The Chapel
SCROLL TO EXPLORE
The chapel is a space for all members of college, their families, and friends. We are a friendly community, and we invite you to step inside and be at home in chapel.
The College Chapel
The chapel is a sacred and welcoming space set aside for contemplation, reflection, prayer, and worship. A place to find peace or simply be and enjoy some quiet and beauty. It is also a place for music making and practice.
The chapel entrance is on Deer Park, and the chapel is always open for members of college. Collective worship in chapel is Christian and Anglican, conducted according to the rites of the Church of England. However, the chapel is home to Christians of many traditions, as well as those who are not Christian but wish to participate in our worship and common life. It is also the natural location for college gatherings at times of celebration and for memorials, as well as concerts and other events.
Whatever your religious background, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexuality, you are welcome!
Our Services
Services take place in chapel every day except Saturday during University term time, and are open to all members of college, families, and friends. Attendance at services is of course entirely optional.
- Morning Prayer: 8.10–8.30am, Tuesday to Friday
- Silent Stillness: 12.30–1pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
- Organ Recital: 12.30-1pm on Thursdays in even weeks of term (22 October, 5 November, 19th November, 3 December)
- Evening Prayer/Choral Evensong: 6pm (see Choral Evensong below)
- Choral Evensong takes place on Sundays at 6pm during term time. The service is sung by the Chapel Choir with organ music, congregational hymns, and includes a sermon.
- On Tuesdays from week one to six of Michaelmas term (13 October, 20 October, 27 October, 3 November, 10 November, 17 November), a shorter Choral Evensong takes place from 6.15–6.45pm.
Regular Midweek Services
A warm welcome awaits all members of college regardless of denomination,
faith, or no faith. All are welcome to attend services and events in chapel.
In chapel weeks 1-8 unless otherwise stated
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|
|
8.10am-8.30am
Morning Prayer
|
8.10am-8.30am
Morning Prayer
|
8.10am-8.30am
Morning Prayer
|
8.10am-8.30am
Morning Prayer |
| 12.30pm-1.00pm
Silent Stillness is a time when the chapel is completely quiet so any member of college can come and enjoy the space to be still, meditate, pray, read, or just sit quietly and enjoy the silence. |
12.30pm-1.00pm
Silent Stillness |
12.30pm-1.00pm
Silent Stillness |
12.30pm-1.00pm Organ Recital
In chapel, on 2nd , 4th, 6th, and 8th weeks of term. |
12.30pm-1.00pm
Silent Stillness |
| 6.15pm – 6.45pm
Choral Evensong Evening Prayer sung by the choir with organ music. Followed by drinks & nibbles in the antechapel. Weeks 1 to 6
(In week 7 in HT & TT we will host the RC College Mass at 6.00pm, served by the Catholic Chaplaincy: www.catholic-chaplaincy.org.uk/ )
|
6.00pm – 6.55pm Music Concert
in the antechapel. From 3rd week to 7th week inclusive. See BNC Music intranet page for details.
|
|||
| 5.15pm – 5.45pm
Holy Communion All are welcome to attend this said service of Holy Communion in weeks 1 to 7. No service in week 4 – see special services below. |
7.00pm
Choir Rehearsal
|
Holy Communion (Holy Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, or Mass) is celebrated on a Wednesday evening.
The Holy Eucharist is also celebrated in the University Church, 12.15-12.45pm, Monday to Friday.
Special Services & Events during Term
Week 3 Friday 30th Oct. The Platnauer Concert, 6.00pm – 7.00pm in the antechapel.
Week 4 Tuesday 3rd Nov. All Souls’ Choral Eucharist, 6.00pm – 7.00pm in chapel.
Preacher: The Revd Dr Stephanie Burette, chaplain of LMH.
Week 5 Wednesday 11th Nov. An Act of Remembrance, 10.55am -11.05am in the antechapel.
Week 7 Tuesday 24th Nov. Oxmas Choral ‘Midnight’ Mass, 6.00pm -7.00pm in chapel.
Preacher: The Revd Dr Andy Shamel, chaplain of MCS.
The chaplain is available to discuss any matters concerning faith & spirituality,
including preparation for baptism & confirmation.
Sunday Mornings
Chaplain’s Breakfast
9.35am – 11.00am
Meeting in Heberden 1 (above the JCR) for community & conversation,
with tea & filter coffee, fresh fruit, & fresh pastries.
All members of college are welcome at the breakfast
regardless of whether or not you come to chapel.
Sunday Evenings
6.00pm College Prayers
College Prayers is usually a service of Choral Evensong (6.00pm – 6.55pm), it is sung by
the chapel choir, with organ music, congregational hymns, and a talk by the chaplain or a visiting speaker, followed by drinks in the Amersi room at 7.00pm before dinner at 7.30pm.
Week 1 19th Sunday after Trinity – First Sunday of Term
11th October The Right Revd Dr Nicholas Chamberlain, the College Visitor.
Week 2 St Luke’s Day – Black History Month
18th October Professor Anthony Reddie, Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford.
Week 3 21st Sunday after Trinity
25th October The Venerable Mike Power, Archdeacon of West Ham, Diocese of Cheltenham.
Week 4 All Saints’ Day
1st November The Revd Canon Dr Mark Pryce, Director of Ministry, Diocese of Birmingham, & chaplain to HM the King.
Week 5 Remembrance Sunday
8th November The Chaplain
Week 6 2nd Sunday before Advent
15th November The Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones OBE LVO, Dean Emerita of St David’s Cathedral.
Week 7 Last Sunday before Advent – Christ the King
22nd November The Chaplain
Week 8 First Sunday of Advent – The Advent Carol Service
29th November The Chaplain
The Chapel Team
Revd David Sheen, College Chaplain
Our College Chaplain provides pastoral support to all members of Brasenose. Contact: chaplain@bnc.ox.ac.uk
Other members of the team
David is supported by Taona Makunganya, Bible Clerk, and Peter Chen, Assistant Bible Clerk.
The Director of Music is Dr Alexander Flood, who holds an interim appointment as maternity cover until summer 2026, supported by Senior Organ Scholar Jaylen Cheng and Junior Organ Scholar Simeon Wren.
The Organ
The first organ was installed in the Chapel in 1892, paid for by the then Principal, Charles Heberden. The organ case, designed by Sir Thomas Graham Jackson, was restored in 2024 to house a new instrument built by Orgues de Facto. The new organ follows the English Romantic design of the original and has restored the 1892 façade pipes to speaking voice.
Organ recitals regularly take place during term time.
About the Chapel
The Chapel at Brasenose, dedicated to St Hugh and St Chad, was built between 1656 and 1666, replacing an earlier chapel that stood where the Senior Common Room is now.
The building incorporates materials salvaged from St Mary’s College (now the site of Frewin Hall), including a 15th-century hammerbeam roof. The result is a distinctive mix of Gothic, baroque and neoclassical styles – a blend that reflects the competing architectural traditions of its time.
The Chapel was consecrated in 1666.
-
The Chapel choir -
Façade of the organ -
View from the nave towards the alter -
Revd David Sheen with the choir -
Chapel organ façade and gallery