June 12-18, 2018 - Oxford

On Monday, June 18 we drove 2.5 hours from the Temple with a group of missionaries to the city of Oxford.  There we visited sites at the University of Oxford established in 1096 AD which makes it the oldest English-speaking university in the world and the second oldest university in continuous operation (The University of Bologna - not a play on words :-) - in Italy is the oldest established in 1088 AD).  Cambridge University, which competes with Oxford, was not established until 1209 AD.  These two "ancient universities" are frequently jointly referred to as "Oxbridge". The history and influence of Oxford University has made it perhaps the world's most prestigious university.  Between Oxford and Cambridge, there are 185 Nobel Laureates.  Oxford alumni include 26 British

Prime Ministers and writers including Oscar Wilde, CS Lewis and JR Tolkien.

The university is made up of 38 separate colleges, which are self-governing institutions within the university.  Each college offers courses of study toward many of the same degrees, so, for example, chemistry and physics degrees are offered by every college.  Undergraduate teaching is organized around weekly tutorials at the colleges and halls, supported by classes, lectures, seminars, and laboratory work.  The university does not have a main campus with colleges scattered throughout the city.  The University population is about 12,000 undergraduates (3,600 spots are available each year from about 20,000 applications) and another 12,000 graduate students.  Tuition for UK and EU students in 2018 was £9,250 ($12,500) plus board of £9,000 to £13,000 for 3 three-month terms.  Tuition is 2-3 times higher for students outside the EU.

We were able to arrange a small group tour through the most prestigious of the undergraduate colleges, which is called "New College" which is short for "The Warden and Scholars of St Mary's College of Winchester in Oxford." The name "New College" was used following its completion in 1386 to distinguish it from the older existing college of St. Mary, now known as "Oriel College."

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw on the open-top red double-decker bus visiting Oxford.

The University Church of St Mary the Virgin and Radcliffe Square are at the center of Oxford.  The original Church, built in 1086 was adopted as the first building of the University since it was originally formed to train clerics.  At the end of our tour, we climbed the church tower to take some photographs of the city. 

The Sheldonian Theatre is the site of graduation ceremonies for most of the colleges.  It is also used for musical concerts 

The Clarendon Building is a part of the Bodleian Library which is the central library for the University and by law, receives a copy of every book published in Great Britain.  The famous Oxford University Press was originally housed here.

Sister Burkinshaw in front of the entrance to New College.  Note the bridge between the two buildings, which serves to remind visitors that earlier generations of students were not allowed to be outside the University for their own safety.

The gate to New College which looks rather austere but would be a significant protection for students from the dangerous world outside the university in previous generations.

Sister Burkinshaw just inside the gate of New College with the chapel on the left and dormitories and meeting halls for the tutorials which are the primary teaching method used at Oxford.  Professors as well as students live in the dormitories.

Looking back towards the entry gate to New College (chapel on the right this time).

The New College dining hall, where all students take their meals.  We were told that food has been prepared here ever day for over 600 years!  The high tables at the end of the hall are for the fellows (professors) and portraits are of prominent fellows.

There are beautiful stained glass windows in the dining hall.  During the bombing raids of World War II, the stained glass was removed and stored in bunkers for protection.

Close-up of the stained glass in New College dining hall.  The royal shield with the crowned lion and field with three lions.

Looking back at the New College dining hall.  Note that in the center of the ceiling is a large cutout for smoke to rise through in ancient times when a fire was always burning in the center of the dining hall to provide warmth and light.

The gate to the New College garden which was within the walls of the college.  The beautiful gardens provide an area for students to study and be outside.

A closeup of the gate to the gardens with the crest of New College Founder William of Wykeham and the college motto which was "Manners Makyth Man."  The motto was in many respects fairly revolutionary. First, it was written in English, rather than Latin, which makes it very unusual in Oxford. Secondly, the motto makes a social statement; it is not by birth, money, or property that an individual is defined, but by how he or she behaves towards other people.

Note the substantial wall that surrounds the garden and the entire college for the protection of the students.

Panoramic shot of the New College gardens.

Note that the students on the left are painting first place banners on their wall celebrating their victory against other colleges in rowing races.  Originally Oxford students were also expected to be great athletes.
 

The cloisters outside New College chapel provided students a place to get fresh air without having to go out into the elements.  Here our tour guide (glasses and blazer) who is a graduate of Oxford explains more about the chapel.  This cloister was also used in the movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  See the link below to a YouTube clip.

The inner courtyard of the New College chapel.  Sister Burkinshaw is pointing towards a large oak tree that was used in the filming of Harry Potter of the Goblet of Fire.  It was beneath this tree that Professor Moody turns Malfoy into a ferret.

New College chapel tower.

Note the statues niches of the reredos behind the altar of the New College chapel.  The first row are Old Testament prophets such as Moses (with the tablets) and Elijah (with the raven).  The next row has the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) at the Center and selected royal monarchs and clerics from the time.  Next is the crucified Jesus with his apostles and above them are the angels.  Above the angels is God the Father on His Throne surrounded by angels.  Since the Anglican Church subscribes to the Nicean Creed, this was quite a surprise.  We specifically asked the guide about this and he said the statues created a stir among the clerics but they have remained.

Beautiful 600 year-old stained glass in the New College chapel with the nativity at the top and seven saints below. 

The main entrance to the Bodleian Library (named for its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley) is the Tower of the Five Orders, so named because its columns show each of the five orders of classical architecture: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite

At the top of the Tower of Five Orders is this statue of King James IV and I (who commissioned the King James translation of the Bible which we use today and which retains about 70% of William Tyndale's Bible translated from Hebrew and Greek).  King James hands a book representing his Bible translation to Fame and on his left, he hands a book representing his library which he donated to the University of Oxford.

One of the four entrances in the "Old School Quadrangle" to the Bodleian Library.

The Radcliffe Camera, which is also a part of the Bodleian Library complex.  The picture was taken from the tower of St Mary's Church.

The All Souls (or College of the Souls of All the Faithful Departed) has no undergraduate members and it's competitive examination for entrance has been characterized as "the hardest exam in the world."  Members of the College automatically become fellows (professors and full members of the College's governing body). 

Additional photo of the All Souls College.

A view of Oriel College from the tower of St Mary's Church.  The building in front on the right with the flagpole is the Rhodes building, named for Oriel College alumnus Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902) the benefactor of the Rhodes Scholarship Program.  Rhodes, a sickly child, was sent to South Africa by his family when he was 17 years old in the hope that the climate might improve his health. He entered the diamond trade and over the next two decades gained near-complete domination of the world diamond market. His De Beers diamond company, formed in 1888, is still well-known today. 

Brasenose College (former British Prime Minister David Cameron is one of it's famous alumnus) as seen from the tower of St Mary's Church.

Lincoln College Oxford as seen from the tower of St Mary's Church.  Notable alumnus include John Wesley and Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss).

Two prominent LDS church leaders are Oxford graduates including current apostle Elder Gerrit W. Gong and former area seventy Elder Clayton W. Christensen, both of whom were Rhodes Scholars.  While we traveled to Oxford, we listened to Elder Christensen's 2004 devotional at BYU-Idaho entitled "Decisions For Which I Have Been Grateful" wherein he describe some of his experiences at Oxford.  We highly recommend listening to and/or reading the great insights shared by Elder Christensen. (Read, Listen or Watch)

We close with some verses which remind us education's place in the Lord's plan from the Book of Mormon....

"O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.  But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." (2 Nephi 9:28-29)

Elder and Sister Burkinshaw