Subject: News from the University Church of St Mary the Virgin

Introduction


I have been fortunate enough in my life to belong to a number of churches that encouraged my education in the faith. From the congregation of my youth, which prompted me to ask critical questions and experiment with how I made sense of belief, to the college chapel that invited me into hands-on experimentation with liturgy and preaching and the ways that the rhythms and life of the church can shape our consciousness of God, I have been lucky to worship in communities where my intellectual growth was fostered and challenged. It is with gratitude for those experiences, then, and with excitement for the future, that I begin my role this month as the first Farmington Scholar at the University Church.


The University Church's Farmington Scholarship is designed to facilitate the accumulation and curation of resources for religious education at the secondary level. In my work as the church’s Farmington Scholar, I will be engaging with religious education teachers to understand what kinds of resources are needed to assist in their work with students and to then assemble a collection of primary and secondary texts along with other relevant media to be housed on the University Church’s website for easy access by teachers and students. The University Church offers a natural setting for such work because of the way the church, the world of academia, and the history of Christianity in the UK all intersect within our congregation. This unique position postures us well to be a resource for religious educators and passionate students across the country and will hopefully enhance the gift we are able to provide. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to engage in religious education in this way, and I am excited for the new work that is about to begin here at the University Church.


by John Olson, Farmington Scholar

Oxford Half Marathon, Sunday 17 October


The Oxford Half Marathon is taking place this Sunday, 17 October. This might affect the way you travel to St Mary's so please check out the information below.


The Oxford Half will cause some changes to traffic routes for a limited period on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th October. 

On Saturday 16th, Broad Street (between Turl St & Magdalen St East) will close at 08:00. At 18:00 the remainder of Broad Street, along with Parks Road (between Holywell St & South Parks Rd) and a small section of Museum Road will close. These roads will remain closed on Sunday 17th and reopen no later than 18:00. Parking suspensions will be in place throughout this period on Broad Street, Parks Road and Museum Road.

Additional roads found in the link below will close at 08:00 on Sunday 17th, with the exception of Holywell Street which closes at 06:00. 


Road Closure Map


Livestreamed Services:


Every Sunday, we livestream the 10.30am service on our YouTube channel.

You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/ouPJGlE5d4g


Please subscribe to our social media channels to ensure you see the videos in your newsfeed and you are alerted to all our other online events.

Book your visit to the Tower online


The Tower is now open and you can book a ticket online for your visit at the link below. You can find more information as well as our Terms & Conditions on our website.

Online Bookings

Notices


MICHAELMAS TERMCARD Our new termcard for Michaelmas 2021 is out now! Pick one up in church after a service or visit this page on our website. Lots of new exciting events coming up.


DEARLY BELOVED PHOTO EXHIBITION - 15 Oct - 15 Nov

As part of the Photo Oxford Festival, Jim Grover brings 'Dearly Beloved' photo exhibition to the University Church. Especially created to reflect the festival’s theme: ‘Women and Photography: Ways of Seeing and being seen’, 'Dearly Beloved' portrays the ministry of ten women priests in the Church of England; photographer Jim Grover was commissioned by the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, to mark the 25th anniversary, in 2019, of the ordination of women in the Church of England with the current exhibition being a curated fresh perspective of Jim's original images through the eyes of acclaimed British photographer, Vanessa Winship.

The exhibition is free to visit in the Adam de Brome chapel and a guide to the exhibition can be purchased in our shop. 


POETRY HOUR

Wednesday 20th October from 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm in the Old Library.

Join us for an hour of the consolation and insight given by writing and reading poetry. This term we are reading Old English, Middle English and Medieval Poetry. This week we will read and discuss Caedmon’s Hymn and write our own poems in response. 


FAITH IN ACTION/GREEN TEAM FILM SHOWING

The University Church's Faith in Action Group and Green Team have booked

the Old Library for a film screening of ’Thank for the Rain’ on 20th October.

This is a film highlighting the increasing difficulties faced by a Kenyan farmer

Kisilu Muysa as climate changes bring hugely challenging conditions.This

event will be held in the Old Library on 20th October 19.00 – 21.00.

Book a ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/182547794367


BIBLE STUDY

Bible Studies will resume this term on Thursday lunchtimes in the Old Library

(12.45-1.30pm). We will be exploring the Politics of Paul and thinking about

the ways in which Paul’s letters illuminate traditional political questions as

well as issues of identity in the modern world. We will be using a hybrid

format so people will be able to access these meetings online as well. Contact us at admin@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk for more information.


RELIGION AND VIOLENCE: AN UNCOMFORTABLE COUPLING?

On Thursday 21 October, at 19.30 in the Nave, you are invited to explore

links between religion, politics and violence in Europe and America, and how

faith and community leaders can intervene. Muslim and Christian leaders

from Oxford and Washington DC challenge politics of conflict in multicultural

democratic societies, with Robert Schenck, Tobias Cremer and Monawar

Hussain. Register here:

https://if-oxford.com/event/religion-and-violence-an-uncomfortable-coupling/


NEW TO ST MARY’S? If you are new to St Mary’s and have started coming to services in the last six months or so, we may not have your contact details. If you would like to find out more about what is going on at the University Church, please email admin@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk with your name, address and telephone number and ask for your name to be added to the Parish Directory. This directory is used only by parish staff but it enables us to get in touch with you as the need arises.


St Mary's Church, High Street, OX1 4BJ, Oxford, United Kingdom

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