Chaplaincy
Chaplaincy
Postgraduate study at the University of Oxford is immensely rewarding. Most postgraduates count it a privilege to have lived and worked here and take away fond memories they will retain all their lives. But postgraduate study at Oxford can also be extremely challenging. Most students experience feelings of frustration, inadequacy and isolation at some point in their course or research.
The Oxford Pastorate chaplains are available to accompany postgraduates of all faiths and none through these highs and lows of postgraduate life.
We believe that building and participating in strong friendships and a lively community is essential to making the most of your time at Oxford. We partner with chapels, societies and, particularly, churches who are able to offer fun, caring community to postgraduates. These are Christian groups but would welcome postgraduates of any or no religious faith.
The University also has an abundance of beautiful chapels and friendly chaplains who are delighted to receive and involve postgraduate students in their worship and other activities. For a full list of religious provision within the university visit the Chaplaincy page here.
The Oxford Pastorate is committed to creating a safe and caring space for all; you can read our safeguarding policy here.
Postgraduate study at the University of Oxford is immensely rewarding. Most postgraduates count it a privilege to have lived and worked here and take away fond memories they will retain all their lives. But postgraduate study at Oxford can also be extremely challenging. Most students experience feelings of frustration, inadequacy and isolation at some point in their course or research.
The Oxford Pastorate chaplains are available to accompany postgraduates of all faiths and none through these highs and lows of postgraduate life.
We believe that building and participating in strong friendships and a lively community is essential to making the most of your time at Oxford. We partner with chapels, societies and, particularly, churches who are able to offer fun, caring community to postgraduates. These are Christian groups but would welcome postgraduates of any or no religious faith.
The University also has an abundance of beautiful chapels and friendly chaplains who are delighted to receive and involve postgraduate students in their worship and other activities. For a full list of religious provision within the university visit the Chaplaincy page here.
The Oxford Pastorate is committed to creating a safe and caring space for all; you can read our safeguarding policy here.
The Stella Aldwinckle Series
The Stella Aldwinckle Series honours the life and example of Stella Aldwinckle (Oxford Pastorate Women’s Chaplain from 1941- 1966) who, encouraged by Somerville students, set up the University’s hugely successful Socratic Club in 1942. The Socratic Club became famous as a centre for philosophical and theological discussions. Presided over by C S Lewis, and with contributions from great thinkers including Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe and Dorothy L Sayers, the focus was on exploring the big questions of philosophy in ways which connected with lived realities.
Aldwinckle modelled an approach which engaged those of differing disciplines, philosophies and faiths in fruitful dialogue and good disagreement. We hope to model this ethos in the unique events in this series.
Events held so far:
June 2022: Brunch - Loving Attention: How do we live well in a distracted world?
Hilary Term 2023 - Reading Group - Iris Murdoch’s The Sovereignty of Good
June 2023: Brunch - Beyond Ourselves: wonder, awe & transcendence via the art of John Ruskin
Summer Term 2023 - National Theatre Screening of CP Taylor's play 'Good'
Summer Term 2024 - Seeing Clearly: How do we cultivate vision in cynical and challenging times?
**Upcoming event: Who do we trust? Building bonds of trust in a fractured society with Professor Tom Simpson. Fri 20th June 2025, 2pm-4pm - places available at the link!**
If you'd like more information on upcoming events, please email [email protected].
With thanks to the Aldwinckle family for provision of this photograph.
The Stella Aldwinckle Series honours the life and example of Stella Aldwinckle (Oxford Pastorate Women’s Chaplain from 1941- 1966) who, encouraged by Somerville students, set up the University’s hugely successful Socratic Club in 1942. The Socratic Club became famous as a centre for philosophical and theological discussions. Presided over by C S Lewis, and with contributions from great thinkers including Iris Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe and Dorothy L Sayers, the focus was on exploring the big questions of philosophy in ways which connected with lived realities.
Aldwinckle modelled an approach which engaged those of differing disciplines, philosophies and faiths in fruitful dialogue and good disagreement. We hope to model this ethos in the unique events in this series.
Events held so far:
June 2022: Brunch - Loving Attention: How do we live well in a distracted world?
Hilary Term 2023 - Reading Group - Iris Murdoch’s The Sovereignty of Good
June 2023: Brunch - Beyond Ourselves: wonder, awe & transcendence via the art of John Ruskin
Summer Term 2023 - National Theatre Screening of CP Taylor's play 'Good'
Summer Term 2024 - Seeing Clearly: How do we cultivate vision in cynical and challenging times?
**Upcoming event: Who do we trust? Building bonds of trust in a fractured society with Professor Tom Simpson. Fri 20th June 2025, 2pm-4pm - places available at the link!**
If you'd like more information on upcoming events, please email [email protected].
Prayer Network
The Transformation Network: Prayer in every university department
We have a vision to see Christian postgraduate students meeting together regularly to pray in every university department across the city. We believe this is a strategic way to cover the university, and our subjects and studies, in prayer.
We hope to connect Christians from different churches and levels of academic study in Oxford, and to inspire them to intercede for their places of work and study.
Read more about our story so far.
For further information you can contact our postdoctoral volunteer, Joy Choi at ([email protected])
The Transformation Network: Prayer in every university department
We have a vision to see Christian postgraduate students meeting together regularly to pray in every university department across the city. We believe this is a strategic way to cover the university, and our subjects and studies, in prayer.
We hope to connect Christians from different churches and levels of academic study in Oxford, and to inspire them to intercede for their places of work and study.
Read more about our story so far.
For further information you can contact our postdoctoral volunteer, Joy Choi at ([email protected])
Macedonia
Oxford Connections - Macedonia
The Pastorate seeks to enable postgraduates to use their academic gifts and qualifications to serve beyond Oxford. Since 2010 the Pastorate has been running Oxford Connections. Each year 6-12 Oxford postgraduate students travel to Macedonia with Oxford Pastorate leaders. In Macedonia, we support the exciting work of Dr Kosta and Nada Milkov who are Oxford alumni and the founders of the Balkan Institute for Faith and Culture (BIFC) a Christian think-tank using theological insight and dialogue to develop relationships, build community cohesion and work towards the common good for all of Macedonia’s and the Balkans’ peoples.
The week-long Oxford Connections trip focuses on three areas: learning about and praying for Macedonia and its people; cultural engagement (including lots of excellent meals out!) with the different religious and ethnic communities that make-up Macedonian society; and academic engagement, with each participant offering a lecture or paper on their postgraduate research at the state university and in other educational forums.
The next trip will take place in Spring 2026. Email [email protected] if you'd like to know more, or register your interest in being considered for the 2026 trip with this form.
Participants in Oxford Connections 2025 with the President of North Macedonia
Oxford Connections - Macedonia
The Pastorate seeks to enable postgraduates to use their academic gifts and qualifications to serve beyond Oxford. Since 2010 the Pastorate has been running Oxford Connections. Each year 6-12 Oxford postgraduate students travel to Macedonia with Oxford Pastorate leaders. In Macedonia, we support the exciting work of Dr Kosta and Nada Milkov who are Oxford alumni and the founders of the Balkan Institute for Faith and Culture (BIFC) a Christian think-tank using theological insight and dialogue to develop relationships, build community cohesion and work towards the common good for all of Macedonia’s and the Balkans’ peoples.
The week-long Oxford Connections trip focuses on three areas: learning about and praying for Macedonia and its people; cultural engagement (including lots of excellent meals out!) with the different religious and ethnic communities that make-up Macedonian society; and academic engagement, with each participant offering a lecture or paper on their postgraduate research at the state university and in other educational forums.
The next trip will take place in Spring 2026. Email [email protected] if you'd like to know more, or register your interest in being considered for the 2026 trip with this form.
Upcoming Events
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Art Retreat
—All postgrads and postdocs welcome for a reflective, art-filled day at the end of term
View Event
Past Events
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MT25 Reading Group: Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind
—MT25 Friday Lunchtime Reading and Discussion Group: The Life of the Mind
View Event
