Oxford Oratory: "Reaffirmation & Renewal"

Over £2m raised! More restoration in Church!

2012-02-08T17:07:00.001Z

The current Campaign total is £2,045,749.47 which makes us almost half-way to our total of £5 million. As you may have read, this means we can now start work on the new building.

Meanwhile, plans for the restoration of the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes are underway.

...and while that's going on, the designers are busy coming up with something for the ceiling.

Read all about it in our latest newsletter:

New Building to start soon

2012-02-06T16:57:00.000Z

After many months of preparation, work on the nerw accommodation block and parish rooms will begin at the end of this month. The work is bring carried out by Stepnell Ltd of Rugby.

At the moment we have committed ourselves to the £750,000 needed to put the building up and make it weather-proof. To fit out the accommodation and parish rooms we need to raise further funds by the summer. We are waiting for the exact figures for this, but current estimates are that £270,000 is required for the next stage.

Is it a race?

2012-01-13T16:41:00.001Z

Construction of new Libraries is always an exciting thing. Definite decisions on our new Building including the New Library are expected soon (yes, we keep saying that), and we have taken a significant first step by packing up and placing in store a large proportion of the Oratory's collections of books.

Here they are, boxed up and ready to go. We have been very kindly loaned the use of a warm, dry, safe storage area for boxes, as well as a certain amount of furniture which we hope will be useful in the New Building. But it does mean that for the coming months we will be unable to browse in some of our more interesting ancient books, including the Acta Sanctorum and the Corpus Byzantini, not to mention secular history, archaeology and some other smaller classes, and a selection of the less likely books in other areas. Oh well, if really needed we can drive to the store, locate the relevant box and extract a book quicker than our competitor could get a book back from Swindon.

Our competitor? There is, we find, another library being built in the city. Who will finish first? Up to you, really, and, yes, there is still time for you to have the library named after you for a consideration...

Another Library. But we have books they haven't got.

Like a mighty tortoise

2011-12-21T16:36:00.001Z

Where have we got to on our Building Plans? A significant step (one small step for tortoisekind) because we have now agreed on a Contractor. We are not announcing the name just yet, because we are waiting to see if their sums come out the same as ours which pretty well agreed with those of our surveyors. But what we expect is that we shall start on Phase I of the building after dividing it into five or six Steps so that we don't take on more than we can pay for. The contractors seem happy with this, and are just costing the Steps.

Step A will be the building or construction work, that means we have the whole of the new block built, covered in and made weathertight, and the building modifications to the old school building completed. Then the Crane (or Stork) can be taken off site. That should be done, we trust, by late spring (the Crane may fly away before Easter).

By then of course more money will have come bubbling in, as people see that at last, at long last, builders are actually and truly on site. Which should mean that we can tell them to get on with Steps B, C, D and so on without a break.

It has certainly taken a long time, and now, of course nothing will happen until January. But we are getting there...

And the fund-raising? Oh, we didn't tell you? Pledges and Donations have now gone significantly over the Two Million mark. No, we mean two million POUNDS - what that will be in Marks we don't yet know. But it's a lot more than two million Euros.

Not that there's all that much in the bank, as we've explained before. So if you are feeling enthusiastic donations can still be made, either by cheque, used notes, or through JustGiving or the American Fund. But perhaps, we hope you won't be offended, if we say not in Euros, please.

Merry Christmas!

A Crane or no Crane?

2011-11-29T09:34:00.002Z

We have been studying the Tender Documents in some depth. There are now two front runners, both of whom have suggested we could save quite a lot of money by changing the design slightly so that we do not need to have a Crane. You know, one of those massive things that dominate the Oxford skyline as seen from Wytham Woods. This doesn't affect the plans at all, just the method of construction. We are investigating this. In some ways it would draw attention to our site, if we had a massive great thing oversailing the Church, but the Oratory has always tried to avoid drawing attention to itself. Yes, we know, we do need world-wide attention to keep the donations flowing in...how to resolve that one? To the mere layman it seems that the sheer weight of stuff that would have to be got onto the playground site to build a Crane (foundations, ballast, the Crane tower and boom, the operators cabin...) would be more than the weight of stuff the Crane would then be able to lift onto the site. But then, some members of the Community had hoped to be allowed to climb up and see the site from above.

We shall know soon enough, and will pass on the news,

and incidentally, that's a Stork, not a Crane.

Tender care

2011-11-19T17:37:00.002Z

The tenders have now come in for our new building - five out of the six companies that were invited have offered to build us a new accommodation block (so that Fr Richard no longer has to live in the cellar, and we can consider taking future novices or guests) better rooms for the parish with a proper office, servery and securely locked bar, a splendid library not only for our own clergy and those training for the priesthood, but also for the scholarly public wishing to consult the Chesterton Library, the Gaisford Library, and our own unrivalled collections. That, with the foundations and "services" for our new Newman Chapel, the connecting Baptistery, and the elegant fire-escape that is dignified with the style and name of an Italian cortile.

Three of the tenders were within the price range we expected, two of them offered to keep to the timetable suggested, which is 38 weeks beginning on Tuesday 3 January. Our surveyors are going to do a detailed analysis of the tenders, and advise us on which to accept. But it does really look as if, at last, after so many months and indeed years of preparation, we are going to make a start.

That means, of course, that the existing parish centre will be out of action, and you will not be allowed to watch building progress - but we will ply you with photographs and progressive reports. No photographs yet, however, so we will have to make do with another curious creature.

No wrinkles or crinkles in the old Shool

2011-11-11T16:45:00.002Z

We have been intrigued by many items in the 938-page Tender Document (with supplements) that is being studied by the contractors who are eager to work on our new building. Among hazards which the contractors may encounter are "live services on site", which we would have thought rather predictable for a church. We are reassured to know that the use of explosives and materials liable to spontaneous combustion is not permitted, and that on no account is polychlorinated bihenyl to be introduced. Intriguing too that "swimming pool ventilation is to be provided" - we hadn't realised a swimming pool was included in the site - where can we fit it in? It is also impressive that the new paint is guaranteed not to "slump, flow, crack, flake, split, sag, pit, bubble, blister, float, effloresce, craze, shrink, break, wrinkle or crinkle."

A reference to the British Wood Preserving and Damp-Proofing Association is fascinating. Where do they meet? Are they planning a Christmas party? And what do they talk about over the mince pies? We hear also about "wrought-iron crumpets" (rather indigestible we would have thought), and "reinforcement bars, deformed, in beds" (uncomfortable, perhaps intended only for Lent?). Under the heading of "philosophy for the electrical distribution" we hear that "all busbars will be fully shrouded". Do the philosophers drink in the bus bars while wearing their shrouds?

But what is most interesting of all is that on the Room Data Sheets the existing building is consistently called the "Old Shool Building". Now in fact that is quite correct - for some time in the 1980s, the upper room of the Parish Centre was used as a schul while the synagogue in Richmond Road was being rebuilt. That is why there is a mezuza by the outer door, and another on the door at the top of the stairs.
A mezuza? did we hear you ask. It's a little metal tube which contains a slip of paper with the words of the Shema'

"Shema, Yisrael, Adonai elohenu Adonai echad ... Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD; and you shall love the LORD your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day ... you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

The mezuzoth are still there today, and we shall take care to rescue them before building work starts.

moving steadily on...

2011-11-02T10:21:00.001Z

Contractors have begun visiting the site to tender for how much they think they can get away with charging. They don't know what our own Quantity Surveyor has already told us! They agree it is a challenging and difficult site, and we have to acknowledge that if we were building on a greenfield far away it would be much cheaper.

People may have wondered, over the years, why after all our efforts in publicity and planning and fundraising, nothing has yet been begun. The reality is that for any building project these days it takes literally years to get the plans to planning permission, then on to tender, and thence to actual construction. To say nothing of all the surveys, geological, archaeological, theological, or just plain logical which had to be done. Plus technical advice on VAT, Rights o'Light, the Party Wall, etc., etc, usw. We have never actually stopped during all these years.

It is true that once the foundations have been laid, half the money has been spent.

And the fundraising? No sooner had we started when the entire world economy collapsed in flaming ruin, with scenes unparalleled since the Fall of the Roman Empire. Which makes it all the more impressive that our Sunday Mass attendance (average 979 this year) has been able to raise very close to two million pounds. That's £2,000 each - remembering that half of our people seem to be under eighteen.

Anyway, we trust now that within a few weeks we can tell you about the successful tender and award of contract, and not long after you should see signs of energetic work.

in the meantime, patience ...

waiting, waiting ...

2011-10-21T14:38:00.002+01:00

Our building plans have now "Gone to Tender", which means that six eager contractors are wading through 938 pages of information, plus six folders of plans and drawings, so that they can give us a price, and a timetable, for our long-awaited New Building (Phase I). It is getting very urgent to start - the latest excitement is the discovery of damp in our existing Library, resulting in having to move a lot of Books quickly, and a good crop of Mushrooms. More and more of our Books are having to go into store until we can place them triumphantly on the new Shelves, which we hope devoutly we shall be doing this time next year. (Many thanks to the Brothers who came and helped move the Books.)

Oh, it has taken a long time, from first dreaming up the project, through various competing designs, to agreeing an Architect, Surveyor and Engineer, to getting Planning Permission, to achieving an amicable arrangement with our Neighbours (who have now professed themselves content with the effect of our new building) to this present stage of Going to Tender.

And there will be weeks yet while they Tender, and we consider their offers, and then their "Run-in" - but surely ere long we shall see diligent Activity in our Site, and then the New Building will spring rapidly out of the Ground.

and don't forget, you can order a copy of the souvenir book about the Statues and how you sponsored them directly from Lulu; Or there are some in the Lodge at £10.00 each.

Heads and Statues

2011-10-08T22:04:00.000+01:00

Ages ago we promised you a souvenir book to commemorate the twenty heads and fifty two statues on the reredos behind the High altar - it is ready at last. The book is of 40 pages in colour, A4 format: it illustrates every statue or head, with a little bit of text about them, and a record of those who sponsored the restoration, or those they wanted to commemorate. There will be copies in the Lodge at £10.00, or you can order your own thus:
go to www.lulu.com (don't forget the "com" with an em, or you get someone quite different!) and search for "Heads and Statues", Oxford Oratory, ID number 1123 1614, and see how to order a copy posted to your home.

Tri-Oratory Challenge

2011-09-27T16:12:00.001+01:00

As we told you a few weeks ago, Billy and Nick Griffiths have now established the all-comers record for walking to all three English Oratories and back. Many of you have already sponsored them, and many more paid up on Sunday, but in case you forgot, to save them the trouble of hounding you out, if you did sign up their sponsor forms (at any of the Three Oratories) and haven't yet paid, now's your chance. Cheques etc to Oxford Oratory Trust, and make sure you include Gift-aid information if relevant! You can use the JustGiving button - just put in the comments column a reminder that you are the one who sponsored them whenever it was.
In the meantime plans etc etc are very nearly finished and we hope to see some Action soon.

Gently getting on with it

2011-09-16T16:52:00.001+01:00

While the economic systems of the works continues to collapse, and banks crash in all directions, our project continues serenely on its way. Except that there is nothing much happening at the moment. Only, behind the scenes, engineers are producing beautiful technical drawings, and making complicated specifications about load-bearing concrete and the exact mix of cement. We will very soon be able to "go to tender" which means allowing half a dozen eager contractors to look at the plans and compete with each other on cost and speed. During which nothing much can happen except finishing the details of the "party wall agreement" with our neighbours. After a useful meeting with them this morning, they assured us that they had no concerns or worries apart from the details of how the construction can be done as quietly and cleanly as possible, especiallly during exam time. That is for surveyor to talk to surveyor. so there is not much for the Fathers of the Oratory to do now except contemplate the peaceful countryside.

Well, apart from the parish, the school the hospital, the prison, ... and anything else that takes our fancy.

open doors

2011-09-09T12:00:00.001+01:00

In common with thousands of places all over the Kingdom, the Oxford Oratory is listed in the "Open Doors" booklets produced for those who want to visit places and buildings during the weekend 10th to 11th September. Admittedly we are open every day of the year without charge anyway, but we found last year that lots of local residents came to look round for the first time.

This year we have put on a little exhibition in the Guild Room, to show them something about St Philip, something about Blessed JHN, and something about the past and future of our church. Including, of course, the New Building which we really hope to get going ere long. A chance for new people to become excited about the project, to sign on for an information function, or to make a major donation. Whenever there's an economic disaster, someone out there is making a great deal of money out of it - we just need to find that someone and make her feel guilty.

Nothing new in the way of pictures this week, so here's an open door we found recently.

bricks

2011-08-24T16:17:00.002+01:00

You may have been wondering when we were going to see the first bricks of our new building - well, wonder no more, here they are!

Actually, er, they are sample bricks, to satisfy the planners that the colour of our new building will not clash horribly with what went before. The red ones will blend in with the old school building, and the yellow ones match the facade of the Church. Difficult to compare clean new bricks with slightly grubby old ones, but they look convincing, don't they?

We shall want rather a lot. someone suggested 60,000 of them altogether. But if 60,000 people wanted to buy a brick at a pound a go, that would cover the cost of transporting them, laying them, and all.

So contributions, singly or in six-packs, to the Oxford Oratory Appeal (JustGiving button, or however you like) would all be gracefully accepted.

Meanwhile, those of you who have already sponsored the walkers who visited the Three Oratories can fulfil your pledges by callling in at the Porters' Lodge, where they have a list of names.

walking on and on ...

2011-08-15T21:03:00.001+01:00

As reported last week, our two intrepid walkers completed the trek from the Oxford Oratory, to the London Oratory, to the Birmingham Oratory and back here in less than two weeks, despite attacks by cows, dogs and other beasties. Now many of you have already sponsored them - you kindly signed lists outside the church here, or at London or B'rum. So it's time to call in the revenue!

If you are in Oxford, call in on the Porter's Lodge next to the church, where they have the full list of those who had agreed to sponsor, pay up (cash or cheques to "Oxford Oratory Appeal") and they will check your name off on the list. Simple, really!
There will be a chance after Masses in September, when everyone's back from WYD and other excitements, to meet the boys and settle up.

But of course there is more - every year the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust run a sponsored "Ride & Stride" on the second Saturday in September (10th September this year), to visit as many historic churches as possible in the time; half the proceeds go directly to the church of your choice (that's us!) and the other half to the OHCT, which gave is a hefty donation two years ago for the restoration of the Relic Chapel. Forms from OHCT or from our Porter's Lodge. You can even be sponsored for sitting in the church and being nice to visitors that day!

At the Mother House at last

2011-07-31T21:10:00.001+01:00

Our two valient walkers, Nick and Billy, have successfully negotiated the Midlands and reached the Oratory in Brummagem in time for Mass this morning; they received a special blessing from the Provost and struck out at once for home, expecting to reach Oxford towards the end of this week. That means the entire trip will probably take just on two weeks, leaving them a moment to recover before setting out for Spain and World Youth Day. (No, not walking all the way, they will have to cross the sea somehow!)

It appears the journey from London to Birmingham was not entirely through waterless desert - and they were joined one evening by the Support Team who have been following them with a camera and clean socks.

Sponsorship still coming in - you can use the JustGiving button, remember to mention the Three Oratories Walk in the "message" section.

Wolves on the Misty Mountains

2011-07-28T10:16:00.003+01:00

Our intrepid walkers have been striding out in faith with great vigour since they left Oxford a week ago. Not without adventures - the very first night they were attacked by wolf-like creatures as they neared the misty heights of the Chilterns - they camped out in Longbottom, had to swim the River Wye (? some mishtake shurely? Isn't the Wye in the West country? Oh, another River Wye, I see...) and yes, they discovered there really is an Oratory in London, and the Provost, one Fr Ignatius Harrison, was there to greet them. Their back-up team took the opportunity to extract yet more sponsorship money from the natives of Kensington and Chelsea. After that, Billy and Nick set off to follow the Grand Onion Canal through map-less wastes and passing legendary places like Tring and Milton Keynes. Birmingham looms!

Sponsorship has been coming in from all over the place including through our "JustGiving" button, remembering to put in a remark about the "three-Oratories walk" in the space for "messages".

Striding out in Faith

2011-07-21T14:51:00.001+01:00

Here are Billy and Nick as they set out from the Oratory on their three-cornered walk to find Three English Oratories. It's Thursday 21st July and they are heading towards London to see if it is true there is an Oratory there. If there is, then they will follow the Grand Union Canal to Birmingham to rediscover our Mother House. And then they will return to Oxford with news and reports of whatever they find. The total distance is rather a long way. Their father, Julian, will be keeping an eye on them and following the route with the support team - he has promised to send us news and photographs from time to time.

Now if you admire their courage and enterprise, you can express that in all sorts of interesting ways. For instance, any donation via our JustGiving page can be accompanied by a message "in support of Three-Oratories walk" or something of the sort (donations have started coming in already).

The Fathers thought they ought to start with a blessing.

Digging Holes and Filling them In again

2011-07-15T11:33:00.002+01:00

Parishioners and admirers may have noticed yet more holes being dug in the old school playground, and neatly filled in again. All of that was the engineers wanting to know exactly what is going on below ground, so they can plan the foundations without interfering in the drains, or plan drains without interfering in existing foundations, and they can be sure it all rests on a firm foundation so we don't have embarassing collapses and subsidies in fifty years' time.

So now we know exactly what's down there. The "gravel terrace" remains neatly at 1.2 metres below surface, except for that mysterious round hole which the archaeologists identified last summer, and which we thought might be a Bronze-Age burial pit. We now know it's 4.5 metres deep, and therefore certainly not a B.A. burial pit - it must be a post-mediaeval well. Oh, well. We did find the footings for an old garden wall, running just beside the church wall, which must have been recycled as the back wall of the cottages which stood where the playground now is. At the top is the old wall, crumbling, beside the church wall.

Here is the foundation-laying ceremony in 1873. The cottages are on the left, the brick wall visible behind the crowds. Oscar Wilde is lounging on the scaffolding in the foreground; Bishop Ullathorne is the one in the mitre in the middle.

we have not, after all, struck oil

2011-07-05T09:02:00.001+01:00

The geo-technicians have been back, testing the soil to see if we had any interesting petrochemicals, heavy metals or other interesting mineral deposits under our building site. Oh well, it was worth hoping. The late John-Paul Getty I used to say the secret of success was "get up early, work hard, strike oil." We thought we were well on the way, with two-thirds of that programme completed.

Here are the geologians drilling a hole. We told them the Gravel Terrace lies 1.2 metres below surface, 'cos we've seen it - its lovely, level, firm, river-deposited gravel, drains well, ideal foundation. And they said they had gone down and down and found it at 4.5 metres. Which we said was silly. So they tried again, and again, and everywhere else they met it at 1.2 metres. It seems their very first probe was exactly where the one archaeological feature was - you remember last summer - just one circular hole going down through the gravel. We thought it was a Bronze-Age burial pit, but at that depth it is beginning to look much more like a post-mediaeval well. So no Bronze-Age gold, no serious chemical pollution, nothing to prevent us building happily on the site. Except time and, er, money.

data outlets and gas inlets

2011-06-20T17:00:00.001+01:00

The planning has now got to the intricate stage of determining exactly how where and why we should have all the fixtures and fittings in each room. How many power sockets does the office need? Should the library have a television aerial? (NO!!) Should the WCs be flushed with re-cycled rainwater and if so do they need a separate set of pipes ? (YES !) Should there be smoke detectors in the organ loft? (NO - far too much incense smoke!) Should those of us who dislike moths and dust-mites have the option of a room without fitted carpet? (YES!) And so on and so fifth. Not very exciting, except that it means we are having to envisage exactly what each room will look like, and what will be happening in it.
What can we show you? the great crested grebes have grown too big to sit on Ma-grebe's back - so how about a dreadful Hartebeeste instead?

All Statues Sponsored and Correct

2011-06-20T16:51:00.005+01:00

WE now have an elegant Commemorative Book about the Heads and Statues - it runs to 40 pages of A4, in colour, illustrating each head or statue and giving some information about the saint concerned, with the name of the sponsor when given. Copies are available in the Lodge at £10.00, but you can order your own directly by asking Lulu. Find her at http://www.lulu.com/ and ask for "Heads and Statues", reference numberf 1123 1614.

We had to restore the Sanctuary in 2008 in a hurry, because a stone fell during Mass. So there wasn't time to gather sponsorship in advance, or to apply for grants. Infuriatingly, no grant-giving trust will make grants for work already completed, but that is no reason why individual benefactors should not.

Behind the altar there are fifty two statues of saints and angels, and above them there are twenty heads of saints. All of them were cleaned and restored by Taylor Pearce of New Cross. The statues were all taken out, crated and carted to South London, where they were cleaned, the missing bits restored, and the gilding refreshed. The heads wouldn't come out, so were restored in situ. We have calculated that it cost £350 for each of the heads, and £750 for each of the statues.

In the event this gambit raised over £50,000 (because many of the donations werre Gift-Aided) which covered the entire cost of restoring the statues and the screen in which they stand, with the alabaster spire over the tabernacle.

Here is the full list.
Twenty Heads - on the Gospel side:
a Blessed John Forest
b Blessed Margaret Pole
c Saint Thomas More
d Saint John Fisher
e Saint Thomas Aquinas
f Saint Anselm
g Saint Jerome
h Saint Leo
i Saint Athanasius
j Saint Ephraem the Syrian.
           on the Epistle Side:
k Saint Basil
l Saint John Chrysostom
m Saint Benedict
n Saint Bruno
o Saint Francis of Assisi
p Saint Bernard
q Saint Edmund Campion
r Saint Oliver Plunkett
s Saint Alexander Briant
t Blessed John Storey

Fifty two Statues - upper deck, Gospel side:
1 Saint David
2 St Columba
3 St Edmund of Abingdon
4 St Edward the Confessor
5 St Frideswide
6 St Dunstan
7 St Michael
8 St Bede
9 St Hilda
10 St Alban
11 St Helen
12 St Gregory the Great
13 Our Lady
      lower deck, Gospel Side:
27 St Andrew
28 St Charles Borromeo
29 St Stanislaus Kostka
30 St Francis Xavier
31 St Dominic
32 St Henry the Emperor
33 St Raphael
24 St Augustine of Hippo
35 St Gertrude
36 St Ambrose
37 St Julia
38 St Peter
39 St John the Evangelist

        Upper deck, Epistle side:
14 St Joseph
15 St Augustine of Canterbury
16 St Winifred
17 St Chad
18 St Edith
19 St Cuthbert
20 St Gabriel
21 St Thomas of Canterbury
22 St Bertha
23 St Hugh
24 St Simon Stock
25 St Thomas of Hereford
26 St George.
         lower deck, Epistle Side:
40 St Mary Magdalen
41 St Paul
42 St Cecily
43 St Sebastian
44 St Hubert
45 St Monica
46 St Uriel
47 St Ignatius
48 St Aloysius (Luigi) Gonzaga
49 St Teresa
50 St Francis de Sales
51 St Vincent de Paul
52 St Patrick

This list differs slightly from the one in our parish history "St Aloysius, Oxford, the Third English Oratory" (millennium edition 2000, still available at £2.95 from the Lodge) because some of the statues had been wrongly positioned after the disastrous interventions in the 1950s. We have put them back in their original order, as ashown on the oldest photograohs.

Some saints have been sponsored by individuals on their own behalf, others for children or godchildren, in memory of the dead, or anonymously. Others are sponsored by two or more people together.

Here are the Saints being crated up.

and here is the low-loader with two and a half tons of saint on board;

Chesterton Library

2011-06-13T12:31:00.003+01:00

We were delighted to see that Fr Ian Ker's new biography of Chesterton mentions the fact that the Chesterton Library is to be housed here, once we have the first phase of the New Building up. Although G.K.C. himself did not have a personal connection with the Oxford Oratory, he knew many people who did - some of whom still come to Mass here every Sunday. But he is part of the great Catholic Revival in literature and spirituality - that flowering of lay Catholic writers that was so prominent in the first half of the last century. Hilary Belloc was of course intimately connected with the Oratory, being at school under J.H.N. himself in Birmingham, and an undergraduate in Oxford. In connection with the Chesterton books we are also collecting books by and on Belloc, Maurice Baring, Christopher Dawson and the others, not forgetting our own J.R.R.Tolkien, another Oratory boy who came to Mass here regularly.

The detailed drawings for the new Library have just arrived - rather technical, so here's the artist's impression of what it will look like.

Tri-Oratory Challenge

2011-06-02T17:46:00.006+01:00

Summer, as we said, and sponsored sporting events are all the rage. During this summer Billy Griffiths, Nick Grifiths and Ben Sivewright are going to link up the Three English Oratories, walking from Oxford to London, London to Birmingham, and Birmingham back to Oxford. Rather a long trek! Much of it can be done along river or canal towpaths, so they don't have to use the Newman Centenary Motorway which was built in 1990 to link London to Birmingham via Oxford.

Now if you want to know more, try 3oratorieswalk.blogspot.com

They have their own sponsorship forms, or you could just give using our own JustGiving procedure - in the comments column say this is in admiration of Billy, Nick and Ben or something to that effect!

Here they are, lined up against the church they are going to support. it's up to you to support them.

enterprising fun raisers

2011-05-25T12:33:00.002+01:00

It's spring, and a young man's thoughts turn to sponsored events to raise money for our building and restoration reaffirmation and renewal campaign!

Well, they have already finished summer in NEW ZEALAND, where Eamonn McDonald walked for 70 miles along the Queen Charlotte Track in the South Island, during the earthquake time. He raised £4,500, shared out among four causes, so we got our quarter, a very useful contribution. Eamonn writes "I would be very grateful if you could remember the vistoms and families in your prayers and Masses and especially the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, which lost its Cathedral, and the many Parishes now without a Church."

Many thanks, Eamonn! Here he is being put ashore to begin the great walk.

Watch this space for news of a forthcoming walk by three boys connecting up the three English Oratories!

engineers and surveyors

2011-05-21T16:43:00.001+01:00

After a marathon meeting, we are getting closer to agreeing on Specifications, little details like where should the power sockets be located for the washing machine, what calibre of electric cable goes to the new office, no we don't want a television in the Library, thanks, but yes, we still do want to be able to show EWTN and cover all future Papal Visits to Birmingham in the Hopkins Room. We are pretty well there when it comes to the plans, room layout etc; but it is important to make sure all the pipes and cables are in the right places before they get sealed in under plaster.

Serious discussion still about various forms of heating; solid biofuel, natural gas, thermonuclear, geo-thermal, photovoltaic ... what is going to be cheap and efficient both long-term and short term? Will today's technology still be serviceable in twenty years' time? At present the geo-thermal looks very attractive, having seen (and felt) it in action at Douai Abbey - that means drilling holes into the core of the earth to pick up heat from below. As long as it doesn't cause volcanic eruptions.

So there is still not much to show, as we warned you all along. By the time builders actually move on site (and we are still wondering how they get onto site without blocking the church), half the work is over.

And in the meantime? We were anxious, as undoubtedly all of you were, about not finding the Great Crested Grebes near their nest site, but all is well, they have just moved further up river. Here are three little not-yet-crested Grebelings sitting on the back of Ma-grebe while Pa-grebe tries to feed them.

underground, overground, ...

2011-05-16T08:52:00.002+01:00

Visitors may have noticed some mysterious yellow chalk marks on the ground outside the church and in the old playground. They are the result of the underground survey necessary before we start digging any more holes. They have traced the route of the gas mains to the church and the house, which we now know are safely out of the way, they found where the water pipes and electricity cables go, and have had great fun exploring the main drains. And they found two mysterious anomalies, lines of magnetic disturbance running parallel to each other, which may be the exhaust trails from a space craft but just might be old garden wall footings. They were found by Ground Penetrating Radar, which basically does what we used to do with a hazel twig but more respectably.

Then there are a couple of bright yellow triangles. These are what we used to know as "Trig Points", the basis of a new and more accurate survey of the site to make quite sure the building fits together as promised.

in the meantime discussions continue on the finer points of construction, the alternatives of cavity walls or solid load-bearing brick walls, the locations of electric sockets, computer cables, smoke detectors, all the little details. Yes, it all takes time, which is why it is still not expected that we can begin the real work until the autumn. We will try to keep you suppied with pictures until then. No luck yet in snapping the little Crested Grebes riding on their mother's back - in fact we couldn't find them last time we looked, and there were disturbing signs of fox activity. We remain hopeful. In the meantime, here's a Ground Penetrating Radar.

Spring comes to the building site

2011-04-23T16:58:00.001+01:00

What, I hear you wondering, is going on with our famous New Building? Well, it's the most invisible phase of all - preparing the Specifications and the Tender Drawings. From time to time surveyors come and measure things, and engineers are seen pondering over where the load-bearing beams are to go and how to support them. Some of them are already labelled "RC beam" so at least we know they are good Catholics. Fairly soon they will be digging little holes like Easter bunnies to test the foundations of the existing building. And they have begun the delicate process of negotiations with neighbours.

All this will take some time. In fact they still think it will be August before we can "go to Tender" and October before work really begins. Which means you won't see very much before Christmas, and the building will not be fit to be seen until next Easter.

As Blessed J.H.N. used to say, foundations are always invisible, and most of the effort and expense goes into foundations.

So in the meantime, here's a Great Crested Grebe sitting on her eggs. In a week or so they should hatch, and then you can see the little grebelings sitting on the Great Crested Grebe.

Is your name Sebastian?

2011-04-04T14:46:00.003+01:00

A couple of weeks ago a small boy named Sebastian approached one of the Fathers with an offer to help sponsor the statue of St Sebastian, which was very nice of him but he didn't leave his name or contact details. It was suggested that another Sebastian might help make up the full amount. So if either of you are still interested, do get in touch!

There are not that many saints left to sponsor - is there anyone called John out there? (Chrysostom). Or Ted (the Confessor), Basil, Dunstan, Charlie (Borromeo), Harry (the Emperor), Gus (of Hippo), Ambrose, Julie, Winnie, Chad, Cuthbert, Hugh, Tommy (of Hereford), or Hubert?

The going rate is still £350 for a Head, or £750 for the full statue - and you will get your name, or the name of the person you want it in favour of, or in memory of, in the special souvenir book which we are putting together. If possible with a Gift-Aid declaration.

Payment either direct (cheque, bank draught) or through JustGiving (Paypal) - but don't use that unless you can Gift-Aid your contribution).

Campaign News

2011-03-23T12:23:00.003Z

Quarter back
We have just passed the quarter mark in our campaign, over £1,250,000 raised during the three most difficult years for the economy since the last ones. That's almost entirely from parishioners and friends, a few fund-raising (and hair-raising) projects, some large pledges, lots of little ones. So well done, everyone! This makes it much more convincing when we approach the big trusts, as they can see that the parisahioners have done so much unaided.

Paypal Alms
Of course you can still contribute in a variety of ways. Did we tell you you can now use PayPal to contribute via our justGiving page? See the page on how to contribute, for more details.

Information Functions
Our newly diaconated Brother Nicholas will be offering "Information Functions" in future: dates coming up are

Saturday 9 April, 3:00
Friday 15 April 8:00
Friday 6 May 8:00
Saturday 28 May 11:00
Wednesday 8 June 8:00
Saturday 25 June 3:00

Contact him on 01865 315 800.

WHAT do you mean, you don't know what an "Information Function" is? It's time you found out and came to one...

WE have also just published our 15th Campaign Newsletter. If you didn't get one, let us know and we will add you to the mailing list. Yes, we send them on paper so they will hang around and keep reminding you to read them and act on them, instead of just scanning an e-mail quickly and letting it sink below lots of others.

and oh yes, it's Spring!

Relics galore

2011-02-23T17:43:00.003Z

We have now catalogued the large collection of Relics given to us by the Poor Clares of Woodchester, another 150 or so reliquaries, containing between one and fifty-seven relics each. The slipper of Pio IX (as kissed by Mgr Talbot) is the most spectacular, but some of the prettier frames are now displayed in the Relic Chapel on the "relic of the month" shelf, as well as two round frames containing relics of some of the English Martyrs. Such relics are extremely rare. Here is the main collection displayed before we put them away in the cupboards on either side of the altar:

Now there is more to tell about the puzzle monogramme, which has attracted interest from all over the world. We have just looked at the second volume of "Roma Sotteranea" by J. Spencer Northcote and W.R. Brownlow (London 1879) which was probably the inspiration behind most of the designs in the Relic Chapel vault. And look what we've found:

You will be wondering why we didn't look at this book before! Exactly the same monogram appears on a sacrcophagus "from the Crypt of Lucina", even with the oddities, like the top bar of the T being different each side - this is clearly what our designer was copying. And if it's Early Christian, then I am afraid that rules out TYBURN and TRINITY, which were by far the most common suggestions. Our correspondant Richard Jones has an original interpretation, involving the Cross, the INRI, the IHC and other symbolic meanings, rather too long to set forth here. Julien Chilcot-Monk suggested INRI and VICTOR, for Jesus, the Conqueror, and Fergus Ryan INRI and NIKE, the same meaning. Northcote and Brownlow, on the other hand, think it's just the name of the person buried in the coffin, TYRANIO, though they point out that the large T is an allusion to the Cross. Perhaps other ideas are still to come?

plans and puzzles

2011-02-19T15:53:00.000Z

The mysterious cryptogram has attracted much interest. Three plausible explanations have been offered, no doubt more will follow before we reveal the solution.
Statues are being sponsored fast - we try to keep the page up to date.
And the final version of the plans are now on the "plans" page (though not quite as we had intended to lay them out).

A puzzle

2011-02-15T09:35:00.002Z

When we restored the Relic Chapel, with the help of the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, and our domestic donors, we found the original paintings undernedath the 1950s overpainting. The lunettes and circles of Catacomb paintings were still visible under the khaki wash, and the connecting bands emerged with care. But the Catacomb images are rather odd. Some of them are obvious, others have been deciphered, but the real remaining puzle is the monogram.

The letters seem to be T Y R N, which coud be taken in any order. Yes, the R is backwards, so it could be a Russian "ya" (can't find the actual character in this font). No one so far has come up with a plausible explanation or reason for these letters. Maybe our constant readers can think of something (mail to campaign@oxfordoratory.org.uk) and we might think of a prize for the most original and interesting solution.

In the meantime half the statues and over half the heads have been sponsored - so if you want to sponsor one, act quickly!

Aveva un bel piedino

2011-02-06T15:59:00.001Z

WE have just been presented with an embroidered red slipper which once belonged to Pope Blessed Pius the Ninth: it comes from the Franciscan Sisters of Woodchester in Gloucestershire, who were given it by Bishop Clifford in 1860. It is of the type known, apparently, as a Papal Mule, which could be kissed by those seeking an audience, like those who tried to persuade the Pope to allow Blessed John Henry Newman to found an Oratory in Oxford. (And, unfortunately, those who persuaded him the other way.) But Pio Nono, as his friends called him, was the founder of the English Oratory, and personally rather taken with Newman. Tomorrow, as it happens, is his feastday (7 February), so the slipper will go on display in the Relic Chapel (though probably not to be kissed), along with a white skullcap or zuchetto, also belonging to the beatified Pontiff. They cannot be displayed for too long, as the light would hurt them, but for the next week, maybe.

Although you will remember that since the Relic Chapel was conserved as part of our "Reaffirmation and Renewal" campaign, all the new lights are lead-free, ozone friendly, low alcohol, and use virtually no power, which is why they can stay on all day long. (This in contrast to the football-stadium lights which were installed in the Nave in the 1980s. When we put those on, Didcot Power Station ring up to say they are anxious about whether they can cope.) All the lighting in our new building, as well as the replacement lights when we come to finish the Church, will be of the new low-energy type. But all the same, delicate embroidery will not be exposed to them for too long.

A big hole

2011-01-29T11:46:00.001Z

Now that we have planning permission from the diocesan Historic Churches Commission as well as the City of Oxford, we are moving on fast with preparing to engage contractors. "Fast" is a relative word - if all goes well, and the money comes rolling in, it will still be September before we can really start building. There is a lot of technical stuff to do first. Some of that will involve digging little holes in the existing building, to see how much weight the floor will take. But the really big hole will come when we start laying foundations.

It has become clear that "Phase One" of the project will have to include the "below-ground services"(that's pipes and drains) for the entire building, as well as the above-ground new accommodation block, and the conversion of the old schoolhouse into the library and parish centre. So the whole of the old school playground will have to be dug up, to insert things like the rainwater recycling tank, and possible geo-thermal shafts (not evertyone is convinced by the geothermal lark, but it seems to work well at Douai Abbey). There will be a messy phase, until everything is covered over with a nice smooth floor level or "slab". As Blessed JHN used to say, foundations are always out of sight - and it is well known that half the expense of a building is getting to that slab stage. So be prepared for the playground to become a big hole.

Here's a picture of what it might look like.

Meanwhile the sponsorship of statues is going fast, very nearly half of them have been taken, and over half the heads. See the sponsor-a-statue page on the new building website!

so you have missed your chance, Muriel?

2011-01-24T15:56:00.002Z

Saint Uriel is now bespoke, if you had been hoping to sponsor the statue of our apocryphal and apocalyptic archangel. He is not in canonical Scripture, but appears in the Ezra Apocalypse, which is variously called II Esdras, III Esdras or IV Esdras depending on the edition of your texts! In the old Anglican "Authorized" version it is called II Esdras, and Uriel features from the begining of chapter 4, uttering all sorts of apocalyptic apocrypha. Such as "weigh me the weight of the fire, or measure me the blast of the wind, or call me again the day that is past." The Catholic Church decided at the Council of Trent that the Ezra Apocaylpse is not part of Scripture. So there.

All the other (canonical) arrchangels are now booked - saints are going fast. But there are still some significant ones not claimed! Even St Patrick. Not to mention John Fortest, John Chrysostom and John the Evangelist. Watch the list on our sponsor-a-statue page in the Campaign website for how they turn first yellow and then green!

Plans moving forward

2011-01-17T16:12:00.001Z

Now that we have our long-sought Planning Permission, the next stage is to get the plans and drawings up to the point when we can go to contractors and invite them to tender for the building. There is still quite a lot to do, such as fulfilling curious conditions left by the City Council, including a surveyor's report on the old stone wall along the western border of the site. There are miles of such stone walls in North Oxford, but the planners were particularly thrilled with the three metres of it that will be concealed behind our new building (see below). More seriously, we need to negotiate with our neighbours about the party walls and access all round. Then detailed drawings and specifications, pricing documents and pre-tender estimates.

This all leads up to a Project Review Meeting on 8 August. That is the day when we can give the go-ahead to start building.

That is, if the money comes in.

In the meantime, sponsorship of statues is gathering pace. See below, and also the "Sponsor a Statue" page on the Campaign Website.

Yes, you can spread the cost over some time, if you give us a pledge that the payments will be made at such and such intervals over such and such a time. And if none of you is named Uriel, surely you know someone called Muriel?

Isn't there anyone out there called Uriel?

2011-01-07T09:23:00.007Z

The idea of sponsoring the restoration of the statues and heads above the altar has taken off. Half the heads are now paid for, and one quarter of the statues, with several more "under offer". That means that if you want to secure a much-beloved saint or your name saint, you will have to move fast. (Curiously two saints John are still available!) The good news is that St Uriel is still available - someone did offer, but changed to another two instead. See the page on Sponsoring a Saint for the up-to-date list.

We are putting together a commemorative book, which will illustrate each saint, with some information about them, and the names of the sponsors (unless you want to be anonymous). A copy will eventually be on display in the new Library, and we can arrange for further copies to be printed to order.
In the meantime, here are before and after views of a saint:

ah, but which one?

statue sponsorship going fast...

2011-01-01T10:21:00.003Z

And so we begin the year in which, we hope, we shall actually begin a building...
those of you whose accounting years have just finished can take heart from the rise in share prices and the extraordinary amount of money poeople are spending which means that the so-called recession cannot really be quite what they promised us although we are awar of some people who are really in difficulties.
As you might expect, very little happened over the last two weeks, except that a few more statues have been sponsored (see the up-to-date page about them) and we burnt the old flagpole on the recreeation room fire on Christmas Day. It was quite dry and split from top to bottom, so it burned brickly. Unfortunately the new flagpole is not combustible, so we can never repeat that. Though we might use the Christmas Tree for the Easter fire again.
all blessings for the Epiphany Season.

Is this what our new building will really look like?

And a merry Christmas to all our constant readers

2010-12-24T14:56:00.002Z

The purely local tidings of comfort & joy is that the City Fathers in their wisdom and love have just granted us planning permission for the whole of our new building project. (That is, without the Roman portico across the front of the church, which we had surrendered months ago, and, more sadly without the little sitting-out balcony with which we had hoped to be able to take the evening sun but which the planners thought might intrude on the privacy of our neighbours, and which we surrendered in November.) That means that the next stage is the exciting business of preparing tender drawings and specifications, and dividing the project into manageable chunks or phases. Phase one has to be the library and the accommodation, which are most urgently needed.

Oh, but we still need some money for that. Any ideas?

In the meantime here's the Christkindlmarkt in Vienna for seasonal warmth and cheer (the warmth comes from the Gluhwein).

Is there anyone out there named Ephraem?

2010-12-21T12:22:00.002Z

The sponsorship of heads and statues is going well - almost all the heads on the Gospel side have gone already. Some people sponsor them on behalf of others, others chose their name saint, or one with whom they have a connection.

We didn't mention the stained glass windows. Four originals (Our Lady and St Joseph, St John the Baptist and St Mary Mag), and one addition, St Cuthbert, longing for a companion on the other side. We were recently given the original "vidimus" for the window of Our Lady.

Newman everywhere

2010-12-17T16:44:00.001Z

Probably the best portrait of Blessed J.H.N. ever done by an Uzbek artist is now on display in the Oratory Church in Vienna, the Rochuskirche. Derivitive, yes, you can recognise two major inspirations, but it is a real oil painting on canvas, not a glorified photograph! The artist is Vladimir Rachnaev - we may see more of his work.

Sponsor a Statue

2010-12-06T09:50:00.001Z

Keep up to date - watch the special "Sponsor a Statue" page to see which ones are still free. If you have a particular devotion to St Ephraem, he is still available! St Uriel is already offered for...

New Library design

2010-12-03T09:39:00.002Z

We now have artists' impressions of our new library (and a costing for the woodwork). The bust of JHN by Westmacott will be the focal feature, shelves are to be adjustable, but solidly built to last for generations. There is no point in doing it in materials which will fall apart in twenty years! The heating will probably be underfloor, to spread warmth gently without creating hot spots that could damage books. (Why do you need heating anyway? Haven't you got coats?)

The gallery parapet will itself consist of bookcases, with reading desks on top of them; the main holdings will be on the lower level, along the walls and in projecting bays. Access to the gallery will be by the elegant iron spiral staircase which formerly gave access to the old organ loft (as well as by the main stair and lift). Rare books and manuscripts will have their own area, with climate control, probably steel rolling shelves to be dust-proof, and safe. We recently looked at the new library at Douai for technical ideas, but they have more space to play with, and even more books to house.

lift up your heads, o ye gates!

2010-11-24T12:19:00.001Z

The cleaning and repair of the entrance arch is now completed, and the flag flew for Christ the King. It was a very small item in the overall plan, but necessary to stop bits of stone dropping gently on those who passed underneath. The stonework is consolidated, the flagpole replaced with something more durable and much lighter, and the only thing most people will notice is that the stonework is now clean. Apparently the black encrusted deposits are "sulphites" like those you find in bottles of wine these days, and they build up on the undersides of overhanging bits, while the gray on the surface was just Oxford's famous atmosphere. Oh, and the colourful lines on the sides were souvenirs of the visits of various vehicles.

We also re-cut the inscription, "Sanctus immortalis, miserere nobis" which you immediately recognise from the Good Friday liturgy, flanking the panel of the Crucifixion which is by Gabriel Pippett trying to imitate Eric Gill.

Waiting for the planners

2010-11-15T16:07:00.001Z

Nothing is going to happen now on our great building project until the planning application is processed. We re-submitted on the 5th of November, and they promise results wthin six weeks. That takes us virtually to Christmas, so probably nothing really will happen until the New Year. Then we embark on tender drawings and specifications.

So in the meantime we can only muse on work successfully achieved. Did we tell you about the Gabriel Pippett paintings? They were scenes from the life of St Aloysius on either side of the sanctuary, painted over during the cultural revolution. Filippo uncovered a tiny bit (here's St A's face), but it became clear that a lot of the paintwork would have to be redone, and the estimate was two months specialist work. Gabriel Pippett was a fun artist but not outstanding, and it didn't seem that it it would be worth the expense: we could get a better living artist to do something stunning on top for less. One day - no hurry. The Pippett paintings would certainly have been worth preserving if they had never been painted over, but we have accept that they are gone from sight for now.

Light in a dark place

2010-11-09T17:04:00.003Z

The days are growing shorter, and darker, and there is nothing the coalition can do about it. But in dark places, a ray of light shows up to great effect, in dark pictures a brilliant light picks out faces and features - and in a dark chapel a shaft of sunlight may drop from above to concentrate our gaze on the altar. This chiaroscuro effect is something that will be a talking point in our new chapel. Hidden above the altar is an amber glass semi-dome, so that even in November there will be golden light from above, shining on the altar itself, and on the world-renowned sculpture behind it. What sculpture? Maybe the Conversion of Newman, or the Transverberation, cor ad cor? And what is in the sarcophagus above the altar? Well, the world-renowned sculptress may not be born yet, and it could take some time before the Newman Shrine Chapel is finished (remember the Sagrada Familia) but we do hope to make a start on the new building before too long (you could help us there). In the meantime, here's an impression of the altar by our architect, Anthony Delarue.

The Butterfly that Stamped

2010-10-19T09:58:00.001+01:00

Our pilgrims and worshippers were impressed on Sunday by the appearance of the Entrance Arch, which has been wrapped up like the Reichstag. That's because of the cleaning of the stonework, which will be dusty and wet and noisy for a few hours. But people will love the results. The low relief of the Crucifixion by Gabriel Pippett will soon appear in pristine splendour. More seriously, the supports of the old Flagpole have rusted and forced the stones apart, which has allowed a buddleia to take rot and break up one of the coping stones. Now as you know, when buddleia flowers it attracts butterflies, and the scientists tell us that when a butterfly here stamps or flaps its wings it can cause earthquakes in Japan. So for the sake of our friends in Japan, the buddleia will come out and the stones be reset, and the flagpole replaced with one that is less aggressive and easier to hoist a flag on. And all should be unwrapped for Christmas.

slowly, slowly

2010-10-11T14:46:00.001+01:00

Now that Newman has settled into his new role, we should be getting on with the new building. but there have been more unexpected delays, and surprising ones, in the path towards planning permission. So we wait.

But that is no reason why the fundraising should not move into a new and more vigorous phase, for the interest in Newman has been phenomenal, and our new Shrine is much frequented, with candles and prayers continual. Small it may be, but people have compared it favourably with others we could mention.

The new building

2010-10-05T09:49:00.001+01:00

We have just found this coloured impression of the new building, as it might be seen from the courtyard in front of the church with a periscope. It was sent us by our architect, Anthony Delarue, but somehow got delayed a month in the electronic post. (In the days of the Roman Empire, they could get a message from Rome to the Wall in six hours; and in Blessed Newman's time a letter posted in Rome could be delivered to Birmingham in three days. Oh to live in those ages of efficient technology!)

We still abide the decision of the planners. Once we have the all-clear, the next stage will be boring, expensive, but necessary: preparing "Tender Drawings" and "Specifications".

A Contribution to the Library

2010-09-24T11:26:00.002+01:00

John Dunthorne of Dunthorne Parker, Architects and Designers, has just deposited with us a most curious relic - a book found in 1986 in the roof space of the Golden Cross in the Cornmarket. They wanted it to be preserved in Oxford, in a Catholic library, and have chosen us as the favoured location. Once we have our new Library it can be displayed and made accessible to scholars, fragile though it is.

The book is an early version of "A sinner's guide to confession", called Brevis Institutio de Salutari Poenitentia Peccatoris, by a French Benedictine, Claude de Viexmont, printed in Antwerp in 1586. Although the Bodleian has copies of an earlier edition (Paris, 1533) and a later edition (Antwerp 1595), there is no other copy of this edition in England.

It has many notes, underlinings and cross-references added in an English secretary hand, probably late 16th or early 17th century, and an owner's name, Ro[bert] Russell, written in an italic hand. This may have been the curate of St Thomas' parish in 1583-1616.

The peculiar interest is that the book was hidden. Since some pages of a 1623 edition of Ovid were found with it, the hiding must have been after that, perhaps during the Seige. Unfortunately in the ensuing four hundred years some creatures have been nibbling it, either insects or mice, and the last 100 pages are badly chewed up. Still, the binding is complete, with its green ribbon ties.

More research is needed, and a proper catalogue entry copiled, but we are excited to have this great rarity as an addition to our collections.

Unveiled

2010-09-19T11:33:00.001+01:00

The new shrine shines out. Painting by William Ouless, aedicule and altarino by Timothy Newbery, achievement of arms by Tom Meek. It will be blessed in due course by Archbishop Bernard Longley, on Tuesday evening, 21 September, at the 6:00 Mass.

Behind the Veil

2010-09-15T17:50:00.001+01:00

There is to be no peeking before Christmas, but hidden behind a veil is the new Newman shrine. Well, actually it will be unveiled on Tuesday 21st, when His Grace the Archbishop comes to preside at the 6:00 evening Mass, and lead us in the Te Deum.

Much will be happening before that, and prayers are much in evidence. So far most comments have been positive, and great things are expected.

The same applies to our planning application. No objections have been lodged with the City Council, and the press coverage has been most encouraging. But we still won't know until 12 October.

planning application chugging along

2010-09-08T15:55:00.001+01:00

The City Fathers have acknowledged receipt of our final planning application for the new buildings, and tell us we should know the result by 12 October. We will let you know! The Oxford Times gave us a very good write-up when we had our Press Conference in July, and are promising another story tomorrow - it is good that the local Oxford papers are supportive and helpful, as they were so noticeably last year when St Therese came to visit.

In the meantime the fund raising campaign chugs along. Now that holidays are over and people are back to normal (well almost), we expect to see more of you attending our Information Functions, and, most importantly, introducing us to your influential contacts.

No picture seems particularly relevant this week so here's an Elephant and an Elephant's Child.

Late Summer Exhibition

2010-08-28T10:22:00.001+01:00

We have now started our second exhibition of the year - this weekend, 28th to 30th August (because Monday is a public holiday in honour of Blessed Juvenal Ancina of the Oratory). This time the theme is "Tell them about the Vestments". We have in the Guild Room a dazzling display of real vestments and accessories, dating from the sixteenth to twenty-first centuries, all of which are at least in occasional use in our Church. In the parish centre is a display of brass rubbings, from England and overseas, showing vestments as worn from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries. They include some of the Polish giants not seen in Oxford since 1971. The catalogue explains what vestments are for, and how they are worn.

Open Saturday 10:30 to 5:30, Sunday 12:30 to 5:30, and Monday 10:30 to 5:30.

Admission is free, the catalogue £1.00, and if you would like to take the opportunity to join our development campaign, the information is all there.

Plus the final application document for planning permission is on display between the two models.

Newman Exhibition

2010-08-21T15:30:00.001+01:00

Our exhibition of items connected with Newman in Oxford attracted between 150 and 200 visitors - at least we sold nearly 100 catalogues, and we imagine that was one between two. There were some quite distinguished guests as well, including experts on Newman who had never seen some of our items before. Many of the engravings were used for the new edition of "Newman's Oxford" (which is still available from the Lodge or Campaign Office at £5.00, of which £2.00 goes to the Appeal). The other engravings, and the autographs, the bust and the Venables portrait, were illustrated in the catalogue, which is also still available.

We are now getting the next exhibition ready - weekend of 28th to 30th August, church vestments in reality and on brass-rubbings. See you there.

Camino

2010-08-16T12:56:00.001+01:00

Despite being clearly warned that the rain in Spain stays exclusively on the mountains, Fr Daniel has set out with a merry band of Young Oratory to walk the Camino di Santiago to Compostella, this being a Holy Year of St James as any fule kno. The Womens' Oratory set them on their way, and are gathering sponsorship for them for the benefit of the Reaffirmation and Renewal Appeal, and there is also a "page" on the "justGiving" site by which you can directly sponsor Fr Daniel, including Gift Aid.

If they return, we will show you evidence of the hardships on their way...

We still, incidentally, have copies of "Walking with God" (by Fr Jerome Bertram), a spiritual retreat based on experiences on a similar wet walk to Compostella in 1983, available here or through Gracewing, who are handling much of Family Publications' old stock. Santiago aficionados take note!

Newman everywhere

2010-08-09T12:43:00.001+01:00

AS the Beatification draws near, the Newman theme comes to dominate our attention more and more. We are delighted to see that Jack Valero has his team "Catholic Voices" up and running to deal with interested enquiries from the media. It is less than a week now to the NEWMAN'S OXFORD Exhibition, (see next "post" for details), but don't forget there will be another Exhibition two weeks later, on Vestments. In the meantime, here's a little-known advertisment we found, which sheds an unexpected light on Newman - or does it? Can it really be he? None of the biographies even hint at his holiday job as a tea-merchant, but if Mattie of Cranford could sell tea at a pinch, why not he?

Newman’s Oxford: The Exhibition

2010-07-29T12:11:00.005+01:00

Over the weekend of 14th-15th August we shall be exhibiting many things connected with John Henry Newman our Cardinal, in the Guild Room and the Parish Centre. The exhibition will be open on the Saturday from 10:30 to 5:50, on the Sunday 12:30 to 5:15; there will be a catalogue available at £1.00, but no admission charge (though if you really insist...)

On show will be the portrait by A.R. Venables, and the bust by Richard Westmacott, very rarely seen, some autographs including “Lead, kindly light”, many prints and engravings, including all those used for the new edition of Newman’s Oxford, and some real oddities. There will probably be tea available as well.

Planning Application press conference

2010-07-22T17:00:00.003+01:00

The last stage before submitting our planning application was to hold a Press Conference at the Oratory. We invited the local and national Catholic press, as well as all the local amenity socities, who were well represented. They seemed to like what they saw! The Oxford Times gave us an advance publicity spread, summarised in the Oxford Mail (both 20 July). We showed them the models, and photomontages of how the new building will look in context. Such as the ones we put on the "plans" section of the campaign website. The library attracted interest, particularly the plan to house the Chesterton collection. So here is an aerial view of the library with the roof taken off.

On the same day, rain on the back-filled archaeological trench washed up two fragments of late mediaeval pottery which only goes to prove that somewhere near us there was late-mediaeval occupation. There is nothing now to delay submission of the application, but then it will be a couple of months before we hear anything. In the meantime, the money keeps rollin in...

Digging holes and filling them in again...

2010-07-16T09:13:00.002+01:00

One of the pre-conditions for applying for planning permission was an archaeological investigation of the building site. We did in fact know exactly what was there, but had to get professionals in to show us: the foundations of the early Victorian slums; a metre of garden soil, natural subsoil, and the top of the Gravel Terrace which forms the foundation of all Oxford. It was useful for the structurtal engineer to be certain of the exact depth of the Gravel Terrace, because that is a good solid well-drained foundation for our buildings.

Oh, and there was a circular pit cut into the gravel, below the subsoil. Not investigated to the bottom, 'cos it is deeper than we shall want to go, no dating material in the fill, but given that we are in a known Bronze Age ceremonial area with lots of barrows around the Henge Monument, the chances are it's a Bronze Age ritual pit. Possibly a burial. Anyway, it's all filled in now.

The next stage is the press conference before the actual Application.

Plans for New Buildings nearly finished

2010-07-10T12:23:00.005+01:00

We have reached a significant stage in our plans, being ready to announce them to the world before submitting the formal Planning Application. There will be a Press Conference on 22 July, and assuming all the drawings and comments are in their final state by then, should be submitting the application very soon after that. Then we wait for two months to hear anything...

The City Fathers are concerned that we should not detract from the view of the church from the Woodstock Road. Here is the architect's photomontage of the view. What do you think?

There is more about this on the "Plans" section of the Campaign website.

Events Still to Come

2010-07-06T17:07:00.002+01:00

The Perch is safely reeled in, Fr Joel has been securely despatched back to Americas, the organ prodigy played out, tours walked around successfully... but there is still more to come. On Wednesday 7th at 8:00 there is still a chance to hear Walter Hooper telling us about his time with C.S. Lewis, and maybe also about Blessed Lucy of Narnia. Another tour on Thursday at 2:00. And on Friday the Dinner - getting very close so you really need to book up very quickly indeed. But there is no reduction for latecomers! still £75, to the Lodge immediately.

We still haven't found a suitable photograph of the event at the Perch to show you, so here's a warthog to be getting on with.

The rebels have landed

2010-07-03T17:15:00.000+01:00

The amazing week of extraordinary events to celebrate throwing the American colonies out of the Empire has begun. This afternoon there was a garden festival at the Perch, well attended, and lots of passers-by and casual droppers in as well as those who had come thousands of miles just to be there and perform... There will be a photograph eventually, just waiting for the film to come out of the developing tank.
And it continues tomorrow, with a collection of transatlantic composers at the 11:00 Mass, and even a transatlantic preacher being none other than our very own Fr Joel returned to us. And on it goes, barock concert on MOnday, tours of Oxford,talk of CS Lewis... and the festival fish dinner on Friday. A few tickets still available, if you're not here in person you can get them via the Parish side of this webbe-sight.

getting quietly plastered...

2010-06-30T11:46:00.002+01:00

Regulars at daily Mass will notice some boring but necessary works going on during the next week or so. It begins in the church where some plaster is looking a bit dodgy and ought to be scraped away and made good. That's all because the walls are no longer damp, and as they dry the plaster crumbles. it was much safer when the roof let in water and the walls were kept wet! Then there are a couple of slates that slid off the roof during the snow when toboganning was in fashion. They need to be put back before other slates get the idea. And then the entrance arch needs consolidation, weeding and cleaning, and the flagpole renewed. We hope most of this will be covered by insurance, so it shouldn't affect the Campaign, but we will let you know if it does! It really is routine maintenance, though if we were able to afford to do the whole Church now, the plastering would be included in a greater whole.

A temporary shrine

2010-06-29T16:22:00.004+01:00

Our Cardinal is due to be declared "Blessed" on 19th September. It seems unlikely we will have the new chapel, baptistery and courtyard finished by then, so as a temporary measure we are going to set up a little shrine to Blessed JHN at the back of the right-hand aisle (where S Luigi Scrosoppi is now). We have a preliminary design for a small altar with an aedicule above it to contain a portrait of Newman, and above that his coat of arms. Once we know the detailed costs, we will invite you to consider making it part of your share in the Campaign!

Unless, of course, you would find it more exciting to refix some loose slates on the roof... (more of this later)

Book salvage

2010-06-25T09:20:00.001+01:00

Following the tragic demise of Family Publications, some fragments have been shored up. Our constant readers may be glad to know that titles by an author at the Oxford Oratory are now available from the well-known Gracewing imprint of Leominster, seen here taking delivery of stock. This includes a good quantity of copies of the "Life of St Philip Neri", by his own PA, Father Antonio Gallonio, both hardback and paperback, one of FP's most elegant productions. But it does not include the new edition of "Newman's Oxford", of which virtually all the stock is still held at the Oxford Oratory. It remains at £5, of which £2 is a direct contribution to our ever-loving Reaffirmation and Renewal Campaign.

Some other titles were rescued by another author, and distribution for them will be announced in due course.

Campaign newsletter number 13

2010-06-23T17:48:00.001+01:00

The latest campaign newsletter is now available online and can be downloaded here.

Midsummer marvels

2010-06-21T21:36:00.002+01:00

Strange things happen at midsummer. The two bay-trees that have long guarded the entrance to the parish centre, and gave every appearance of being dead, have suddenly thrown out new pale green leaves in various places. We shall watch them eagerly. A sign of things to come.

And the statue of St Aloysius in the relic chapel has now acquired a "splendid shield" by Tom Meek. The original statue was wood, from Ammergau, and was mysteriously sold away just before the Oratory came to Oxford. The one we have now was given to us by the nuns of Oulton Abbey, and recently restored by Richard Pelter's team from IFACS. With the ihs and sa monogrammes on the background, it is a little reminder of four hundred years of Jesuit ministry in Oxford, from Fr Edmund Campion to Fr Richard Manners SJ.

Floor and More

2010-06-18T20:35:00.001+01:00

Work on restoring the church and parish floors has gone quicker than expected. The Guildroom was done at the beginning of the week, new blocks, scale and polish, all looking sparkling ready for this Sunday. In the Church the patch in the right hand side aisle which has been plain boarding for 18 years is now smart new blocks, and throughout the church loose blocks are being refixed and sealed. Underneath it we saw again the curious substructures. Can the curving wall really be the foundations of the apse of the pre-Constantinian basilica? The red pipes are the new heating system installed in 1999; the wires relate to the rewiring done in 2008 when the sanctuary was redecorated.

Next comes the temporary Newman shrine at the end of the same aisle to incorporate a portrait of Our Cardinal; the first design is being considered by the Fathers.

And in the meantime don't forget the amazing american extravaganza starting on 3rd July, full details elsewhee in this column and in the parish section of the website.

The rebels are getting closer

2010-06-09T09:46:00.001+01:00

It is only four weeks now till the American Week, a reminder of the great rebellion against his late majesty King George III, but a chance to make up and dance...
Lots of events, on this poster which we have now succeeded in copying for you, although only the text - for the pretty layout you will need to research elsewhere!

Tickets are on sale in the Porter's Lodge, or after all Masses on Sundays. Some things you can pay at the door, but the cooks do want to know how many are coming for dinner.

Registered Charity No. 1018455

3rd-9th JULY 2010

IN(TER)DEPENDENCE WEEK

Celebrating Americans in Oxford

http://campaign.oxfordoratory.org.uk/

A Week of Events in Aid of The Oxford Oratory's 'Reaffirmation & Renewal' Campaign

SATURDAY 3rd JULY, 12-5pm: A Summer Festival at The Perch, Binsey

live music and fun for all ages, with Cajun swing band L'Angelus from 3pm

Purchase a £5 Pass for discounts on food & drink and entry into a prize draw

SUNDAY 4th JULY: American Composers at the 11am Mass

MONDAY 5th JULY, 8pm: Adventures in the New World

Adam Brakel & the International Baroque Players in an exclusive concert at the Oratory

Tickets £12 (£8 concessions). Available online at www.ticketlessmusic.com

TUESDAY 6th JULY, 2-4pm: The Medieval & Reformation Eras: Oxford Town & Gown

Oxford History Tours by John Whitehead

with tea at 4pm. Tickets £12 (£8 concessions) or £20 (£12) for both tours

WEDNESDAY 7th JULY, 8pm: An American Remembers C.S. Lewis

a talk by Walter Hooper, Lewis' last secretary, at the Oxford Oratory. Tickets £5

THURSDAY 8th JULY, 2-4pm: From JH Newman to the Inklings: Oxford Culture

Oxford History Tours by John Whitehead

finishing with a tour & history of the Oxford Oratory, and tea at 4pm

Tickets £12 (£8 concessions) or £20 (£12) for both tours

FRIDAY 9th JULY - FINALE: Dinner at Harris Manchester College

with after dinner speaker Fr Richard Duffield, Cong. Orat. £75, apply via order form

Tickets and passes for all events available in The Porter's Lodge of the Oratory

St Aloysius Church, 25 Woodstock Road, OX2 6HA.

You can also reserve tickets by emailing campaign@oxfordoratory.org.uk,

or calling 01865 315800.

The Oratory can only accept cash or cheque payments.

Concessionary rates are considered a matter of conscience.

Ticket price for the Concert & Talk include a £1 subscription fee to the Social Club, to permit the purchase of beverages in the Parish Centre.

Monet makes the world go round

2010-06-05T11:21:00.004+01:00

Just to put our appeal into proportion, did you notice that there is a picture of some waterlilies up for sale at £40,000,000? That means that our appeal for five million could buy one eighth of a waterlily. Not to mention an infinitisimal fraction of an Olympic game, or of any of the other big spending projects of our day. For a mere £5,000,000 you could buy a chapel and baptistery that will put us in the architectural guidebooks and on the tourist trail for hundreds of years to come,a library to secure books and papers for future generations, and rooms to train priests to baptize those generations... Or a waterlily. But they say she only loved him for his Monet....

Our first million

2010-06-02T20:27:00.002+01:00

We now can officially record on our data base that the Campaign has reached one million pounds. That's a fifth of the way, after two of the most difficult years on record for fund raising. Thanks to everyone.

Not that we actually have a million pounds in the bank. A great deal has already been spent on the restoration of the Sanctuary, Lady Chapel and Relic Chapel. And quite a lot on the boring, invisible necessities, like plans and surveys, reports and planning applications. There'll be more of that before we can show you two bricks put together - the archaeological assessment, tender drawings, elf-and-safety requirements, structural surveys... if modern building regulations had been in force Solomon would never have completed his Temple. He took seven years on the Temple and fourteen on the palace, we could still beat him to it. Some important fund-raising events coming up! (see next item)

New Newman's Old Oxford

2010-05-28T12:17:00.003+01:00

Our many visitors and pilgrims will be glad to know that the guidebook to the Oxford of Newman is again available. At the same time we are all very sad that our parish publishing house, Family Publications, has ceased trading. Over the years they had benefited the Church enormously in many varied publications, books and pamphlets.

The new "Newman's Oxford" was Family Pubs' last production. It is now available directly from the Oxford Oratory lodge at the same price, £5.00, of which £2.00 will be a direct contribution to the Campaign appeal. It is an expanded revision of our "The Oxford of Newman" of 1995, which was in turn a replacement for Fr Humphrey Carpenter's "Newman's Oxford" of 1966. It is a guide for pilgrims, a souvenir for visitors, and an enticement for those who have not yet been to Oxford. Every site associated with Newman's life in this city is identified and described, and illustrated as far as possible with engravings or drawings actually done at the time. For instance, the cover picture shows the dons processing into St Mary's church for a University Sermon, doubtless one of those delivered by JHN himself. This new edition contains several engravings which were not in the earlier edition, and an expanded text to bring it up to 48 pages, instead of the 42 pages (three of them blank) in the 1995 edition!

For copies, write to the Oxford Oratory Lodge, 25 Woodstock Road, OX2 6HA, with a cheque for £5.00, or come and pick one up next time you are in Oxford! (From overseas we will need to charge postage - will find out and let you know how much!)

Americans in Oxford

2010-05-25T09:03:00.004+01:00

Don't forget the approaching week of unusual dramatic cultural and even liturgical events, 3rd to 10th July; begins with a musical festival at the Perch in Binsey (walk across Port Meadow, through buttercups and daisies, see the great crested grebes feeding their chicks as you cross Medley Weir... you can't miss it!) then a transatlantic setting of the Mass at the Oratory on 4th, an organ recital, lectures, guided tours of Oxford, and the Dinner! See the weekly Parish Newsletter for details, until we can find a way of copying them onto this side as well...
update: the crested grebes are not nesting at Medley this year (why not?). But the In[ter]dependence week is definitely increasing in momentum. We hear there are to be poetry readings as well as music. Full details, and how to book, are on the parish website. That's until we find out how to patch things like that onto this one. Or till our webmaster finishes his GCSEs.

Starting from the floor

2010-05-21T15:20:00.003+01:00

As money comes in we are able to get on with small aspects of the ongoing Church restoration, while progressing with planning permission. Many will have noticed that part of the floor in the right hand aisle has been missing for many years. This is because in Spring 1994 we found the floor was becoming altogether too springy, and it turned out the joists underneath were rotten. So we relaid a large area (see photograph). In the process parts of the aboriginal heating system became visible, with brick walls turning in elegant curves like the foundations for apses of a pre-Constantinian basilica. When the floor was put back, we were unable to match the imitation wood-block. But now it seems it can be done, and we should soon see that part of the floor restored, as well as other patches of flooring which have become unstable. A small feature of the great work, but necessary.

Exhibitionism

2010-05-18T12:13:00.004+01:00

Two events coming up in the summer are Exhibitions, displaying some of the curious and rare items in our collections, as well as the plans for how they should be housed.

Over the weekend after 11th August, i.e. Newman's anniversary, the theme will be, predictably, Newman himself. It will be a rare opportunity to see the Venables portrait and the Westmacott bust, as well as the more familiar Richmond etching, other portraits of Newman, the manuscript of "Lead Kindly Light", a signed book and picture, and early editions of many of his books and pamphlets including Tract XC. Also the engravings which were used for "Newman's Oxford" will be on display. The booklet itself is being published this week by Family Publications, and is available from them or from the Oratory lodge.

The bank holiday weekend, 28th-30th August, the display will concentrate on church vestments. Some of the beautifully embroidered vestments used in the Oratory church will be displayed, together with explanation of their origin and meaning. There will also be a display of brass rubbings showing mediaeval vestments from brasses in Britain and the Continent. It is not generally known that the Oxford Oratory houses what is probably one of the five largest collections of brass rubbings in the world, which will also be housed in the new library and accessible to researchers.

So two dates to remember: weekends of 14th-15th August, and 28th to 30th August.

Campaign Newsletter

2010-05-11T23:20:00.001+01:00

The latest campaign newsletter is now available online and can be downloaded here.

The Chesterton Library

2010-05-11T16:10:00.003+01:00

An important part of our project is finding a permanent home for the Chesterton Library. We are very grateful to the Chesterton trustees who have secured the material with the intention of depositing it at the Oxford Oratory. G.K. Chesterton ("The Man who was Thirsty") left a vast mass of material including his own annotated copies of many of his books, the journals he published ("G.K.'s Weekly" and so on), and lots of original artwork. He used to entertain children by use of a Toy Theatre, which was supplied with a variety of scenery backdrops, and some very bizarre characters which moved on wires. The Theatre itself was lost by Another Library but it is hoped to reconstruct it, and display the scenery and characters in it, possibly even with the occasional performance if anyone can be found to match G.K.'s genius for improvisation.

The collection also includes many personal objects, his hat, his honorary doctoral robes, his walking sticks, his rosary beads, even his typewriter. All on the grand scale.

It is obviously of the utmost importance to keep this material together, to preserve it from the clutches of any foreign power, and to make it available in England for scholars and wonderers to admire and discover. Ultimately we hope the Chesterton Library will have its own space and display area above the Newman Chapel; in the shorter term it may be housed in the main part of the Library.

Rosary Recording from the Oxford Oratory

2010-05-06T09:56:00.001+01:00

In August 2008 we made a recording of the Rosary, with organ accompaniment, fifteen readings from the writings of Newman, interludes of Gregorian Chant, and extracts from the writings of Fr Werenfried van Straaten. This was in aid of Aid to the church in Need, which Fr Werenfried founded in 1945 to help Christians in Eastern Europe; now it extends its aid all over the world, including our sister Oratory at Oudtshoorn in South Africa The recording involved Oratory parishioners from four continents, and was done on three successive late nights. It is still available from Aid to the Church in Need, if you want to hear how the Oratory community prays.

And if you want to see what ACN has helped do in Oudtshoorn, see their website too.

A glimpse of our Patron Saint

2010-05-01T22:08:00.005+01:00

While we were restoring the Sanctuary in 2008, a trial was made of whether the paintings over the arches on either side could be uncovered. They were done in the 1920s by Gabriel Pippett, and showed scenes from the life of St Aloysius, in roundels, linked up with trailing vines. Unfortunately they were all painted over with heavy emulsion paint in the 1950s. The experiment showed that it is (just) possible to clean the paint off, but it would take a very long time, and the pictures underneath would then need to be retouched. It was estimated that it would take at least two months of skilled restoration work. So we reluctantly decided the little bits we had seen would have to be covered over again – Pippett was a good artist, but not a great one, and for the amount that would have cost we could one day get a great artist to do something better in place of the lost paintings.

An Unusual View of the Church

2010-04-28T11:49:00.002+01:00

It is not often that the outside of the altar end of the church is visible; when the church was built there was an open field behind it, but, alas, the Jesuits did not buy it, and it has now been totally built up. But in this view you can see the curve of the apse, behind the rather unprepossessing end wall of the former school. It is in front of this wall that the accommodation block is to be built, thus presenting a much more attractive facade to our neighbours, but not overlooking them at all. It won't even cast a shadow, since the church was built back to front, the "east" end is really the west, so our new buildings will all be to the north of our neighbours. We hope to finalise planning permission for this very soon, and with the help of our benefactors to make a start on building here, so that future priests can be accommodated for their training.

Incidentally, we have just discovered how to find out who has been giving to us using the "justgiving" panel alongside. Many thanks to you all, especially those who have opted to remain anonymous: we will try to thank the named donors personally very soon!

London Marathon

2010-04-23T12:25:00.007+01:00

Regina Lally has completed running the London Marathon on Sunday 25th April. They did threaten unsuitable weather, but a little sprinkling was arranged to lay the dust. Now it's not too late to see her "JustGiving" page and sponsor her, please click here.

Thanks Regina - what will you do next?

Here is Regina Lally with her daughter (also Regina) at the end of the Marathon.

Planning application

2010-04-23T11:57:00.003+01:00

The first major step in our Planning Application took place on Wednesday. Our architect, surveyor, planning consultant and ourselves met Fr Brian Doolan of the Historic Churches Committee and his architect, and the City of Oxford planning officer and conservation officer. The plans were presented, explained and defended. It was agreed that the plan for a new portico on the front of the Church would be withdrawn, but everything else seemed to be acceptable, subject to further consultation. So we are progressing.

The most attractive part of the new building from the outside will be the Cortile, which will provide a covered space around a central open area, so that parishioners can move between the church, the new chapel and the parish centre undercover, or sit in the sunlight around the fountain as social events in the Hopkins Room spill out into the summer evenings. The rain-water recycling tank will be underneath the cortile, so there can be a fountain in the middle. Probably potted plants and creeping things festooning the arches as well.

Distinguished Visitors

2010-04-18T18:42:00.011+01:00

We are accustomed to distinguished visitors at the Oxford Oratory, most of them incognito (yes, we did see you) but recently two have come to see the Church and look at our plans and designs. On Sunday 18 April our new Archbishop, the Most Reverend Bernard Longley, came to celebrate the High Mass, and to meet parishioners afterwards in the Hopkins Room. He took a close interest in the unfinished large scale model of the new chapel and adjacent buildings.

For the weekend of Low Sunday the professed members of the Hospitaller Order of St John (the Knights of Malta) held their meeting in Oxford, and came to visit us on the Saurday afternoon, among them His Most Eminent Highness the Grand Master.

Our very own Marathon runner

2010-04-09T16:59:00.003+01:00

Regina Lally, who is running around London in aid of our Campaign, writes:

"Regina Lally via Virgin London Marathon 2010 Just in case anyone watches - please see statement below. No excuses not to be sponsoring me! Sponsorship is going to two very good causes and everyone running on the day has put in a lot of hard work and training to just get round and raise money!

"London Marathon statement on Dispatches
bit.ly
The London Marathon Limited and the London Marathon Charitable Trust Limited totally deny any allegations of wrongdoing and are surprised and shocked at the lack of evidence presented by the programme's ..."

so now you know. There was some electronic gadget attached to Regina's message, but it doesn't seem to have come across, sorry about that!

The restoration work so far...

2010-04-07T18:48:00.007+01:00

In(ter)dependence week

2010-04-07T09:06:00.003+01:00

Forthcoming American extravaganza from 3rd July for a week... some of our stalwart supporters are organising a week of cultural events with a trans-Atlantic theme. It begins with a Festival, a Function or Fete, on the Saturday afternoon, with cajun music and food; 11:00 High Mass on the Sunday with all-American composers, an organ recital on the Monday, tours of Oxford during the week, and more. Keep watching for more details.

New Baptistery model

2010-03-29T20:43:00.004+01:00

The models of the new buildings continue to take shape. Here is a cut-away view of the Baptistery, the link between the existing church (behind you) and the Newman Chapel (to the right). On the ground floor the Font, naturally. To the left a Confessional, with wheel-chair access. On the next floor a gallery, overlooking the font, but also with a balcony over the Newman Chapel, and into the back of the Church. Above that, through the open door you can glimpse the Chapter House, so called because it has a pillar in the middle, just like York Minster. The pillar is actually a "light tube" which will catch natural daylight and funnel it down to the font two floor below. The Chapter House will be used for choir rehearsal, because it connects on te level with the choir gallery (behind you!), and to the right with the music archive. But the Chesterton material will also be in rooms to the right, so the Chapter House can also be used for exhibitions of that and other archival material.

Our New Patron

2010-03-29T20:39:00.005+01:00

We have another Patron and defender to add to our existing list - none other than Bernard Longley, Ninth Archbishop of Birmingham, and tenth successor to Newman's friemd William Bernard Ullathorne. He is an old friend, and we are very glad to welcome him to our campaign. He will be coming to Oxford on Sunday 18th April to celebrate the High Mass, and to meet parishioners and friends.

Inside the new Chapel

2010-03-09T12:38:00.004Z

A more detailed model of the new chapel, baptistery and cortile is gradually taking shape. If you look inside the chapel you can see the amber light shed over the altar, back-lighting the sculptured group, which appears to represent the Transverberation of Blessed John Henry Newman, and is meant to remind you of the Bernini sculpture in Rome of St Teresa. On either side of the altar are statues of St Athanasius, Newman's first love, the saint who aught him about the Development of Doctrine, and St Francis de Sales, whose portrait hangs in Newman's private chapel.

Of course, it may take some time before these greatr works of art are ready. What we hope to do this generation is to get the structure of the chapel up and useable.

Bingen to Binsey

2010-03-03T16:40:00.009Z

Coming soon - The Grandeur of God, a musical oratory featuring the music of Hildegard of Bingen - well, she actually lived at Disibodenburg which is up the Nahe valley from Bingen, very picturesque in the spring, though only a few tumbled stones remain of Hildegarde's house (pictured) she was a polymath and poet though perfectly orthodox.

Also we feature the poetry of Fr Gerard Manley Hopkins, former curate of this church, noted for not knowing that poplar trees have to be felled, all felled, before they become dangerous, but they do grow rather quickly. Binsey poplars feature in the paintings of Roger Wagner (at present on display in the church across the road, St Giles) . The stained glass figure is in Binsey church - it probably does not represent St Frideswide.

The narrator of the oratory will be Robert Hardy, best known as an expert on the mediaeval long bow (much involved in exploring how the ones found on the Mary Rose were used), also something of an actor (former Minister of Magic, you remember...). All this with singing by Vox Angelica. So -- Hildegard, Hopkins and Hardy, in our Church, in aid of our Appeal, on Friday 12 March at 8:00. Tickets £10, or £8 if you are slightly older than me, or £5 if you are struggling students. From the Lodge here at the Oratory, or the Playhouse in Beaumont Street.

Has Oxford done anything to honour Newman?

2010-02-23T20:13:00.005Z

IN 1892 a public meeting was held in Oxford Town Hall to protest against a proposed Memorial to Cardinal Newman. A sketch artist, probably for the Illustrated London News, was there, and drew one Colonel Impey asking "Has Newman done anything to bring honour to Oxford?" Well, now it the time to reverse the question. Our new Chapel will be a belated memorial to Newman. There is an article saying why in this week's Oxford Magazine, which does not seem to be available on-line, but can be bought in the O.U.P. bookshop in the High Street.

Model of New Buildings

2010-02-17T09:38:00.008Z

WE should have mentioned before that we now have a model (scale 1:100) of the entire new construction that is being planned. It comes apart so that you can see inside (that's why there are gaps between bits), and many people have said it is much easier to understand than plans and elevations.

So here it is: reading from left to right, you can see first the new accommodation block (five study-bedrooms) over the new parish office, kitchen, bar, etc; secondly the staircase extended upwards, with a lift behind it; thirdly the existing building, with the new library above the existing parish meeting-rooms; fourthly the cloister or cortile, providing light and fire-escape for both sides; fifthly the Newman Chapel, with additional archive space above; sixthly the Baptistery, with "chapter room" or rehearsal room above; and in front of the church the new Portico. We left the roof off the church because we thought it would be cool.

If you want to see the real thing, and how it comes apart, there are "information sessions" in the Parish Centre coming up on Saturdays,6th March at 10:30, 20th March at 2:30 and 10th April at 10:30. Let us know how many people you will be bringing, to campaign@oxfordoratory.org.uk so we can put cups out.

Newman Chapel drawings and plans

2010-02-16T15:44:00.007Z

Section of chapel looking north

Ground plan of chapel and Baptistery

The most important part of our great project is the Chapel dedicated to John Henry Newman. The inspiration for it comes from the little church of San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane, which is about the same size. It will seat fifty or so people comfortably, and with an overflow crowd in the adjacent baptistery and its gallery could take as many more.

Interior view of the Model, looking south

We will attempt to attach more drawings and plans, and views of San Carlino for comparison.

Successful fundraising events

2010-02-08T15:08:00.005Z

The dinner which Sterling Stover kindly hosted at Chesterton House on 5th February raised at least £7,000 for our Campaign - probably more depending on how much we can gift-aid. Many thanks to Sterling, to all his staff, to John le chef extraordinaire, the boys who served, Michael Welch the auctioneer and all those who gave items or promises for the auction. There were too many offers for one auction, so keep watching for news of when we can have another...

The next fund-raising extravaganza ia the recital or concert, "Hopkins, Hildegarde and Hardy", featuring poetry by one, music by another, and dramatic narration by a third (the former Minister of Magic). The real title is God's Grandeur - an evening with Robert Hardy, Vox Angelica and Fr Richard Duffield, on Hopkins and Hildegard. Friday 12th March 8pm. Tickets from the Porters’ Lodge / Playhouse.

New Relic Chapel Photos

2009-11-17T13:14:00.002Z

Our friend James Bradley has once more produced some superb photographs, this time of the newly restored relic chapel. To view them please click here.

National Catholic Register Article

2009-11-06T14:47:00.004Z

Joanna Bogle has written a very good article about us which appeared in the National Catholic Register in the United States. You can access it by clicking here. Please pass the link on to your American friends.

Tax effecive online giving will soon be available from the United States. Meanwhile donors in the US can download this form. The details for our charity are already filled in.

Visit of St Therese's Relics

2009-10-28T11:44:00.003Z

Planning for the visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux has been a great distraction over the last few months. But it was a great success from every point of view. For the Reaffirmation & Renewal campaign the visit has done a great deal to raise our profile nationally and locally. 6,200 pilgrims passed though our doors in the space of twenty-two hours, almost certainly the greatest number at any one time since the church was built. Each of them received a handout about the campaign as they left the church as well as being able to see for themselves the work we are doing. Appropriately enough the Relic Chapel was completed just in time. The church was full for all four performances of our Thérèse play which had write ups in the Catholic press nationally. Please visit the main Oxford Oratory website to see pictures of both the visit and the play.

More plans

2009-09-02T11:29:00.004+01:00

Our Architect, Anthony Delarue, has produced some more plans for the facade of the new Newman chapel. Please view them by clicking here and here.