Latest News

This week is the Christ Church Music Society's festival which offers a feast of music and drama, from performances of OEDIPUS TYRANNOS to Beethoven's wonderful 9th Symphony, with lots of great music in between. For the full programme and ticket prices go to http://www.chchmusic.co.uk.

The West face of the clock on Tom Tower looking over St Aldate's has recently been restored by Paul Buck and his team of expert craftsmen closely monitored by the Clerk of Works. What may not be immediately apparent is that Sir Christopher Wren designed the hands on a stone face, not metal. The paint and gold leaf thus have to be made to adhere to a rather difficult surface, which has been achieved superbly. If one then looks at the unrestored East face, the transformation is even more remarkable.

Many colleagues and friends gathered at the Deanery on Friday  January 26th to say goodbye to Anne Daniel, Christ Church's Admissions Officer, on her retirement from Christ Church. The Dean paid tribute to the outstanding contribution she has made to the life of the college over the last 13 years. We wish her well and know that she will be missed by all those who have worked with her here.

Oxford's new Bishop-to-be John Pritchard has given a full interview about his life and faith to Sally Jarman, the Oxford Diocesan Reporter. The full text of the interview is here . Bishop John is to be enthroned at a service in the cathedral at 2pm on June the 8th.

In place of Choral Evensong on Sunday 21st of January there will be an Epiphany Carol Service sung by the Cathedral Choir.  It will begin briefly with the dedication of the new Glass Doors which have been generously given by a number of private individuals and trusts, including WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd.), the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, Allchurches Trust, the Friends of Christ Church Cathedral, and Ch

There will be a Memorial Service for Professor James Barr on Saturday 13th January at 11am, in Christ Church Cathedral. James Barr was "one of the most significant Hebrew and Old Testament scholars in Britain in the past century", Regius Professor of Hebrew and Student of Christ Church from 1978-89, and Professor Emeritus since 1989.

The glass doors at the west end of the Cathedral have now been installed and are attracting appreciative comments from visitors and regular worshippers alike. The main wooden doors have been moved back slightly and are left open to allow the beautiful cathedral nave and chancel to be seen from the outside. The doors have been etched by artist Jane McDonald with the words Aedes Christi, House of Christ. UPDATE: The specially made handles have now been added to complete the project.

The next Bishop of Oxford will be the Rt. Revd. John Pritchard, Bishop of Jarrow and formerly Archdeacon of Canterbury and Warden of Cranmer Hall. On Monday morning, following the official announcement of his appointment from Downing Street, Bishop John came to the Cathedral with his wife Wendy where he was greeted by the Sub Dean and members of the Chapter, who prayed with him in the Latin Chapel. The Bishop will begin his new role here later in 2007. Diocesan website...

One of the most atmospheric places in Christ Church at Christmas is the ancient cloister, when its Christmas tree is decorated with lights. The tree is now in place, and the careful arrangement of its lights by Meadowman Richard Coles is a herald of the joyful celebration ahead.

A moving Christingle service for the children at local primary schools was held in the in the Cathedral on Thursday December the 7th. Children came from St Philip and St James, St Mary and St John, St Ebbe's, St Andrew's and St Barnabas CE schools and remembered the meaning of Christmas through the Christingle message.