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 in Oxford to host several Postgraduate Student Welcome events. If you'd like to be the first to hear about these in September, sign up to our mailing list by clicking the green button below. We'd love to connect with you.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!
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 in Oxford to host several Postgraduate Student Welcome events. If you'd like to be the first to hear about these in September, sign up to our mailing list by clicking the green button below. We'd love to connect with you.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!
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) Senior Christian academics lead two annual conferences in January and March especially for postgraduate students studying at Oxford, helping foster integration between faith and scholarship.
The Graduate Christian Forum (GCF)
Holds a Monday night speaker series during term, interviewing Christian scholars and professionals.
Linacre Christians meet once a month, currently via Zoom. Contact anne.keene@linacre.ox.ac.uk for the Zoom details.
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.
Transformation Network (Prayer)
A departmental prayer network with a vision to see prayer in every University faculty and college.
T2: Thesis Together, or T2, is a postgrad study space open in the Pennyfarthing building on Fridays from 9.30am-5.30pm. Join other postgrads and get to know each other during coffee and lunch breaks! Space is limited. Book a space via the calendar here.
Developing a Christian Mind (DCM) Senior Christian academics lead two annual conferences in January and March especially for postgraduate students studying at Oxford, helping foster integration between faith and scholarship.
The Graduate Christian Forum (GCF)
Holds a Monday night speaker series during term, interviewing Christian scholars and professionals.
Linacre Christians meet once a month, currently via Zoom. Contact anne.keene@linacre.ox.ac.uk for the Zoom details.
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.
Transformation Network (Prayer)
A departmental prayer network with a vision to see prayer in every University faculty and college.
T2: Thesis Together, or T2, is a postgrad study space open in the Pennyfarthing building on Fridays from 9.30am-5.30pm. Join other postgrads and get to know each other during coffee and lunch breaks! Space is limited. Book a space via the calendar here.
Churches in Oxford
There are many excellent churches in Oxford. The Rectors of these four Anglican churches sit on the Oxford Pastorate's Governing Council.
There are many excellent churches in Oxford. The Rectors of these four Anglican churches sit on the Oxford Pastorate's Governing Council.
St Aldate's have three services on a Sunday.
On Wednesday evenings the Postgrad community meet at 7pm in the Christopher Room in the Parish Centre. We share a meal together, followed by worship, prayer and teaching. After this, we break up into small groups of about 6–10 people for discussion. The small groups are an opportunity for friendship, support and discipleship throughout our time at Oxford.
For more information contact christopher.landau@staldates.org.uk
St Andrews, North Oxford has 4 services on a Sunday including Holy Communion, a Family Service, Morning Worship and Evening Worship.
St Andrew’s has a growing group of postgraduate/postdoc students who worship and serve as part of our church family. We gather together for lunches twice a term, 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, James Dwyer (james.dwyer@standrewsoxford.org).
Meets here for morning and evening worship every Sunday.
There are also small groups and alpha courses running throughout the year.
St Ebbe's has 4 Sunday services, but most postgrads come either for the 6.30 p.m, or (particularly those with families) at 9.45 a.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), 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
More churches in Oxford...
The following churches partner with us in hosting annual Postgraduate Student Welcome events:
Emmanuel Church,
Magdalen Road Church,
Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church,
Oxford Community Church,
St Michael at the North Gate,
Trinity Church, Oxford
loveoxfordstudents.co.uk is another good resource for churches in Oxford.
The following churches partner with us in hosting annual Postgraduate Student Welcome events:
Emmanuel Church,
Magdalen Road Church,
Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church,
Oxford Community Church,
St Michael at the North Gate,
Trinity Church, Oxford
loveoxfordstudents.co.uk is another good resource for churches in Oxford.
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...