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 | United Kingdom |
| 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's located in a historic building called the Old Palace, also known as Bishop King's Palace.
The chaplaincy began in 1896. They moved into their current home, the Old Palace, in 1920. The Old Palace itself is very old. Part of it was built in 1485, and another section was added in 1622. You can find it in Oxford, on the corner of Rose Place and St Aldate's. It's right next to Christ Church Cathedral School and Campion Hall. This building is so important that it's a Grade I listed building, meaning it's protected for its history.
Contents
The Old Palace: A Look Back
The Old Palace is named after Robert King. He was the very first Bishop of Oxford. However, there are no old records that show it was actually a bishop's palace. It also doesn't seem to have been Robert King's home.
How the Building Grew
Originally, the Old Palace was 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, Thomas Smith built a second, much larger house. This new house was on the east side, right next to the first one. It 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, meaning he made beer. He built the brewery that Brewer Street is named after today. 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 separate houses were joined together to form the building we see today.
The Chaplaincy's Journey
The Old Palace is now 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 would later become The Newman Society.
In 1917, a group called the Newman Trust bought the Old Palace. After some work to fix it up, the chaplain, Arthur Stapylton Barnes, moved in. In 1931, a new chapel and a meeting room were built for the chaplaincy. Then, in 1947, another new chapel was added.
Modern Updates and Chaplains
In the 1950s, the front of the building was rebuilt. On January 12, 1954, the Old Palace was officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic building.
In 1972, the house was made even bigger. A new modern building was added. This new part 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.
In 2007, the bishops of England and Wales asked the Jesuits to provide the chaplains. The Jesuits continue to serve the chaplaincy today.
More to Explore
- University of Oxford
- The Newman Society
- Cambridge University Catholic Chaplaincy
- Oxford and Cambridge Catholic Education Board
