Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

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Christ Church Cathedral spire.

Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the city of Oxford, England. It is also, unusually, the chapel of Christ Church, the largest college of the University of Oxford. As such, it is the smallest cathedral in England, but is a rather large chapel for a college.

The cathedral was originally the church of St Frideswide's Priory. The site is claimed to be the location of the abbey and relics of St Frideswide, the patron saint of Oxford, although this is debatable.

In 1522, the priory was surrendered to Cardinal Wolsey, having selected it as a site for his proposed college. However, in 1529 the foundation was taken over by King Henry VIII. Work stopped, but in June 1532 the college was refounded by the King. In 1546, Henry VIII transferred to it from Oseney to the see of Oxford. The cathedral has the name of Ecclesia Christi Cathedralis Oxoniensis, given to it by King Henry VIII's foundation charter.

There has been a choir at the cathedral since 1526, at the time when John Taverner became the organist and also master of the choristers. The statutes of Cardinal Wolsey's original college, initially called Cardinal College, mentioned sixteen choristers and thirty singing priests.

The nave, choir, main tower and transepts are of the late Norman period. There are architectural features ranging from Norman to the Perpendicular style.

Sir Henry Gage (1597–1645) is buried in the Lucy Chapel off the south transept.

See also

• Christ Church, Oxford: more information on the College and the Cathedral
• Bishop of Oxford
• Diocese of Oxford

External links

• [Christ Church Cathedral website]
• [Christ Church Cathedral Choir website]
• [Oxford Cathedral information]

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