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.
The Chapel is only available for baptism to current members of the College and its staff. Central to the baptism service is that a child or adult is baptised into their Christian community. For former members of the College this will be their local parish church or worshipping community whilst for current members and staff the Chapel is the focus of that community within the College. Although it is recognised that the services available in the Chapel may not be felt to be suitable for babies and very small children, those seeking baptism in the Chapel will be encouraged to fulfil their baptismal obligations to their child in a more suitable context.
Baptism services usually take place on a Sunday either during the vacation or in term time.
Individuals of other Christian denominations may use the Chapel for a service of baptism but the permission of the Dean of Divinity and College authorities must be sought first.
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
If you are interested in holding an event in the Chapel, please complete the form below and a member of the Chapel and Choir staff will respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.
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 below 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 2024, the charges will be as follows: £1,600 (inclusive of priest, verger, use of organ, organist and administration)
Dean of Divinity (College Chaplain)
The Revd 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 286701
Email: chapel@magd.ox.ac.uk
The Choir Administrator
Joanna Burnett
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.
This year’s Sacristans are Martin Gazi, Joseph Gillson and Talav Bhimnathwala.
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 Revd Professor Robert Gilbert (Fellow in Biochemistry) and Assistant Chaplain, Mrs Christina Peacock, and from Honorary Chaplains, The Reverend Professor Sabina Alkire, The Reverend Wealands Bell and The Reverend Dr Laura Biron-Scott. 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 21st April – Third Sunday after Easter
The Reverend Dr Andrew Bowyer – 11am, Dean of Divinity
The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore – 6pm, Dean of St. Albans
Sunday 28th April – Fourth Sunday after Easter
The Reverend Wealands Bell – 11am, Honorary Chaplain, Magdalen College, Oxford
Wednesday 1st May – Sung Eucharist for SS Philip & James
Mrs Christina Peacock – 9.15am Assistant Chaplain, Magdalen College, Oxford
Saturday 4th May – Celebration of the Joint Foundation of College and School
The Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen – 6pm, Bishop of Winchester
Sunday 5th May – Service of Thanksgiving on the 550th Anniversary of the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Chapel
The Reverend Professor William Whyte FRHistS, FSA – 11am, Professor of Social and Architectural History
Thursday 9th May – Sung Eucharist for Ascension Day
The Reverend James Chegwidden – 6pm, Curate, St. Cuthbert’s Church, Earl’s Court
Sunday 12th May – Sunday after Ascension
The Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft – 6pm, Bishop of Oxford
Sunday 19th May – Pentecost
The Reverend Professor Sabina Alkire – 11am, Honorary Chaplain
The Reverend Canon Mia Hilborn – 6pm, Chaplaincy Team Leader at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral.
Sunday 26th May – Trinity Sunday
The Reverend Professor Robert Gilbert – 11am, Fellows’ Chaplain and Vice-President of the College
Sunday 2nd June – First Sunday after Trinity
The Reverend Dr Laura Biron-Scott – 11am, Honorary Chaplain
Father Damian Howard SJ – 6pm, Senior Chaplain, Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy
Sunday 9th June – Second Sunday after Trinity
The Reverend Dr Andrew Bowyer – 11am, Dean of Divinity
Sunday 16 June – Third Sunday after Trinity
The Reverend Dr Jonathan Jong – 10am, Deputy Director of the Brain, Belief and Behaviour Group, Coventry University, and parish priest in the Diocese of Chichester.
Sunday 21 April 6.00pm
Choral Evensong & Sermon before the University
Wednesday 24 April 3.00pm
Choral Evensong broadcast live on BBC Radio 3
Thursday 25 April 6.00pm
Festal Evensong for St Mark’s Day
Saturday 27 April 6.00pm
Evensong for the University Choral & Organ Open Day
Wednesday 1 May 6.00am
May Morning singing from the Great Tower
Wednesday 1 May 9.15am
Sung Eucharist for SS Philip & James
Friday 3 May 6.00pm
Choral Evensong before the Waynflete Dinner with the Reception of the Bishop of Winchester as College Visitor
Saturday 4 May 6.00pm
Sung Eucharist sung jointly with pupils from MCS
Sunday 5 May 11.00am
Service of Thanksgiving on the 550th Anniversary of the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Chapel
Sunday 5 May 6.00pm
Festal Choral Evensong for the Foundation of the Chapel
Thursday 9 May 6.00pm
Sung Eucharist for Ascension Day
Sunday 12 May 6.00pm
Sung Eucharist with Baptisms & Confirmations
Monday 13 May 6.00pm
Roman Catholic Mass
Tuesday 14 May 6.00pm
Festal Choral Evensong for St Matthias
Thursday 30 May 6.00pm
Sung Eucharist & Procession for Corpus Christi
Friday 31 May 6.00pm
Festal Choral Evensong for the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth
Tuesday 4 June 6.00pm
Choral Evening Prayer sung jointly with Magdalen College School Junior School Chamber Choir
Tuesday 11 June 6.00pm
Festal Choral Evensong for St Barnabas
Sunday 16 June 10.00am
Outdoor Sermon for St John the Baptist’s Day
Tuesday 18 June 6.00pm
Choral Evensong for MCS Junior School leavers
Saturday 22 June 4.30pm
Choral Evensong sung jointly with members of the Magdalen College Choir Association
Thursday 27 June 5.45pm
Choral Evensong for the Oxford Festival of the Arts
Saturday 29 June 6.00pm
Choral Evensong before the Gaudy (1975-78)
Monday 22 July 11.00am
Sung Eucharist for St Mary Magdalen
Monday 22 July 6.00pm
Festal Choral Evensong for St Mary Magdalen
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.