OXFORD DIOCESE PILGRIM PROJECT
christ church cathedral
Christ Church, the mother church of the Diocese of Oxford, is one of the smallest but most beautiful of English cathedrals. Built in the 12th century on the site of a medieval monastery, it is unique in that it is both a cathedral and a college chapel.
Nave – the first thing you will notice upon entering
destroy the monasteries, and the precious casket
the cathedral is that the choir stalls are in the Nave
was taken by Henry VIII. The relics of St. Frideswide
rather than the Chancel. This is because in the
are now buried somewhere under the cathedral.
mid-nineteenth century, when the college almost doubled from its original numbers, the organ was
The Burne-Jones Window, also in the Latin
removed to accommodate all the students in the
Chapel, tells the story of St Frideswide, which can
main body of the cathedral. When the organ moved
be followed in the window and is displayed on a
to the far end of the nave, the choir followed. Christ
board in the Chapel. Give thanks for the life and
Church has an all-male choir, which performs
devotion of St Frideswide and the saints who have
internationally as well as for Evensong and other
gone before us.
services throughout the year. Give thanks for the gift of music and the talents and service of church
The Bell Chapel and Window are in memory of
musicians.
Bishop George Bell, a former member of Christ Church, who was Bishop of Chichester in World War
The Shrine of St Frideswide is in the Latin Chapel.
II and who spoke out against the indiscriminate
Only the base remains, but it is on the site of the
bombing of German cities. The chapel is a focus for
original shrine, where the casket of St. Frideswide’s
prayers of peace and reconciliation. Pray for those
relics were kept for pilgrims to visit. The shrine
whose lives are blighted by war today.
was smashed in 1538 under Henry VIII’s orders to
The Cathedra – the Bishop’s seat – is situated in
the High Sanctuary, and is the furnishing which
The Cloister is a remaining part of the medieval
gives the cathedral its name, from the Greek word
monastery and the location of the Chapter House
for ‘throne’.
shop and Old Priory and Refectory (now a student accommodation block). Originally the cloister
The Becket Window in the South Transept, dating
would have had four sides. The architecture on the
to 1320, commemorates Archbishop Thomas à
ceiling and walls is well worth a look.
Becket, who opposed his King and died as a martyr. The window was preserved through Henry VIII’s
No visit to Christ Church would be complete
order to destroy all images of Becket by blocking
without a visit to the Hall to see Alice’s window and
out the face. Pray for those who suffer for their faith
the Harry Potter film set (although not strictly part
today.
of the church!). Out the other side of the Cathedral, in the Cathedral Garden, Alice’s door can be seen
Memorials to famous members of Christ Church
in the wall of the adjoining Deanery Garden. Give
include John and Charles Wesley, founders
thanks for the God-given gift of creativity and pray
of Methodism; the poet W.H. Auden; and the
for writers and artists.
philosopher John Locke. Give thanks for the great University of Oxford and pray for those who study and work here.
OXFORD DIOCESE PILGRIM PROJECT
You might also like to visit other nearby churches in the Pilgrim Project: Oxford Diocese Pilgrim Project: Christ Church Cathedral OX1 1DP
St Mary the Virgin, Oxford Spiritual heart of ancient university
Website: www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral
St Mary of Antioch, Binsey Alice in Wonderland’s treacle well Dorchester Abbey Ancient abbey church
PILGRIMAGE PRAYER Pilgrim God, You are our origin and our destination. Travel with us, we pray, in every pilgrimage of faith, and every journey of the heart. Give us the courage to set off, the nourishment we need to travel well, and the welcome we long for at our journey’s end. So may we grow in grace and love for you and in the service of others. through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen
John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford
Illustrations by Brian Hall © Diocese of Oxford