Oxford Oratory

Oxford Oratory is a Catholic church in central Oxford designed by architect Joseph Hansom and completed in 1875 using brick construction. The Gothic Revival structure features a single nave with five side chapels arranged along the interior walls.

The church was founded as a Jesuit parish funded by Baroness Weld, marking the return of Roman Catholic worship to Oxford after centuries of absence. Its completion in the 1870s under Hansom's design reinforced the Catholic presence in the university city.

The church serves the local Catholic community with traditional Latin celebrations alongside contemporary English services. Visitors can observe how both classical and modern liturgical practices coexist within the worship space.

The church sits on Woodstock Road next to Somerville College and is easily reached on foot from the city center. Daily masses are held, and visitors can find quiet spaces for reflection, especially around the side chapels.

Two murals by Gabriel Pippet that were painted over in the 1970s were rediscovered and restored to their original appearance in 2024. These artworks offer visitors a rare glimpse of forgotten details from an earlier era of the building.

Location: Oxford

Inception: 1993

Architects: Joseph Hansom

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Made from material: brick

GPS coordinates: 51.75930,-1.26176

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:58