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OXFORD UNIVERSITY, TRINITY TERM,   April 23―June 22, 2015     Radcliffe Reading Room and University Church of St. Mary the Virgin

THE UNIVERSITY of OXFORD has existed as a teaching institution since the eleventh century; many of the present colleges were founded after 1167.  Unlike most universities Oxford is made up of quasi-autonomous colleges, each with its own unique history and orientation. Many had their origin as houses of study for members of religious orders, such as Worcester and Christ Church, which were originally run by and for Benedictine monks; St. John's College was originally a house of studies for Cistercian monks.  After the Protestant Reformation it became impossible for Roman Catholics to teach or study openly at Oxford until the late nineteenth century.  At that time several of the religious orders refounded houses of study, such as Campion Hall (Jesuits), Blackfriars (Dominicans) and St. Benet's Hall (Benedictines).

 

ALL SOULS COLLEGE	MAGDALEN COLLEGE

HERTFORD COLLEGE (Bridge of Sighs)	ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE

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ST. BENET’S HALL TRINITY TERM,   April 23―June 22, 2015     St. Benet's Hall

ST. BENET’S HALL was established at Oxford University in 1897 by Ampleforth Abbey in Yorkshire as a house of studies for Benedictine monks .  The Ampleforth community eventually purchased a Georgian building at 38 St. Giles that had formerly served as an convent and school run by Ursuline nuns.  St. Benet's is now primarily a lay hall with a few Benedictine monks in residence.

    I was a member of St. Benet's from 1982-1985 during my theological studies for ordination, then again from 1995-2000 while completing my doctorate in patristic theology.  I stayed at St. Benet's during my sabbatical this year during “Trinity Term” the third of the three annual academic terms, lasting from after Easter until late June.  This provided me with a wonderful opportunity for research in the Oxford libraries; and during my stay I completed a research project on the theology of divinization in the writings of St. Benedict and St. Gregory the Great.

 

ST. BENET'S HALL	ST. BENET'S HALL CHAPEL NARTHEX

ST. BENET'S HALL CHAPEL NAVE	ST. BENET'S HALL CHOIR and SANCTUARY

ST. BENET'S HALL CHAPEL ALTAR

ST. BENET'S HALL CHAPEL and GARDEN	ST. BENET'S HALL GARDEN

ST. BENET'S HALL LIBRARY	ST. BENET'S HALL  - MY ROOM

GUEST NIGHT Festschrift for the Master	ST. BENET'S HALL REFECTORY

THE EAGLE and CHILD PUB	"Take me for I am astray, and return me to St. Benedict's, Oxford"