University College is an ancient Christian foundation; but as a modern and inclusive community we welcome students and staff of all faiths and of none.
The Chapel is in the Front Quad, next to the Hall, and at the heart of the College’s main site. It offers a beautiful and tranquil space in which all members of the College and their guests are welcome.
The Chapel may be used for a variety of purposes: for the rehearsing and performing of concerts and plays, as a space for lectures and meetings, or as a quiet place to take time out in a busy day. However it was built as a place of Christian worship, and that remains its purpose today.
Chapel Services
Our services are those of the Church of England, and our ethos is welcoming and inclusive. Anyone who wishes to attend or to participate is welcome to do so to the extent that they feel comfortable. Some who attend services here are committed Christians, and glad to make connections between their faith and their studies. Many others would say that they are not religious, are agnostic or enquiring, or identify with another faith. Some people come simply because they wish to sing, or listen to the choir. Anyone who wishes to attend is welcome, for whatever reason they choose to come.
Our main act of worship is usually Choral Evensong on Sunday evenings at 5.45-6.45pm in term time. Our excellent choir leads much of our worship, and there is a short sermon, often by a visiting preacher. During Michaelmas term 2020, due to social distancing, we will be making our weekly service available as a podcast. You can access these podcasts here, where you can also find a written order of service with the full text of each recording. Information about preachers at these services can be read here.
During Michaelmas term we also have sung Compline on Wednesday evenings at 9.00-9.15pm. This is a short monastic service, sung by a section of the chapel choir, so there will be space in chapel for other people to enjoy fifteen minutes of restful chant. It is an opportunity to enjoy the music, to take time out from a busy day, to reflect, to meditate, to pray, or simply to chill.
Daily prayers are also said throughout most of the year.
Further information is on our termly Chapel Card and details of this term’s music in Chapel can be found below.
Services that we recorded and posted in Trinity Term 2020 are also available to listen to and to view. They are on our Online Evensong page.
The Chaplain
The College Chaplain is the Revd Dr Andrew Gregory, who is also a member of the Welfare Team, and is always glad to see members of the College and its staff. He operates an open-door policy and any student or member of staff who wishes to do so is welcome to call in socially, or to talk to him in confidence about any matter of concern. The College is a very diverse community, and most of his work takes place in a context of pastoral support in which no assumptions are made as to whether individuals hold to any religious beliefs or to none.
Andrew can be contacted on +44 (0)1865 276 663 or via email Andrew.Gregory@univ.ox.ac.uk
Find out more about Andrew on his Profile page.
Find out more about provision for student welfare on our Welfare Support page and, for current students, on the Univ Intranet.
Chapel Music
Univ takes great pride in its organ scholars and choir, and offers them its full and enthusiastic support. Our Director of Music, Giles Underwood, is always pleased to hear from prospective applicants for organ and choral scholarships or from anyone who might like to join the choir or to get involved in music in College. Find out more on our Music page.
Details of the Chapel Organs can be found on our College Buildings Chapel page.
Chapel Music - Michaelmas Term
Sunday, 11 October, Choral Evensong, broadcast at 5.45pm
Introit: Drop, drop slow tears, Orlando Gibbons
Psalm: 23
Preces and Responses: Cecilia McDowall
Canticles: T Tertius Noble in b minor
Anthem: O taste and see, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: In dir ist Freude, J S Bach
Wednesday, 14 October 14, Compline, 9pm
Anthem: Drop, drop slow tears, Gibbons
Voluntary: Variation 7 from Goldberg Variations, J S Bach
Sunday, 18 October, Choral Evensong, broadcast at 5.45pm
Introit: Peace, I leave with you, Amy Beach
Psalm: 96
Preces and Responses: McDowall
Canticles: Noble in b minor
Anthem: Jesu, the very thought of thee, Sasha Johnson Manning
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: Prelude in C, Jules Massenet
Wednesday, 21 October, Compline, 9pm
Anthem: Peace, I leave with you, Beach
Voluntary: Fugue in F minor, Charles Burney
Sunday, 25 October 25, Choral Evensong, broadcast at 5.45pm
Introit: Lead me, Lord, S S Wesley
Psalm: 1
Canticles: Herbert Murrill in E
Preces and Responses: McDowall
Anthem: I was glad, Henry Purcell
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: Voluntary for the single organ, Henry Purcell
Wednesday, 28 October, Compline, 9pm
Anthem: Lead me, Lord, Wesley
Voluntary: No 6 from Au pied de l’Autel, Guy Ropartz
Sunday, 1 November, Choral Evensong, broadcast at 5.45pm
Introit: With prayer and supplication, Beach
Psalm: 34.1-10
Preces and Responses: Richard Ayleward
Canticles: Watson in E
Anthem: In paradisum, Gabriel Fauré
Preacher: The Right Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark
Voluntary: Adagio in E major, Frank Bridge
Wednesday, 4 November, Compline, 9pm
Anthem: With prayer and supplication, Beach
Voluntary: Rhosymedre, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Sunday, 8 November, Choral Evensong, broadcast at 5.45pm
Introit: For the fallen, Douglas Guest
Psalm: 70
Preces and Responses: Ayleward
Canticles: Sarah Macdonald, Selwyn Service
Anthem: They are at rest, Edward Elgar
Preacher: The Revd (Wing Commander) Geoff Withers, RAF
Voluntary: Trio Sonata No 4, 1st movt, J S Bach
Wednesday, 11 November, Compline, 9pm
Anthem: For the fallen, Guest
Voluntary: TBC
Sunday, 15 November, Choral Evensong, broadcast at 5.45pm
Introit: Te lucis ante terminum (ferial tone), Thomas Tallis
Psalm: 90.1-12
Preces and Responses: Phillip Radcliffe
Canticles: George Dyson in D
Anthem: Ex ore innocentium, John Ireland
Preacher: The Revd Katie Tupling, Disability Advisor and Lead Chaplain for the Deaf, Diocese of Oxford
Voluntary: Prelude (Op105 No3), Charles Villiers Stanford
Wednesday, 18 November, Compline, 9pm
Anthem: Te lucis ante terminum (ferial tone), Tallis
Voluntary: Berceuse, Louis Vierne
Sunday, 22 November, Choral Evensong, broadcast at 5.45pm
Introit: Ertöt uns durch dein Güte, J S Bach, BWV 132
Psalm: 95.1-7
Preces and Responses: Radcliffe
Canticles: Kerensa Briggs, Windsor Service
Anthem: O God, thou art my God, Purcell
Preacher: Dr Mirjam Schilling, Postdoctoral Scientist, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford
Voluntary: Festival Voluntary, Flor Peeters
Wednesday, 25 November, Compline, 9pm
Anthem: Ertöt uns durch dein Güte, J S Bach, BWV 132
Voluntary: Fantasia in C (BWV570), J S Bach
Sunday, 29 November, Advent Carols, broadcast at 5.45pm
Music to be confirmed
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: Chorale Prelude ‘Wachet auf’, J S Bach
Wednesday, 2 December, Compline, 9pm
Anthem: O nata lux, Kerry Andrew
Voluntary: TBC
Friday, 4 December, Christmas Carols, broadcast at 5.45pm
Music to be confirmed
The Chapel Building
The Chapel contains some of our most important material treasures, including our Van Linge windows and our Flaxman monument to Sir William Jones. You can find out more about the Chapel building and many of its features on our College Buildings Chapel page.