image of a chapel interior including a blue ceiling and a large stained glass window

An altar cloth with a golden castle and two crossed keys

About

The Chapel

The College Chapel is a place of worship, prayer and reflection with an open and inclusive ethos. It is also used for various purposes by the College community such as musical concerts, meetings and lectures, plays and other artistic events, social events and dinners.

The College Chapel is the Parish Church of St Peter Le Bailey where our College founder, Bishop Francis Chavasse, served as Rector 1878-1889. Since the 1960s the Church has been used as the College Chapel not only for services but also for musical, cultural and various social events.

Join us during term time for informal Holy Communion, Choral Evensong services sung by the College Choir, or participate in one of our many other regular activities.

Trinity term card

Welcome from the Chaplain

Revd Dr Elizabeth Pitkethly is the College’s Part time Chaplain and a member of the College’s Health, Wellbeing and Welfare Team.

Many people find it helpful to chat with someone outside their immediate circle of friends. I am very happy to speak in confidence with any member of the College irrespective of your faith background. I am glad to help students think through issues of identity, faith and meaning and am also able to supply bereavement support.

For those who might find it helpful, I can arrange for College members to remember loved ones in private memorial services in the Chapel. Contact me by , get in touch through Microsoft Teams, or phone me at (+44) 01865 278 905). You can drop by my office in Besse 5 most Thursday afternoons between 3-4.30pm. I am also happy to 'walk and talk' with anyone who prefers to meet outdoors.

Revd Dr Elizabeth Pitkethly

Bio and Contact Information

Chapel events this week

Thursday, 19 May

6.15-7pm Choral Evensong

Friday, 20 May

12.30-12.50 College Prayer in Chapel

Sunday, 22 May

6pm Choral Evensong. Preacher Brother Albert (Blackfriars) The Holy Spirit and Prayer

Choral Music Walmisley in D minor; Lassus 'Adoramus te, Christe'

: Services

Evensong

On Sundays during term time Evensong is from 6-7pm and on Thursdays from 6.15-7pm.

Informal Holy Communion

Informal Holy Communion takes place on the first Sunday of term at 9.30am. The service provides an opportunity for students to meet other Christians in college. It is followed by breakfast at a local café.

Roman Catholic Mass

A Roman Catholic Mass is normally held on Friday of week 4 at 6pm.

Worship

With the exception of the Roman Catholic Mass, all services in Chapel are according to the rites of the Church of England. The main formal services take the form of Choral Evensong (Book of Common Prayer). The services are led by the Chaplain and the Choir and include sung liturgy, Bible readings, prayer, a choir anthem or motet, a hymn and, on Sundays, there is a sermon. Preachers are drawn from different Christian traditions. The sermons follow a theme which is set out on the Chapel term card. After Sunday Evensong there are drinks at the back of chapel and you are encouraged to stay and chat.

All are welcome

Everyone is welcome to attend these services: College members, their guests and non-College members all form part of our congregation. If you are unfamiliar with Christian services, you are very welcome to come along and sit quietly and enjoy the peace and opportunity for reflection. With the exception of special services such as carols services and Founder’s Day services, we don’t take a monetary collection.

Please note that we ask that face coverings are worn unless exempt.

The term card for Hilary term 2022 can be downloaded here.

For more information on activities in the Chapel community see St Peter's College Chapel Facebook page.
: Prayer for the college takes place on Thursday mornings in chapel (or online) at 8.30am. The College Chapel is also open for private prayer every weekday morning during term time between 8 and 8.50am. In addition the Chaplain leads times of quiet prayer and reflection on some Fridays during term time from 5-5.30pm: contact the Chaplain for details. Please let the Chaplain know of any prayer requests in confidence.
: From time to time walks, meals and other gatherings are arranged for members of the chapel community though everyone is welcome to attend. These will be advertised in the Chaplain’s emails and on the St Peter’s College Chapel Facebook page.
: The Chaplain is very happy to meet with any College member and to talk in confidence. The Chaplain is also happy to provide informal acts of remembrance in Chapel for those who have been bereaved or who have experienced other forms of loss.
: Each year there are discussion groups for staff and students exploring the Christian faith tailored according to those concerned. An online group for postgraduate students seeking to deepen their Christian faith is currently meeting: please do contact the Chaplain if you are interested in this or any other reading or discussion group.

Baptism, confirmation preparation takes place regularly using the Church of England Pilgrim Course.
: In order to avoid double booking it is essential that everyone wishing to book the Chapel follow the established procedures.

Protocols on the use of the Chapel and booking guidance can be downloaded here.
: Current and former members of St Peter’s College are welcome to contact the Chaplain to discuss the possibility of a wedding service in the Chapel. Wedding services in Chapel take place according to the rites of the Church of England: they are by special licence issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury. If you are interested in getting married in College Chapel please contact the Chaplain at least nine months in advance of the proposed date of the service. A wedding is a public service and would normally take place in your local parish church in the community of which you are a part. For information on getting married in your parish church please click here.

Chapel Stained Glass

The exquisite east window of our Chapel was designed by the noted post-war stained-glass artist John Hayward (1929-2007) in 1964. The window contains several small details commemorating Dr Christopher Chavasse, including Olympic rings, his Military Cross and his artificial leg.

The south wall in the west end of the nave features a window by Ervin Bossányi (1891-1975). Installed in 1997 as a memorial to Bossányi and his wife, this 1943 window is installed at eye-level and depicts the theme 'In his hands a seed will grow'. View more pictures of the stained glass in the gallery below.