The College Choir enriches our worship every day of the week in Full Term (except Mondays) at 6.00pm, and every Sunday morning in Term at 11.00am. On Saturdays, the Academical Clerks are joined by sopranos from a number of Oxford colleges to form the Consort of Voices. Other services in Chapel are said, without the Choir.
We hope you will join us at one of the live services in Chapel.
Members of the public are warmly invited to attend any of our morning or evening services throughout the week during the University term. Details of musical settings, hymns, and readings can be found in the Chapel Services and Music List for the term.
Sunday Services in Full Term
11.00am Sung Eucharist
This choral celebration of Holy Communion includes congregational hymns, a sermon, and a musical setting sung by the Choir. It usually lasts just over an hour. Those of any and all denominations are welcome to receive Communion in Chapel; it’s equally fine to attend and not take Communion. The service is followed by lunch and wine or a soft drink in the Hall, to which all are invited.
6.00pm Choral Evensong
Perhaps the most distinctively Anglican of all church services is Evensong, which took shape in the sixteenth century when the medieval orders for Vespers and Compline were combined, in the Book of Common Prayer, to create a new service. Evensong at Magdalen uses the traditional language of the 1662 Prayer Book and it offers the opportunity to hear a great variety of musical settings of the canticles (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis), along with a wide range of anthems and psalm chants. This service typically lasts around 40 minutes, or 50 minutes on Saturday and Sunday when it includes congregational hymns. On Sundays, the service is followed by refreshments in the Antechapel.
Services from Monday to Saturday in Full Term (unless otherwise stated in the termly Music and Services booklet)
Monday
8.30am Morning Prayer
Tuesday
8.30am Morning Prayer
6.00 pm Choral Evening Prayer (sung by the Choristers only)
9.00 pm Sung Compline (Night Prayer)*
Wednesday
8.30am Morning Prayer
6.00pm Choral Evensong (sung by the full Choir)
Thursday
8.30am Morning Prayer
6.00 pm Choral Evensong (sung by the full Choir)
Friday
8.30am Morning Prayer
6.00 pm Choral Evening Prayer (sung by the Academical Clerks only)
Saturday
6.00 pm Choral Evensong (usually sung by the Consort of Voices)
* This service is sung by individual members of the Choir and Consort of Voices and is also broadcast on YouTube and Facebook at 9pm the following day (Wednesday)
The Sunday Eucharist service is followed by a light lunch and Sunday’s Choral Evensong is followed by refreshments in the Antechapel.
Baptism is the rite of initiation for those wanting to participate as full members of the Christian church.
Usually baptisms will be conducted in the parish church closest to where you live, but exceptions are made for those who have a strong connection to the College Chapel.
For students of the College, baptisms usually take place on a Sunday morning, within the 11am Eucharist. For others, they may take place on Saturday or Sunday afternoons. We welcome enquiries from members of the Magdalen alumni community, wishing to have their children baptised / christened.
For further enquiries or to book a baptism, please contact the Dean of Divinity, Rev’d Dr. Andrew Bowyer: andrew.bowyer@magd.ox.ac.uk
Weddings
The College Chapel is usually available to Magdalen alumni for weddings, as well as College staff and their direct family members, and current College members. The Chapel is only available for weddings outside the University terms, and bookings are always agreed at the discretion of the Dean of Divinity and with the approval of the President.
How to book a wedding The first step is to complete the form on this webpage and a member of the Chapel and Choir staff will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
Wedding charges For all weddings taking place in 2026, the charges will be as follows: £1,800 (inclusive of priest, verger, use of organ, organist and administration)
If you are interested in holding an event in the Chapel, please complete the form on this webpage and a member of the Chapel and Choir staff will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
Dean of Divinity (College Chaplain)
The Rev’d Dr Andrew Bowyer
Email: andrew.bowyer@magd.ox.ac.uk
Andrew is a Church of England Priest. His role is to offer non-judgemental pastoral support to everyone in the College, regardless of their religious beliefs. He also oversees activities that take place in our beautiful Chapel, where worship in the Christian tradition has been offered since the 15th Century.
The Chapel Administrator
Edmund Racher
Room: Cloisters 2
Tel: 01865 286704
Email: chapel@magd.ox.ac.uk
The Choir Administrator
Griselda Sherlaw-Johnson
Room: Cloisters 2
Tel: 01865 286701
Email: choir@magd.ox.ac.uk
The Sacristans
The Sacristans are friendly students responsible for organising the altar servers who assist at every Sung Eucharist and at Benediction. They always enjoy training up fellow-students who would like to learn how to swing a thurible (the incense-pot) or carry a candle in procession.
The Verger
The Verger, Joan Jones, is likely to be the first person you see when you come to a service, since an important part of her job is to welcome you and help you find a seat.
Assisting and Honorary Chaplains
The Dean of Divinity receives liturgical assistance from the Fellows’ Chaplain, The Reverend Professor Robert Gilbert (Fellow in Biochemistry) and Assistant Chaplain, Mr Oliver Wright, and from Honorary Chaplains, The Reverend Professor Sabina Alkire, The Reverend Wealands Bell, The Reverend Dr Laura Biron-Scott, The Reverend Dr Andrew Shamel and The Reverend Professor Jane Shaw. The Founder’s Chaplain, Dr Ralph Walker, leads prayers commemorating departed Benefactors of the College on appointed occasions in the course of the academic year.
Sunday 18th January – Second Sunday after Epiphany
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Dr Andrew Bowyer, Dean of Divinity
Sunday 25th January – Third Sunday after Epiphany
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Professor Robert Gilbert, Fellows’ Chaplain
Sunday 1st February – Eve of Candlemas
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Dr Laura Biron-Scott, Assistant Chaplain
Sunday 8th February – The Second Sunday before Lent (Sexagesima)
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Dr Andrew Bowyer, Dean of Divinity
6pm Choral Evensong: The Reverend Emma Dinwiddy Smith, Vicar, St. Mary Abbot’s Parish Church, London
Sunday 15th February – The Next Sunday before Lent (Quinquagesima)
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Dr Oliver Wright, Honorary Chaplain
6pm Choral Evensong: The Reverend Esther Lay, Vicar, The Parish of Wootton, Glympton, & Kiddington, Oxfordshire
Sunday 22nd February – First Sunday in Lent
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Professor Jane Shaw, Assistant Chaplain
6pm Choral Evensong: The Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner, Bishop of Chichester
Sunday 1st March – Second Sunday in Lent
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Dr Andrew Bowyer, Dean of Divinity
6pm Choral Evensong: The Reverend and Worshipful Justin Gau, Barrister, Chancellor & Vicar General of the Dioceses of Bristol & St Edmundsbury & Ipswich
Sunday 8th March – Third Sunday in Lent
11am Sunday Eucharist: The Reverend Professor Sabina Alkire, Honorary Chaplain
Sunday 5th April – Easter Day
11am Sunday Eucharist: The Reverend Dr Laura Biron-Scott, Assistant Chaplain
Saturday 24 January, 6.00pm
Choral Evensong in memory of Professor Martin McLaughlin.
Tuesday 27 January, 9.00 pm
Compline to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Saturday 31 January, 6.00 pm
Joint Evensong with Pimlico Musical Foundation
Sunday 1 February, 6.00pm
Festal Choral Evensong with Procession of Candles for the Eve of Candlemas
Thursday 12 February, 6.00pm
Choral Evensong with the Distribution of Claymond’s Dole
Wednesday 18 February, 6.00pm
Sung Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes for Ash Wednesday
Wednesday 25 February, 6.00pm
Joint Evensong with the Choir of Eltham College
Friday 27 February, 6.00pm
Festal Choral Evensong before the St David’s Day Dinner
Saturday 28 February, 6.00pm
Joint Evensong with the Chamber Choir of Hereford Sixth Form College
Saturday 7 March, 6.05pm
Joint Evensong with the Choirs of New College and Christ Church Cathedral Choirs (in Christ Church)
Tuesday 17 March, 6.00pm
Festal Choral Evensong for St Patrick’s Day
Saturday 28 March, 6.00pm
Choral Evensong before the Gaudy (1985-87)
Thursday 2 April, 6.00pm
Sung Eucharist for Maundy Thursday
Friday 3 April, 11.00am
Liturgy of Good Friday
Sunday 5 April, 11.00am
Sung Eucharist on Easter Day
THE ADDISON SOCIETY
Joseph Addison (1672-1719) was an English essayist, poet, playwright, politician and Fellow of Magdalen. Every Thursday lunchtime during term from 1.00pm until 2.00pm, The Addison Society usually meets in the Dean of Divinity’s rooms (Cloisters 4:2) for a free lunch to talk about arts, culture, current affairs and faith.
All are welcome to this open, non-judgmental and frank discussion group. If you are interested in joining this group, then please speak to, or email, the Dean of Divinity.
DEAN OF DIVINITY’S DRINKS
Weekly, Tuesdays c. 9.30pm (following the Compline service), Old Practice Room
All are welcome but spaces are limited so please sign up via the Eventbrite link in the weekly Chapel email.
For other Chapel activities, please check the Magdalen College Chapel Term Card.