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Greyfriars
Greyfriars from the Gardens
Greyfriars Coat of Arms
University University of Oxford
Location Iffley Road
Coordinates 51°44′48″N 1°14′25″W / 51.746801°N 1.240168°W / 51.746801; -1.240168
Motto My God and My All
Established 1910
Closed 2008
Named for The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
Previous names Grosseteste House (1919–1930)
Warden Mark Elvins
Undergraduates c. 50 (2008)
Map
Greyfriars, Oxford is located in Oxford
Greyfriars, Oxford
Location in Oxford

Greyfriars is a Roman Catholic friary and parish located in East Oxford, which until 2008 was also a Permanent Private Hall of the University of Oxford. Situated on the Iffley Road in East Oxford, it was one of the smallest constituent halls of the university. Its status as a Permanent Private Hall (PPH) referred to the fact that it was governed by an outside institution (the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, a Franciscan Order), rather than by its fellows as is a College.

In 2007 the decision was made to close the hall, with students transferred to Regent's Park College. The buildings continue to host the friary which formerly co-existed with the hall.

Greyfriars has one of the most distinctive buildings in Oxford; it is the only flint-stone Norman-style building in the city, and its green spire is prominently visible along the Iffley Road and from the University's Roger Bannister running track.

History

The original Greyfriars church and friary was founded by the Franciscans in 1224, but was suppressed during the Reformation in the 16th century. The Friars had a long and esteemed history in Oxford, listing many famous alumni, including the English statesman, Robert Grosseteste, also a theologian and Bishop of Lincoln, who became head of Greyfriars, Master of the School of Oxford from 1208, and the first Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

Some time later, the Capuchin branch of the Order established a friary, known as St Anselm's, which was recognised by the University as a House of Studies in 1910. In 1919, the Friars moved to the current site on the Iffley Road — first naming it Grosseteste House after the first Head of the original Greyfriars — and on completion of the present building in 1930, the name of Greyfriars was adopted once more. The status of Permanent Private Hall was conferred upon Greyfriars by the University in 1957 and surrendered in 2008.

In 2007, Greyfriars celebrated 50 years of its PPH status, with considerable flourish, and an unusually high number of first-class undergraduate grades marked the year.

Famous former students (of the First Foundation)

Fellows and senior staff at the surrender of the licence

The Visitor
  • Mauro Jöhri, Minister General
The Governing Body
  • James Boner, Minister Provincial
  • The Council of the Minister Provincial
  • The Warden of Greyfriars (below)
The Warden (Head of House)
  • Mark Elvins
The Senior Tutor
  • Richard Lawes
The Fellows
  • Jane Baun, Tutorial and Research Fellow in Theology, since 2003
  • Jonathan Black-branch, Tutor in Law, since 2005
  • Penelope Cookson, Tutor in Latin, since 2005
  • Claire Hutton, Tutor in English, since 2004
  • Richard Lawes, Fellow in English, since 2002
  • Donal Lowry, Tutor in Modern History, since 2000
  • Elizabeth Lowry, Tutor in English, since 2000
  • Anne Mouron, Tutor in English, since 2000
  • Aidan Nichols, John Paul II Lecturer in Roman Catholic Theology
  • Alan O'Day, Tutor in Modern History, since 2001
  • John Saward, Tutor in Theology, since 2003
  • John Stevenson
  • John Yocum, Tutor in Theology 2000-2003
Honorary Fellows
  • Thomas G. Weinandy, Since 2004
  • Daniel Hill, since 2007
  • Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, since 2007
  • Maurice Sheehan, since 2007
Director of Alumni & Development
  • John E. J. James

Greyfriars Society

The Greyfriars Society was established in 1999 and is the official alumni organisation of Greyfriars. The main objectives of the society are to maintain and build relationships with the Hall's alumni and were also to raise money to enable Greyfriars to provide the best possible education for the growing student body.

Patron
President
  • David Alton
The Director
  • John E. J. James
Deputy Directors
  • Rupert Abbott
  • James Campbell


Notable former members of the First Foundation

Among the early Wardens was:

  • Richard Roderham, medieval churchman (1433–1440)
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