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. Our weekly service is also available as a podcast on our Online Chapel Services page. You can access these podcasts here, where you can find a written order of service with the full text of each recording. Information about preachers at these services can be read here.
On Wednesday evenings from 9.00-9.15pm there is a sung service of Compline. 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, Monday to Friday at 8.40-8.55am.
Further information is on our termly Chapel Card and details of this term’s music in Chapel can be found below.
All Services that have been recorded since Trinity Term 2020 are available to listen to and to view 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
Week 1
Sunday, 10 October – Choral Evensong, 5.45pm
Introit: We shall walk through the valley, Smith Moore
Hymns: 339, 294, 431
Psalm: 90.1-2, 10-17
Preces and Responses: Radcliffe
Canticles: Noble in b minor
Anthem: My soul, there is a country, Parry
Lessons: Amos 5.6-7, 10-15; Mark 10.17-31
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: On a theme of Orlando Gibbons Op. 105 No. 2, C. V. Stanford (1852-1924)
Wednesday, 13 October – Compline, 9pm
Introit: We shall walk through the valley, Smith Moore
Week 2
Sunday, 17 October – Choral Evensong, 5.45pm
Introit: Peace, I leave with you, Beach
Hymns: 436, 358i, 84
Psalm: 91.9-16
Preces and Responses: Radcliffe
Canticles: Walmisley in d minor
Anthem: O Hearken, Panufnik
Lessons: Isaiah 53.4-12; Mark 10.35.45
Preacher: The Revd Marcus Green
Voluntary: Prelude and Fugue in D, Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Wednesday, 20 October – Compline, 9pm
Introit: Peace, I leave with you, Beach
Week 3
Sunday, 24 October – Choral Evensong, 5.45pm
Introit: O taste and see, Vaughan Williams
Hymns: 234, 376, 415
Psalm: 126
Canticles: McDonald, Selwyn Service
Preces and Responses: Radcliffe
Anthem: Heyr þú oss himnum á, Thorvaldsdottir
Lessons: Jeremiah 31.7-9; Mark 10.46-52
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: Op. 101 No. 1, C. V. Stanford (1852-1924)
Wednesday, 27 October – Compline, 9pm
Introit: O taste and see, Vaughan Williams
Week 4
Sunday, 31 October – Choral Evensong and Commemoration of Founder and Benefactors, 5.45pm
Introit: Justorum animae, Lassus
Hymns: 205, 394, 413
Psalm: 119.89-96
Preces and Responses: McDowall
Canticles: Stanford in C
Anthem: Give us the wings of faith, Bullock
Lessons: 1 Chronicles 29.10-18, Mark 12.28-34
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: Wir glauben all an einen Gott BWV 680, JS Bach (1685-1750)
Wednesday, 3 November – Compline, 9pm
Introit: Justorum animae, Lassus
Week 5
Sunday, 7 November – Choral Evensong, 5.45pm
Introit: A Hymne to Christ, Imogen Holst
Hymns: 357, 431, 239
Psalm: 62
Preces and Responses: McDowall
Canticles: Naylor in A
Anthem: My beloved spake, Hadley
Lessons: Jonah 3.1-10; Mark 1.14-20
Preacher: Dr Bethany Sollereder
Voluntary: Fugue in g minor BWV 578, J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Wednesday, 10 November – Compline, 9pm
Introit: A Hymne to Christ, Imogen Holst
Week 6
Sunday, 14 November – Choral Evensong and Act of Remembrance, 5.45pm
Introit: For the fallen, Guest
Hymns: 417, 499
Psalm: 16
Preces and Responses: Smith
Canticles: Cattley, Fitzwilliam Service
Anthem: Greater Love, Ireland
Lessons: Daniel 21.1-3; Mark 13.1-8
Preacher: The Chaplain
Voluntary: Fugue in Bm BWV 579, JS Bach (1685-1750)
Wednesday, 17 November – Compline, 9pm
Introit: For the fallen, Guest
Week 7
Sunday, 21 November – Choral Evensong, 5.45pm
Introit: God so loved the world, Larsen
Hymns: 476, ‘How shall we sing that majesty’, 282
Psalm: 93
Preces and Responses: Radcliffe
Canticles: Gibbons, Short Service
Anthem: I was glad, Purcell
Lessons: Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14; Revelation 1.4b-8 or John 18.33-37
Preacher: The Revd Sorrel Shamel-Wood
Voluntary: Verse for the (Double) Organ, Christopher Gibbons (1615-1676)
Wednesday, 24 November – Compline, 9pm
Anthem: God so loved the world, Larsen
Week 8
Sunday, 28 November – Advent Carol Service, 5.45pm
Voluntary: Toccata on ‘Veni Emmanuel’, Andrew Carter (b. 1939)
Wednesday, 1 December – Compline, 9pm
Introit: O sapientia, Ramsey
Thursday, 2 December – College Carolling, 5.30pm
Friday, 3 December – College Christmas Carol Service, 5.45pm
Voluntary: Grand Chœur, Salomé (1834-1896)
Saturday, 4 December – Advent Carol Services, 2.30pm and 4.30pm
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.