University of Oxford

The University of Oxford located in the city of Oxford, UK, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. It traces its origins back to the late twelfth century, with a period of rapid growth following the expulsion of English students from Paris, France, in 1167 by Henry II. A magister scolarum Oxonie was appointed in 1201 to head the university, with the title 'Chancellor' conferred for the first time in 1214. The masters of the various colleges were formally incorporated as a university in 1231.

Organisation

Oxford is a corporation of individual colleges, each of which appoints its own masters, admits its own students and fellows, and enjoys a great deal of independence. The oldest of these, Balliol College, was established in 1263 A.D. by John Balliol, father of King John Balliol of Scotland, although the college does not possess the original foundation charter. The college was given formal statues by his widow, Dervorguilla, Lady of Galloway, in 1282. The second oldest college, Merton College, was established in 1264 A.D. by Walter de Merton, Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of Rochester. Oxford also has a number of "Permanent Halls," some of which, over the years, have become colleges in their own right. The oldest of these is Blackfriars Hall, founded in 1221 A.D. Currently there are thirty-nine Colleges and seven Permanent Halls.

Population

In the academic year 2003-2004 the University supported a student population of 17,664 of which 11,119 were undergraduates. A staff of just over 7,000 maintain the central University administrative services, with a further 3,500 employed by individual colleges.

History

Rivalry between 'town' (residents of Oxford) and 'gown' (students) has been a predominant feature of the history of the university, with rioting in the 13th Century prompting the development of permanent halls of residence for the student population. University College, Balliol College, and Merton College numbered among the first three medieval halls, also known as endowed houses, and were founded between 1249 and 1264 A.D.

In 1355 King Edward III praised the institution for contributions to learning and the work of distinguished graduates.

Admission for women was opened up in 1878 with the establishment of female-only academic halls. Women were not entitled to become members of the University until 1920. Since 1974 all but one of Oxford's 39 colleges have opened admission to women: St. Hilda's College remains as the last female-only college.

Religious Controversies

In the 1370s several academics defiantly delivered sermons in English, while John Wycliffe campaigned for the development of a bible using the vernacular against the wishes of the Papacy. The dispute continued unabated and eventually culminated in the three sets of "determinationes" of the Oxford Translation Debate (1401 to c1407).

In the 16th Century religious controversy continued, with Anglican churchmen Cranmer, Latimer, and Ridley all tried for heresy and subsequently burnt at the stake.

The 17th Century prayer meetings led by John and Charles Wesley eventually led to the formation of the Methodist Society.

During the Victorian era the Oxford Movement attempted to promote the more Catholic aspects of the Anglican Church: one of it's leading figures, John Henry Newman, converted to Roman Catholicism in 1845 and was later appointed a Cardinal. In 1860 a debate between Thomas Huxley and Bishop Wilberforce at the University Museum pitted evolutionist theory against religious creationism.

Bibliography

Oxford University (n.d.), FAQs, http://www.ox.ac.uk/aboutoxford/faq/ (Accessed 09 July 2007).
Oxford University (n.d.), A Brief History of the University, http://www.ox.ac.uk/aboutoxford/history.shtml (Accessed 09 July 2007)
Britannia Biographies (n.d.), John Wycliffe (1324-1384), http://www.britannia.com/bios/jwycliffe.html (Accessed 09 July 2007).