Synod of Oxford

1640 Engraving of Osney Abbey ruins, site of the Synod
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The Synod of Oxford was held on 9 May 1222, at Osney Abbey,[1] in Oxford, England.[2] It was a council of the (Catholic) church in England, convened by Archbishop Stephen Langton. It is notable for a number of the decisions taken and canon laws set.

During the Synod, "harsh anti-Jewish laws" were enacted: "social relations between Jews and Christians were blocked; church tithes were levied against Jews, and English Jews were forced to wear an identifying badge. The construction of new synagogues was also prevented."[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

For many centuries, it was thought that the decision that Saint George's Day should be celebrated as a holy day in England was made at this Synod.[1] However, since the 1960s, this has been regarded by historians as an invention.[11][12]

  1. ^ a b "Where St George made his name". Oxford Mail. 14 April 2010. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b Pope, Felix. "Church of England apologises for 'shameful actions' against Jews". www.thejc.com. The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Church of England to apologize for 13th century anti-Semitic laws". Ynetnews. i24NEWS. 13 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  4. ^ Gardner, Charles (9 May 2022). "Church repents of Antisemitism "I think the Jews of 1222 would have been astonished to hear Hebrew ring out in this cathedral"". Israel Today. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  5. ^ Phillips, Melanie. "The 800-year apology: What is the real challenge to reconciling Christians and Jews". Israel In Sight. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  6. ^ Mayaki, Benedict (9 May 2022). "Church of England apologizes for anti-Jewish laws, 800 years on". www.vaticannews.cn. Dicasterium pro Communicatione. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Diocese of Oxford | 800th anniversary of the 1222 Synod of Oxford". www.oxford.anglican.org. The Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance. 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  8. ^ Abrams, Rebecca. "Righting Historic Wrongs – 1222 Synod of Oxford". oxfordjewishheritage.co.uk. Oxford Jewish Heritage. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  9. ^ staff, T. O. I. (8 May 2022). "After 800 years, Church of England apologizes to Jews for laws that led to expulsion". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  10. ^ Peachey, Paul (9 May 2022). "Anglican Church apologises over 800-year-old anti-Jewish laws". The National. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  11. ^ Nigel Saul, ed. (2005). St George's Chapel, Windsor, in the Fourteenth Century. Boydell Press. p. 56. ISBN 9781843831174. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  12. ^ Good, Jonathan David Arthur (2004). Saint George for England – Sanctity and National Identity, 1272–1509. University of Minnesota. p. 94. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.