A History of Wadham Chapel in Ten Objects (1613-2023)
This photo exhibition is available to view in Wadham's ante-chapel all of Trinity term 2023 and as a virtual exhibition below.
1612, silver gilt; the gift of Dorothy Wadham
EX DONO FUNDATRICIS
This large silver gilt Elizabethan-style Communion Cup with matching paten cover was our Foundress Dorothy Wadham's gift to her Chapel. It survived the surrender of silver to the King during the Civil War, and wear marks testify that it saw frequent use.
Photo: Martin Dunkley Smith
These 17th-century 'turkey work' kneelers may be the oldest surviving in England. The blue kneeler bears the initials IR (Iacobus Rex) in honour of King James VI & I, who supported Dorothy Wadham in her efforts to acquire a site for the new college. The double rose and the lions reflect the King's Tudor inheritance. The pink kneeler honours the Founders, Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, with white flowers taken from the Wadham coat of arms. The background was once black, but the colour was made from soot which erodes wool.
Text: Elizabeth Bingham (ed. JRB); photos: Martin Dunkley Smith
Joseph Knibb, 1760; the gift of Christopher Wren?
Installed in the outer wall of the Chapel in 1671, the oldest known clock using the 'anchor' escapement invented by Robert Hooke, one of the group who met regularly in Warden Wilkins' study for philosophical discussion and scientific experimentation. The 1670 mechanism, replaced in 1870, is now kept across the road in the History of Science Museum, but the Jacobean clock face with its cherub still watches over the front quad.
Photos: History of Science Museum, Julia Banfield
Early 17th century?
This grand Wadham coat of arms worked in gold and silk thread once adorned the rich black velvet Pulpit Fall, edged in gold fringe, that hung down the front of Wadham's Jacobean pulpit. In regular use until 1831, it must have been a majestic sight in situ. Warden John Griffiths, who considered it to be of the same age as the College, had it conserved and mounted behind class in 1873, affixing a hand-written note recording its history.
Photo: Martin Dunkley Smith
London, 1735; the gift of Arthur Onslow
The large-format deluxe Book of Common Prayer, with its sumptuous embossed leather binding, presents the Reformation text within red-ruled pages suggestive of a medieval manuscript. It was given by The Right Honourable Arthur Onslow (Law, 1708), who served as Speaker of the House of Commons for 33 years (1728-61), setting a record yet (and unlikely) to be broken. Its mint condition suggests this prestige edition was not actually used in services. The handsome engraving of St Paul's Cathedral, while appropriate to Wadham given our Christopher Wren connection, adorns all surviving copies of this edition.
Photo: C. E. A. Horden
London, 1784
This more modest Book of Common Prayer was one of the everyday service books supplied for the Chapel, bound in leather stamped 'WADH. COLL. CHAPEL'. Its rubbed and worn pages have seen much use. They bear many patches and repairs, especially at Morning and Evening Prayer, and even drips of candle wax. The title-page doodles of grotesques, an elegant lady, and a college don shown above suggest a certain familiarity with the text on the part of the Fellows.
Photo: C. E. A. Horden
William Burge, of Castle Carey, Somerset, matriculated in Law at Wadham on 29 March 1803, at the age of 16. His legal skills were put to use in the Colonial Service in Jamaica, where through marriage he also acquired a coffee plantation, including the ownership of 130 enslaved persons. Back in England as Agent for Jamacia, Burge vehemently opposed emancipation, campaigning vigorously against the Slavery Abolition Act. His own fortunes fell in a bankruptcy trial in 1847, and he died shortly after being released from prison in 1849. Prior to this disgrace, he was selected to appear in the Ante-Chapel windows commemorating eminent Old Members which were planned and installed between 1837 and 1840 under Warden Symons.
Photo: Uncomfortable Oxford.
John Griffiths (1806-85), to whom this letter was addressed, joined Wadham as a Scholar in 1824, received his BA in 1827, was ordained priest in 1828, and made a Fellow in 1830, lecturing in Classics and Divinity. He was Keeper of the Archives from 1857, and served (reluctantly) as Warden 1871-81. He furthered many renovations and improvements to the Chapel and Ante-Chapel, including the provision of stained glass windows for the Ante-Chapel. The 1844 bill above documents the installation of four large, vividly-coloured windows depicting Old Testament kings and prophets, made by the Welsh glazier David Evans of Shrewsbury. The total sum of £212.2.0 included the four windows, a large packing case, 12 days of labour, and coach fare and expenses for the labourer. The panels must have been robust to survive the jolting of a coach journey from Shropshire.
Photo: Martin Dunkley Smith
1872-1927
This ledger, kept from 1872 until 1927, diligently records the collections taken at Communion Services and the alms disbursed to local and overseas charities. In 1887, these included: Radcliffe Infirmary, Coal Fund, Clothing Fund, the Oxford Penitentiary in Holywell, Melanesian Missions, Benevolent Fund, House of Refuge, and the Vicar of Holywell. 1911 saw alms sent to five local charities, including the Poor Parishes Fund and the Oxford District Nurses Fund, and three overseas missions, including the Universities ’ Mission to Central Africa, and a diplomatic division of funds between the evangelical-leaning Church Missionary Society (CMS) and the more Anglo-Catholic Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG).
Photos: Martin Dunkley Smith
Oxford Pride, June 2021
From its origins, Wadham Chapel has held both the joys and sorrows of the College. Baptisms, weddings, and funerals of Wadham members take place here, and day-by-day it offers a still centre at the heart of the College. It is a haven where all are welcome and the stories of all are honoured. Today the Chapel rejoices as an LGBTQ+ affirmative space, and this rainbow arch, made by students for the ‘Pride ’ weekend and Evensong in 2021, celebrates the wonderful diversity of our fellowship.
Photo: C. E. A. Horden
Front Quad, Winter 2018
The original Statutes of Wadham College famously prohibited the gentlemen of the College from using guns or crossbows, bearing arms save when travelling, or keeping dogs, ferrets, rabbits, hares, or any kind of bird. Accordingly, Jonah and Maggie Mae, the companion canines of two successive Chaplains, have graciously condescended to be considered ' cats ' while performing their much-valued welfare roles in College.
Photo: Samson Dittrich (History, 2016)