Christ Church, Oxford

This article is about the college of Oxford University. For the cathedral, see Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.

Christ Church
University of Oxford
The Great Quadrangle
Arms: Sable, on a cross engrailed argent, a lion passant gules, between four leopards' faces azure, on a chief or, a rose gules barbed and seeded proper, between two Cornish choughs sable, beaked and membered gules.
                    
LocationSt Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1DP
Coordinates51°45′01″N 1°15′21″W / 51.750199°N 1.255853°W / 51.750199; -1.255853
Full nameThe Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Oxford of the Foundation of King Henry the Eighth
Latin nameÆdes Christi/Ecclesia Christi Cathedralis Oxon: ex fundatione Regis Henrici Octavi[1]
Established1546; 478 years ago (1546)
Named forJesus Christ
Sister collegeTrinity College, Cambridge
DeanSarah Foot
Undergraduates432[2] (2017/2018)
Postgraduates196
Endowment£769.8 million (2022)[3]
Visitor Charles III, The Crown ex officio[1]
Websitewww.chch.ox.ac.uk
Boat clubChrist Church Boat Club
Map
Christ Church, Oxford is located in Oxford city centre
Christ Church, Oxford
Location in Oxford city centre

Christ Church (Latin: Ædes Christi, the temple or house, ædes, of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England.[4] Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is uniquely a joint foundation of the university and the cathedral of the Oxford diocese, Christ Church Cathedral, which also serves as the college chapel and whose dean is ex officio the college head.

As of 2022, Christ Church had the largest financial endowment of any Oxford college at £770 million.[5] As of 2022, the college had 661 students.[4] Its grounds contain a number of architecturally significant buildings including Tom Tower (designed by Sir Christopher Wren), Tom Quad (the largest quadrangle in Oxford), and the Great Dining Hall, which was the seat of the parliament assembled by King Charles I during the English Civil War. The buildings have inspired replicas throughout the world in addition to being featured in films such as Harry Potter and The Golden Compass, helping Christ Church become the most popular Oxford college for tourists with almost half a million visitors annually.[6]

The college's alumni include 13 British prime ministers (the highest number of any Oxbridge college), as well as former prime ministers of Pakistan and Ceylon. Other notable alumni include King Edward VII, King William II of the Netherlands, William Penn, writers Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland) and W. H. Auden, philosopher John Locke, and scientist Robert Hooke. Two Nobel laureates, Martin Ryle and John Gurdon, studied at Christ Church.[7] Albert Einstein is also associated with the college. The college has several cities and places named after it.[8]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference chch-ox-statutes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Student statistics". University of Oxford. 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Financial Statements of the Oxford Colleges 2021–22". ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Christ Church | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Financial Statements of the Oxford Colleges 2021–22 | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Harry Potter fans boost Oxford Christ Church Cathedral". BBC News. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Award winners | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  8. ^ Cowie, D. J. (1934). "How Christchurch Got Its Name – A Controverted Subject". Victoria University of Wellington. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.