedra ) of the Bishop of Oxford . The Visitor of Christ Church
2726-520: The organization celebrated Holy Communion frequently and fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays until 3 pm. Fellows of the Holy Club also studied and discussed the Greek New Testament as well as the Classics. University wits styled them the "Holy Club" or "Methodists", a title of derision. They were dismissed as " enthusiasts " (indicating excessive religious behaviour, or fanaticism ). Critics of
2784-536: The ringing was moved back to 9:00 pm, Christ Church gates still remained open until 12.20, 20 minutes later than any other college. Although the clock itself now shows GMT/BST, Christ Church still follows Oxford time in the timings of services in the cathedral. King Charles I made the Deanery his palace and held his Parliament in the Great Hall during the English Civil War . In the evening of 29 May 1645, during
2842-406: The same year by Henry VIII. Since the time of Queen Elizabeth I the college has also been associated with Westminster School . The dean remains to this day an ex officio member of the school's governing body. Major additions have been made to the buildings through the centuries, and Wolsey's Great Quadrangle was crowned with the famous gate-tower designed by Christopher Wren . To this day,
2900-572: The second siege of Oxford , a "bullet of IX lb. weight" shot from the Parliamentarians ' warning-piece at Marston fell against the wall of the north side of the Hall. Several of Christ Church's deans achieved high academic distinction, notably Owen under the Commonwealth , Aldrich and Fell in the Restoration period, Jackson and Gaisford in the early 19th century and Liddell in
2958-455: The site of Liddell Building), and School Field which has been leased to Magdalen College School since 1893. The meadow itself is inhabited by English Longhorn cattle. In October 1783 James Sadler made the first hot air balloon ascent in Britain from the meadow. The college gardens, quadrangles, and meadow are Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens . Christ Church has
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#17328454611243016-506: The structure as it was being erected by the stonemason he had recommended, Christopher Kempster of Burford . In 1732–34, when William Kent was called upon to make sympathetic reconstruction of the east range of Clock Court in Wolsey's Tudor Hampton Court Palace , he naturally turned to the precedent of Tom Tower for his "central ogee dome with its coronet of pilaster-like gothick finials". The tower of Dunster House at Harvard University
3074-528: The subject of a Channel 4 television documentary Howard Goodall 's Great Dates (2002). The documentary was nominated at the Montreux TV Festival in the arts programme category – and has since been seen internationally. The choir's collaboration with Goodall has also led to their singing his TV themes for Mr. Bean and Vicar of Dibley . They appeared in Howard Goodall's Big Bangs , broadcast in
3132-604: Was disturbed by such a bawling and caterwauling as you never heard, and there, down in the little piazza, I saw a mob of about twenty terrible young men, and do you know what they were chanting We want Blanche. We want Blanche! in a kind of litany." "Those twins / Of learning that he [Wolsey] raised in you, Ipswich and Oxford! one of which fell with him, Unwilling to outlive the good that did it; The other, though unfinish'd, yet so famous, So excellent in art, and still so rising, That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue." "By way of light entertainment, I should tell
3190-416: Was formerly one of several undergraduate packs in Oxford, is no longer formally connected with the college or the university but continues to be staffed and followed by some Oxford undergraduates. "Midnight has come and the great Christ Church bell And many a lesser bell sound through the room; And it is All Souls' Night..." "The wind had dropped. There was even a glimpse of the moon riding behind
3248-543: Was hung in the newly completed Tom Tower. It was rehung in May 1953. There is an inscription on the bell in Latin , which translated reads: "Great Thomas the door closer of Oxford renovated April 8, 1680 in the reign of Charles II . Deacon John, the Bishop of Oxford and sub-Deacon give thanks to the knowledge of Henry Smith and the care and workmanship of Christopher Hodson". Great Tom is still sounded 101 times every night, which signifies
3306-414: Was recast in 1626 and 1654, but without solving the problem (there is no evidence of a recasting in 1612 ). In 1678–79, Richard Keene of Woodstock tried three times to recast the bell, in the process increasing its weight from two to over six tons, but it was not until a final recasting in 1680—by Christopher Hodson , a bell-founder from London—that success was achieved, and the resulting bell, Great Tom,
3364-466: Was to "read over" (skim through and discuss) the classics together, which they had already read before privately and to read a book about divinity on Sundays. Charles Wesley , John's brother, was one of the four individuals making up this small cell group . The actual title of "The Holy Club" was not a name which any of the members came up with, but rather was a title bestowed upon them (most likely as an insult by those trying to mock them). As many of
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