Dean of Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church Cathedral

The Dean of Christ Church is the dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and head of the governing body of Christ Church, a constituent college of the University of Oxford. The cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford and seat of the Bishop of Oxford. The chapter of canons of the cathedral formed the governing body of the college from its foundation until the Christ Church (Oxford) Act of 1867, by which the Governing Body was expanded to include the Students (academics) in addition to the Dean and Chapter.^[1] The dean was ex officio head of the chapter and ipso facto head of the college. From 26 April 2022 until July 2023, the position was vacant.^[2] As of 8 July 2023,^[3] Sarah Foot is the first female dean of Christ Church. ^[4]

List of deans

From the diocese's foundation in 1542 until 1545, the cathedral was at Osney. There, the cathedral deans were:

• John London (1542–1543)
• Richard Cox (1543–1545, reappointed dean at Christ Church)

The academic deans of Christ Church's predecessor Oxford colleges were:

• John Hygdon (Dean of Cardinal College, 1525–1531; Dean of King Henry VIII's College, 1532–1533)
• John Oliver (Dean of King Henry VIII's College, 1533–1545)

Both the college and the see at Osney surrendered to the Crown on 20 May 1545. Christ Church, the double establishment of cathedral and college, was founded by letters patent on 4 November 1546.^[5]

^† Died in office

References

1. "A Brief History of Christ Church" (PDF). Christ Church website. p. 16. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
2. "Dean of Oxford University college steps down after 'protracted disputes'". BBC News. 5 February 2022. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
3. "Choral Evensong with the Installation of Dean Foot". Christ Church. 8 July 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
4. "Appointment of first female Dean of Christ Church the Rev Canon Professor Sarah Foot | Christ Church, Oxford University". www.chch.ox.ac.uk. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
5. Horn, Joyce M. (ed.). "Oxford: Introduction". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857. Vol. 8. pp. 69–72. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
6. "No. 27329". The London Gazette. 2 July 1901. p. 4399.
7. "Christ Church, Oxford – Dean, Cathedral Chapter and Staff". Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
8. Oxford Mail – Dean of Christ Church preparing to retire and start new life in Suffolk (Accessed 7 May 2014)
9. Christ Church, Oxford – The Dean of Christ Church (Accessed 7 May 2014)
10. "Oxford college dean at centre of lengthy dispute to step down". Times Higher Education Supplement. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.

Horn, Joyce M. (ed.). "Deans of Christ Church, Oxford". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857. Vol. 8. pp. 80–83. Retrieved 12 September 2019.