Jesus College, Oxford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jesus College
Blazon: Vert, three stags trippant argent attired or.
University	Oxford
Location	Turl Street
Coordinates	51°45′12″N 1°15′25″W / 51.7534°N 1.2569°W / 51.7534; -1.2569
Full name	Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation
Latin name	Collegium Ihesus
Established	1571; 454 years ago (1571)
Named after	Jesus of Nazareth
Sister college	Jesus College, Cambridge
Principal	Sir Nigel Shadbolt
Undergraduates	346 (2017/2018)
Postgraduates	198
Boat club	Boat Club website
Map
Location in Oxford city centre

Jesus College is one of the many colleges that make up the famous University of Oxford in England. It's located right in the middle of Oxford city, surrounded by streets like Turl Street and Ship Street.

Queen Elizabeth I started the college on June 27, 1571. It was first meant to train people for the church. Today, students at Jesus College study all sorts of subjects. A key person who helped create the college was Hugh Price, a churchman from Wales.

History of Jesus College

The oldest buildings at Jesus College are in the first main courtyard, called a quadrangle. These buildings were built in the late 1500s and early 1600s. A second quadrangle was added later, between about 1640 and 1713. Much later, around 1906, a third quadrangle was built. In 1971, new student housing was added to celebrate the college's 400th birthday. There are also student flats in other parts of Oxford.

Challenges and Changes

The English Civil War caused problems for the college. After the war, in 1661, Leoline Jenkins became the head of the college, called the Principal. He helped make the college's money situation much better.

Not much exciting happened at the college during the 1700s. In the 1800s, fewer students attended, and academic standards dropped. Later in the 1800s, big changes were made to Oxford University. These changes meant that the college no longer mainly had students and teachers from Wales.

Modern Times

In the early 1900s, students started doing much better academically. This was because new teachers were hired to teach new subjects. A big change happened in 1974 when women were allowed to study at Jesus College for the first time. Now, many of the undergraduate students are women.

Life at Jesus College

About 475 students attend Jesus College at any given time. The current Principal, or head, of the college is Sir Nigel Shadbolt.

Famous People from Jesus College

Many famous people have studied at Jesus College. These include:

• Harold Wilson, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice.
• Norman Washington Manley, who was the Chief Minister of Jamaica.
• T. E. Lawrence, also known as "Lawrence of Arabia," a famous writer and soldier.
• Angus Buchanan, who won the Victoria Cross, a very brave award.
• Viscount Sankey, who was a very important judge called the Lord Chancellor.

The university also has a special professor who studies Celtic languages, and this job is connected to Jesus College. Famous scholars like Sir John Rhys and Thomas Charles-Edwards have held this position.

Some well-known teachers and researchers (called fellows) at the college have included historians like Yuval Noah Harari and Niall Ferguson. Philosophers like Galen Strawson and John Gray have also been part of the college.

Images for kids

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  The college's founder, Queen Elizabeth I, shown in a portrait in the college hall

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  Monument to Sir Eubule Thelwall, 1630, in Jesus College Chapel, Oxford.

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  The tombstone of Leoline Jenkins in the college chapel

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  An 1837 drawing of the first quadrangle

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  Harold Wilson

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  The main entrance

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  Front door of the principal's lodgings, showing the shell-hood of c.1700

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  A detail of the hall screen

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  The Dutch gables around the top of the buildings in the second quadrangle

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  The third quadrangle from the steps of the Old Members' Building looking east; the Ship Street entrance is through the archway on the left; the spire in the distance is the chapel of Exeter College.

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  The Principal's Lodgings (left) and the chapel (right) are located within the First Quad of Jesus College.

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  The college crest above the Ship Street entrance gate.

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  David Lloyd George, pictured in 1911, was elected an Honorary Fellow of the college in 1910 and said that he would prize no honour more highly.

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  T. E. Lawrence

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  Opening lines of one of the Mabinogion tales from the Red Book of Hergest (written pre-13c, incorporating pre-Roman myths of Celtic gods): Gereint vab Erbin. Arthur a deuodes dala llys yg Caerllion ar Wysc... (Geraint the son of Erbin. Arthur was accustomed to hold his Court at Caerlleon upon Usk...)

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  Late 19th-century stained glass in the chapel, showing St David, the patron saint of Wales

See also

In Spanish: Jesus College para niños