OXFORD LIFEReligious Life
Worship in the College Chapel follows the services of the Anglican tradition, and provides regular daily worship for any who wish to participate. It is also available as a place of prayer for people of all creeds. There are two Choral Services each week in term. The mixed Chapel Choir, one of the best amateur choirs in Oxford, is recruited from members and friends of St Peter’s and is made up of Choral Scholars and volunteers. CMRS students may audition for a place in the choir. There are also a number of student-led religious societies within the College and University. The Catholic Society organizes social events, and coordinates theological study, charity and social work. The St Peter’s College Chapel has a good relationship with the Oxford University Inter-Collegiate Christian Union. The University Jewish Society is flourishing, and holds daily meals and frequent events. The University Islamic Society is also thriving, and maintains an active programme of religious and social activities. Other societies cater for – amongst others – Bahá’í, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Taoist and secular students.
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CMRS provides pastoral care for all of its students and there are regular opportunities for worship at St Peter’s and within their own tradition.
A wide variety of religious services is available in central Oxford every week. Several mosques including the purpose-built Oxford Central Mosque serve various Islamic communities. The Oxford Jewish Centre maintains three different streams of prayer; Orthodox, Masorti and Progressive. Several branches of Buddhism have places of worship or monasteries. Plans are afoot to build a gurdwara for Oxford Sikhs; meanwhile, they meet every Sunday in a local school. Bahá’ís meet together frequently to study, pray and enjoy fellowship. Roman Catholic students tend to go to the nearby chaplaincy, to the Dominicans at Blackfriars or to the Oxford Oratory. Many Protestants favour St Aldate’s and St Ebbe’s, major centres of evangelical Christianity within the Church of England. Depending on their churchmanship, Episcopalians go to the Cathedral, the University Church or Pusey House. Russian and Greek Orthodox celebrate the Divine Liturgy in English, Slavonic, Greek and a little Romanian. CMRS provides a list of some 40 places of worship as a guide to what is offered in Oxford.