Oxford Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

Christ Church Cathedral, located in Oxford, England, is a significant ecclesiastical and academic landmark, distinguished by its unique dual role as the cathedral of the Diocese of Oxford and the chapel of Christ Church college, a constituent part of the University of Oxford. This combined function is singular within the Church of England.

History and Foundation

The origins of the cathedral trace back to the site of a nunnery and parish church, believed to be founded by St Frideswide, the patron saint of Oxford. This early religious establishment faced destruction, was re-established as an Augustinian priory by 1122, and later suppressed in 1524. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey initially planned to demolish the priory to establish a new college. Following Wolsey's fall from favor, Henry VIII took over the project, preserving the church. In 1546, the newly created Diocese of Oxford transferred its seat to this former priory church, establishing it as Christ Church Cathedral by royal charter, officially named Ecclesia Christi Cathedralis Oxoniensis.

Architectural Significance

The cathedral showcases architectural styles spanning from the late Norman period to the Perpendicular. Its nave, choir, main tower, and transepts are notably late Norman. The building also features a large rose window of a distinctive ten-part, or botanical, type, and a rich collection of stained glass. The oldest stained glass is the 14th-century Becket Window in the Lucy Chapel, one of the few surviving depictions of Thomas Becket from before the Reformation. Later additions include windows by the 17th-century artist Abraham van Linge and designs by Edward Burne-Jones for Morris & Co. in the 19th century.

Musical Tradition and Notable Features

A choir has been in existence at Christ Church Cathedral since 1526, with John Taverner serving as its first organist. The cathedral remains a vital center for music, housing the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, which consists of professional adult clerks and boy choristers from Christ Church Cathedral School. The cathedral also possesses a historically important ring of 12 bells, cast from the 15th century onwards, and the large Bourdon bell known as Great Tom. The shrine of St Frideswide, originally containing relics translated in 1180, is a significant feature and was a focus of pilgrimage for centuries.

Notable Burials and Figures

Christ Church Cathedral has been the burial site or memorial location for numerous notable figures, including lawyers, politicians, philosophers, bishops, and military officers. Among them are John Bankes, George Berkeley, Robert Burton, John Fell, and John Locke (though Locke is buried elsewhere, he has a memorial plaque within the cathedral). Leaders of the Methodist revival, John Wesley and Charles Wesley, were ordained as Anglicans at the cathedral.