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
12.00 pm Noon Prayer
Tuesday
6.00 pm Choral Evening Prayer (sung by the Choristers only)
9.00 pm Sung Compline (Night Prayer)*
Wednesday
6.00pm Choral Evensong (sung by the full Choir)
Thursday
6.00 pm Choral Evensong (sung by the full Choir)
Friday
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 Acting Dean of Divinity, the Reverend Professor Jane Shaw: deanofdivinity@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.
Acting Dean of Divinity (College Chaplain)
The Reverend Professor Jane Shaw
deanofdivinity@magd.ox.ac.uk
Jane is a Church of England priest, Provost of Gresham College, former Dean of Divinity at New College, Oxford, and, most recently, Principal of Harris Manchester College. She offers pastoral care to College members and officiates at Chapel services, assisted by the Chaplains.
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, The Reverend Dr Laura Biron-Scott, and from Honorary Chaplains, The Reverend Professor Sabina Alkire, The Reverend Wealands Bell, The Reverend Dr Oliver Wright, The Reverend Dr Andrew Shamel and The Reverend Professor Jane Shaw. The Founder’s Chaplains lead prayers commemorating departed Benefactors of the College on appointed occasions in the course of the academic year.
Sunday 11th October – Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Professor Jane Shaw, Acting Dean of Divinity
Sunday 18th October – Twentieth Sunday after Trinity; St Luke the Evangelist
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Dr Oliver Wright, Honorary Chaplain
6pm Choral Evensong: The Reverend Professor Jane Shaw, Acting Dean of Divinity
Sunday 25th October – The Last Sunday after Trinity
11am Sung Eucharist: Professor Jeremias Adams-Prassl, Founder’s Chaplain,
Dean of Degrees, and Tutor in Law
Sunday 1st November – All Saints’ Day
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Dr Laura Biron-Scott, Assistant Chaplain
6pm Choral Evensong: The Right Reverend John Inge, Bishop of Worcester 2008-24
Sunday 8th November – Remembrance Sunday
11am Sung Eucharist: The Right Reverend Nicholas Baines, Bishop of Leeds 2014-25
Sunday 15th November – Second Sunday before Advent
11am Sung Eucharist: Professor Laurie Maguire, Founder’s Chaplain, Emeritus Fellow, and former Tutor in English
6pm Choral Evensong: The Reverend and Worshipful Justin Gau, Barrister, Chancellor, and Vicar General of the Dioceses of Bristol and St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
Sunday 22nd November – Christ the King
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Professor Sabina Alkire, Honorary Chaplain
6pm Choral Evensong: Mr Alastair Dutton, Secretary General, Caritas Internationalis
Sunday 29th November – First Sunday of Advent
11am Sung Eucharist: The Reverend Professor Jane Shaw, Acting Dean of Divinity
Saturday 19 September, 6.00pm
Choral Evensong before the Gaudy (1991-93)
Sunday 27 September, 4.30pm
Be a Chorister for a Day Choral Evening Prayer
Thursday 8 October, 6.00pm
Evensong to welcome new students
Sunday 11 October, 6.00pm
Evensong with Admission of Organ Scholar, Academical Clerks and Head Choristers
Sunday 18 October, 6.00pm
Festal Evensong for St Luke
Wednesday 28 October, 6.00pm
Festal Evensong for SS Simon & Jude
Sunday 1 November, 6.00pm
Festal Evensong for All Saints’ Day
Monday 2 November, 6.00pm
Solemn Requiem Mass for All Souls’ Day
Sunday 8 November, 10.55 am
Service of Remembrance (starting in the Cloister)
Wednesday 11 November, 6.00pm
Evensong sung jointly with the Choir of Haberdashers’ Girls’ School
Sunday 29 November, 6.00pm
Service of Music & Readings for Advent *
Friday 4 December, 6.15pm
Short Carol Service for students
Sunday 6 December, 4.00pm
Carols by Candlelight for Friends of the Choir & Alumni **
Saturday 12 December, 5.00pm
Carols by Candlelight*
Sunday 13 December, 5.00pm
Carols by Candlelight*
* Details on how to apply for seats at ticketed services will be advertised on the College/Choir websites in late October.
**These services are by invitation only. For further details, please contact the College.
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. Please note that meetings of the Addison Society are suspended this term.
DEAN OF DIVINITY’S DRINKS
Weekly, Tuesdays c. 9.30pm (following the Compline service), Antechapel
All are welcome.
For other Chapel activities, please check the Magdalen College Chapel Term Card.