Oxford

Oxford University isn't anything like what I was expecting.  It is so many things.  There are 38 colleges and 6 Permanent Private Halls of religious foundation within Oxford proper.  It is the oldest university in England,  When Henry VIII left the Catholic church, he dissolved the monasteries.  Mary I, Bloody Mary, reinstated catholicism, and Elizabeth I (the Virgin Queen) converted back to protestantism and instituted the Church of England.  Back to Henry.....

Trinity College

When he dissolved the monasteries, Henry VIII offered Thomas Pope any land he wanted; he chose Durham College, now Trinity University for his private holdings.  He turned it into a great estate and, because he had no heirs, he built a chapel to hold his remains.  Pope desperately wanted to be remembered throughout time.  Trinity University is the only college to be opened during the reign of Bloody Mary, founded in 1555.  Pope died in 1559 and was buried at St Stephens, Walbrook.  His remains were subsequently removed to Trinity College where his widow erected a semi-Gothic alabaster monument to his memory.  He was to be chanted daily since his death; the chanting continues to this day. 

 Trinity College Chapel

The lower left is where Thomas Pope and his wife's remains lie.

There are daily services where his name continues to be remembered.

Trinity College houses 400 students, a mix between under and post graduates.  The Oxford colleges are extremely difficult to gain entry.  They are rather liberal universities in the teaching style.  Students meet regularly with a mentor/tutor who collects the assignments, hosts discussions and then sends their student off to research, write papers, attend lectures, etc.  Students are encouraged to attend their assigned lectures and lectures of their peer students of other disciplines to better round out their education. 

Each college has its own library.  The oldest library on campus dates back to the 1400s.  Trinity College chapel is quite lovely and within the walls regular services are held along with debates and meetings.  An interesting side note:  Christopher Wren had a hand in building the chapel.

Simply couldn't resist another shot of the ceiling.  

Oxford is a lovely community.