Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy |
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| Old Palace | |
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Bishop King's Palace
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Rose Place
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 Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy
Location in Oxford city centre
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| 51°44′57″N 1°15′28″W / 51.749279°N 1.257690°W | |
| Location | Rose Place, Oxford |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Catholic-Chaplaincy.org.uk |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 12 January 1954 |
The Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy is a special place for Catholic students at the University of Oxford. It is located in a historic building called the Old Palace, which is also known as Bishop King's Palace.
The chaplaincy started helping students in 1896. It moved into its current home, the Old Palace, in 1920. The oldest part of this building was built way back in 1485. Another section was added in 1622. The Old Palace is found on the corner of Rose Place and St Aldate's. It is right next to Christ Church Cathedral School and Campion Hall. This building is very important, so it is listed as a Grade I building. This means it is a building of exceptional historical interest.
Contents
A Look at the Old Palace's History
The Old Palace gets its name from Robert King, who was the first Bishop of Oxford. However, there are no records that show it was ever a bishop's palace. It also wasn't where Robert King lived.
How the Building Grew Over Time
Originally, the Old Palace was actually two separate houses. The first house, on the west side, was built in 1485. In 1621, a man named Thomas Smith bought this house. From 1622 to 1628, he built a second, much larger house next to it on the east side. This new house cost him £1,200, which was a lot of money back then! At that time, it was one of the biggest houses in Oxford.
Thomas Smith was a brewer, and he built the brewery that gave Brewer Street its name. In 1637, he moved to Brewer Street. He then sold the larger house to Unton Croke. In 1638, Unton Croke became the Mayor of Oxford. Later on, the two houses were joined together to become the single building we see today.
The Catholic Chaplaincy's Home
The Old Palace became the main place for the Roman Catholic chaplaincy at the University of Oxford. In 1878, a group of Catholic people in Oxford came together. They formed a group that later became known as The Newman Society.
In 1917, the Newman Trust bought the Old Palace. After some important repair work, the chaplain, Arthur Stapylton Barnes, moved in. Over the years, new parts were added to help the chaplaincy. In 1931, a new chapel and a meeting room were built. Then, in 1947, another new chapel was added.
Changes and Growth in Recent Times
In the 1950s, the front of the building was rebuilt to make it look its best. On January 12, 1954, the Old Palace was officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
In 1972, the house was made even bigger with a new, modern building. This new section holds the chapel, the Newman Room, a library, and rooms for students to live in. Some famous Catholic chaplains who worked here include Ronald Knox and Crispian Hollis. Since 2007, a group called the Jesuits have been providing the chaplains for the Old Palace. They continue to do so today.
More to Explore
- University of Oxford
- The Newman Society
- Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy
- Oxford and Cambridge Catholic Education Board
