New in Oxford?
New in Oxford?
The transition to a new university, city, country or continent can be both exciting and challenging. Through a warm welcome and opportunities for connection throughout the year the Oxford Pastorate hopes to enable each postgraduate to find their place within the academic community at Oxford.
At the start of each academic year we partner with local churches and Christian organisations to host several welcome events for postgraduates new to Oxford. (See the 2024 events here.)
Throughout the year our team of chaplains are also available for conversation and questions covering all sorts of topics, from the mundane to the metaphysical! We'd love to connect with you.
For those looking to settle into the Christian community in Oxford, there are a wide range of activities, groups and events aimed at postgraduates. Many of these, along with their websites, are listed below.
The transition to a new university, city, country or continent can be both exciting and challenging. Through a warm welcome and opportunities for connection throughout the year the Oxford Pastorate hopes to enable each postgraduate to find their place within the academic community at Oxford.
At the start of each academic year we partner with local churches and Christian organisations to host several welcome events for postgraduates new to Oxford. (See the 2024 events here.)
Throughout the year our team of chaplains are also available for conversation and questions covering all sorts of topics, from the mundane to the metaphysical! We'd love to connect with you.
For those looking to settle into the Christian community in Oxford, there are a wide range of activities, groups and events aimed at postgraduates. Many of these, along with their websites, are listed below.
Opportunities for Postgrads
Developing a Christian Mind (DCM) is an interdisciplinary set of two conferences, led by senior Oxford academics. The conferences in January/February and March are for postgraduate students studying at Oxford, with senior Oxford academics offering oversight, lectures, and convening conference streams.
Christians in Academia (CiA) A year-round in-depth programme of readings, discussions, retreats, dinners with academics, personal mentoring (from an academic in the mentee’s field of research) and one-to-one support. Follow the link to register interest.
The Stella Aldwinckle Series: Thought-provoking lectures and online book/discussion groups. Email [email protected] for more information.
The Graduate Christian Forum (GCF) holds a Monday night speaker series during term, interviewing Christian scholars and professionals.
The 'Linacre Christians' for postgraduates at Linacre. For more information, please email [email protected]
Scriptorium Weekly study days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays during term time, Weeks 1-8) enabling postgrads to carve out and protect a regular space in the working week for concentrated bursts of writing, with the support and encouragement of the rest of our scholarly community.
The Socratic Happy Hour is a gathering for postgraduate students in Oxford who are seeking civil and convivial conversations about life’s biggest questions. For the next meeting see the website.
Transformation Network (Prayer) A departmental prayer network with a vision to see prayer in every University faculty and college.
St Ebbe's postgrad ministry Thesis runs a co-working space in the Pennyfarthing building next to the church, most Fridays from 10am-5pm. See the St Ebbe's event calendar for up to date info.
Developing a Christian Mind (DCM) is an interdisciplinary set of two conferences, led by senior Oxford academics. The conferences in January/February and March are for postgraduate students studying at Oxford, with senior Oxford academics offering oversight, lectures, and convening conference streams.
Christians in Academia (CiA) A year-round in-depth programme of readings, discussions, retreats, dinners with academics, personal mentoring (from an academic in the mentee’s field of research) and one-to-one support. Follow the link to register interest.
The Stella Aldwinckle Series: Thought-provoking lectures and online book/discussion groups. Email [email protected] for more information.
The Graduate Christian Forum (GCF) holds a Monday night speaker series during term, interviewing Christian scholars and professionals.
The 'Linacre Christians' for postgraduates at Linacre. For more information, please email [email protected]
Scriptorium Weekly study days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays during term time, Weeks 1-8) enabling postgrads to carve out and protect a regular space in the working week for concentrated bursts of writing, with the support and encouragement of the rest of our scholarly community.
The Socratic Happy Hour is a gathering for postgraduate students in Oxford who are seeking civil and convivial conversations about life’s biggest questions. For the next meeting see the website.
Transformation Network (Prayer) A departmental prayer network with a vision to see prayer in every University faculty and college.
St Ebbe's postgrad ministry Thesis runs a co-working space in the Pennyfarthing building next to the church, most Fridays from 10am-5pm. See the St Ebbe's event calendar for up to date info.
Churches in Oxford
There are many excellent churches in Oxford. We partner with the following churches each year to put on Welcome events for postgraduates at the start of term. The Rectors of the four Anglican churches in the circles below also sit on the Oxford Pastorate's Governing Council.
Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church
St Andrews Church, North Oxford
There are many excellent churches in Oxford. We partner with the following churches each year to put on Welcome events for postgraduates at the start of term. The Rectors of the four Anglican churches in the circles below also sit on the Oxford Pastorate's Governing Council.
Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church
St Andrews Church, North Oxford
St Aldates has Sunday services at 10am, 12pm, 4pm and 6pm.
Additionally, the Postgrads community meets on Wednesday evenings at the Church Centre (40 Pembroke Street) starting with a meal together at 7pm before a time of worship, teaching and small group discussion and prayer. Each November we go away for a weekend retreat in the countryside.
See: www.staldates.org/postgrads or contact Owen and Laura: [email protected] [email protected]
St Andrew’s, North Oxford, has four services on a Sunday including Holy Communion, a Family Service, Morning Worship and Evening Worship.
St Andrew’s has a small group of postgraduate/postdoc students who worship and serve as part of our church family. We gather together from time to time for lunches, and postgraduate and postdoc students are encouraged to join in with other ministries within St Andrew’s. As a large and diverse congregation there are lots of ways you can get involved! We also offer mentoring to postgraduate/postdoc students if that’s of value. For more information or if you have questions, email our curate, Henry Swayne ([email protected])
St Clements is a fairly small church with a big heart! People from a variety of ages and stages enjoy meeting, worshipping together and being friends. As part of this community, we enjoy having a number of postgrads or academics in our midst. Do join us here for our main Sunday morning service (10.30am), or a quieter evening service (at 6.30pm).
St Ebbe's has 3 Sunday services, but most postgrads come either for the 6.30 p.m, or (particularly those with families) at 10a.m.
Thesis is the St Ebbe's postgraduate student group. It is a diverse community from over 20 nationalities (including spouses of postgrads). They meet every Tuesday night at 7:00pm during term time in St Ebbe's church for a delicious meal (£3.50, and Bible study or a talk and discussion. Thesis also runs fun afternoons out, a weekend away in the Cotswolds in November, and seasonal events at Easter and Christmas. Both Christians and those interested in Christianity are equally welcome. For more information please contact the postgraduate student minister, Glenn Nesbitt
International Students
If you are an international student who has just arrived in Oxford, Friends International Oxford have produced a series of short videos introducing Oxford visit: https://www.youtube.com/channe...
If you are an international student who has just arrived in Oxford, Friends International Oxford have produced a series of short videos introducing Oxford visit: https://www.youtube.com/channe...