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 open to the public, 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 term we also have a Thursday evening communion service with a short address (5.30-6.00pm), sung Compline, and discussion groups as advertised. Daily prayers are also said throughout most of the year.
Further information is on our termly Chapel Card and details of each term’s music in Chapel can be found below.
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.
Termly Chapel Music
Trinity Term 2019, University College Chapel
Saturday 27 April, Choral Evensong, 6pm
Psalm: 145 (chant: H Howells)
Canticles: George Dyson in F
Preces and Responses: Philip Radcliffe
Anthem: Orlando Gibbons, Almighty and Everlasting God
Preacher: Canon Richard Cook
Voluntary: J S Bach, Jesus bleibet meine Freude
Sunday 28 April, Sung Eucharist in celebration of Easter, 5.45pm
Communion setting: Ralph Vaughan Williams, Mass in G minor
Motet: Francis Grier, Now the Son of Man has been glorified
Voluntary: J S Bach, Prelude in g minor BWV 558
Sunday 5 May, Choral Evensong, 5.45pm
Psalm: 30 (chant: G Underwood)
Canticles: George Dyson in F
Preces & Responses: Bernard Rose
Anthem: Benjamin Britten, Festival Te Deum
Preacher: The Revd Andy Shamel
Voluntary: John Bennett, Trumpet Voluntary
Sunday 11 May, Choral Evensong for The Oxford University Choral Open day, 6pm
Psalm: 23 (chant: G C Martin)
Canticles: Herbert Murrill in E
Preces & Responses: Bernard Rose
Anthem: Benjamin Britten, Festival Te Deum
Voluntary: Louis Vierne, Carillon (from 24 Pieces en style libre)
Sunday 12 May, Choral Evensong, joint evensong with St Edmund Hall, 5.30pm
Psalm: 23 (chant: G C Martin)
Canticles: Herbert Murrill in E
Preces & Responses: Bernard Rose
Anthem: Charles Wood, Hail, gladdening light
Preacher: Alison Webster
Voluntary: Flor Peeters, Festival Voluntary
Sunday 19 May, Choral Evensong (Choir Reunion), 5.30pm
Introit: Charles Villiers Stanford, Beati quorum via
Psalm: 150 (chant: C V Stanford)
Canticles: T Tertius Noble, in B minor
Preces & Responses: Cecilia McDowall
Anthem: Edward Bairstow, Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Preacher: The Revd Charles Hudson
Voluntary: Théodore Dubois, Toccata in G major
Sunday 26 May, Choral Evensong, 5.45pm
Psalm: 67 (chant: E Bairstow)
Canticles: Matthew Martin, Univ Cawkwell Service
Preces & Responses: Cecilia McDowall
Anthem: Orlando Gibbons, If ye be risen again with Christ
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: Christian Heinrich Rinck, Postlude
Thursday 30 May, Ascension Day Singing from On High, 8.10am
Anthem: Giuseppe Pitoni, Cantate Domino
Christopher Tye, The eternal gates lift up their heads
Charles Villiers Stanford, Coelos Ascendit Hodie
Sunday 2 June, Choral Evensong (Sunday after Ascension Day), 5.45pm
Psalm: 97 (chant: G M Garrett)
Canticles: Sarah Cattley, Fitzwilliam Service
Preces & Responses: Janet Wheeler
Anthem: Gerald Finzi, God is gone up
Preacher: The Revd Dr Margaret Adam
Voluntary: J S Bach, Fugue, BWV 545
Sunday 9 June: Choral Evensong (Pentecost), 5.45pm
Psalm: 104 vv 24-35 (chant: F Ouseley)
Canticles: Philip Moore, 3rd service
Preces & Responses: Janet Wheeler
Anthem: Edward Elgar, The Spirit of the Lord
Preacher: The Revd Dr William Lamb
Voluntary: Louis Vierne, Postlude
Sunday 16 June, Leavers Evensong (Trinity Sunday), 5.45pm
Psalm: 8 (chant: H Lawes)
Canticles: Alan Gray, in f minor (Magnificat), Gustav Holst (Nunc Dimittis)
Preces & Responses: Bernard Rose
Anthem: Herbert Howells, Take him, earth, for cherishing
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: Georg Böhm, Prelude and Fugue in a minor
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.