Editing The Queen's College, Oxford

{{short description|College of the University of Oxford}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox residential college
| name           = The Queen's College
| photo          = File:Facade_of_The_Queen%27s_College,_Oxford,_2020.jpg
| university     = [[University of Oxford]]
| scarf          = {{scarf|{{cell|#000326}}{{cell|white}}{{cells|2|#000326}}{{cells|4|white}}{{cells|2|#000326}}{{cell|white}}{{cell|#000326}}}}
| full_name      = The Queen's College in the University of Oxford
| latin_name     = Collegium Reginae
| named_for      = [[Philippa of Hainault]]
| motto          = ''Reginae erunt nutrices tuae''
| established    = {{start date and age|1341}}
| sister_college = [[Pembroke College, Cambridge]]
| provost        = [[Claire Craig]]
| undergraduates = 360 (2024–25)<ref name=students>{{cite web|title = Graduate and Undergraduate Admission Statistics
|publisher = University of Oxford|url = https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/colleges/queens-college}}</ref>
| graduates      = 185 (2024–25)<ref name=students/>
| location       = [[High Street, Oxford]]
| coordinates    = {{coord|51|45|12|N|01|15|04|W|display=inline,title}}
| location_map   = Oxford (central)
| shield         = File:Queens College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg
| blazon         = Argent, three eagles displayed gules, beaked and legged or, on the breast of the first, a mullet of six points of the last. 
| homepage       = {{URL|http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/}}
| boat_club      = {{URL|https://www.qcbcoxford.com/}}
| endowment      = £327.8&nbsp;million <small>(2022)</small><ref name="queens"/>
}}
[[File:Aerial view of Queens College Oxford (31651737006).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of The Queen's College, Oxford]]

'''The Queen's College''' is a [[Colleges of the University of Oxford|constituent college]] of the [[University of Oxford]], England. The college was founded in 1341 by [[Robert de Eglesfield]] in honour of [[Philippa of Hainault]], queen of England.<ref name="History">{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/history|access-date=1 November 2022|website=The Queen's College, Oxford|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110135036/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/history|url-status=live}}</ref> It is distinguished by its predominantly [[neoclassical architecture]], primarily dating from the 18th century.

{{as of|2022}}, the college had an [[Financial endowment|endowment]] of £327.8 million<ref name="queens">{{cite web|url=http://d307gmaoxpdmsg.cloudfront.net/collegeaccounts2122/Queens_College.pdf|title=The Queen's College Oxford : Annual Report and Financial Statements : Year ended 31 July 2022|website=ox.ac.uk|page=20|access-date=26 March 2021|archive-date=20 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120114419/http://d307gmaoxpdmsg.cloudfront.net/collegeaccounts2122/Queens_College.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> making it the fifth-wealthiest Oxford college (after [[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]], [[Magdalen College, Oxford|Magdalen]], [[St. John's College, Oxford|St. John's]], and [[All Souls College, Oxford|All Souls]]).

== History ==
[[File:Robert de Eglesfield.jpg|thumb|left|140px|Statue of [[Robert de Eglesfield]] in the Provost's garden]]
The college was founded in 1341 as "Hall of the Queen's scholars of Oxford" by [[Robert de Eglesfield]] (d'Eglesfield), chaplain to the then queen consort [[Philippa of Hainault]], after whom the hall was named.<ref name="History"/> Robert's aim was to provide clergymen for his native [[Cumberland]] and where he lived in [[Westmorland]] (both part of modern [[Cumbria]]). In addition, the college was to provide charity for the poor. The college's coat of arms is that of the founder; it differs slightly from his family's coat of arms, which did not include the gold star on the breast of the first eagle. The current coat of arms was adopted by d'Eglesfield because he was unable to use his family's arms, being the younger son. D'Eglesfield had grand plans for the college, with a [[Provost (education)|provost]], 12 fellows studying theology, up to 13 chaplains, and 72 poor boys. However, the college did not have the funding to support such numbers, and initially had just two fellows.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The college gained land and patronage in the mid-15th century, giving it a good endowment and allowing it to expand to 10 fellows by the end of the century. By 1500, the college had started to take paying undergraduates, typically sons of the gentry and [[middle class]], who paid the fellows for teaching. There were 14 of these in 1535; by 1612, this had risen to 194. The college added lectureships in Greek and philosophy. Provost [[Henry Robinson (bishop)|Henry Robinson]] obtained an Act of Parliament incorporating the college as "The Queen's College" in 1585, so Robinson is known as the second founder.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Following the new foundation, the college had a good reputation and flourished until the 1750s. [[Joseph Williamson (English politician)|Joseph Williamson]], who had been admitted as a poor boy and went on to become a fellow, rose to Secretary of State and amassed a fortune. He funded a new range on Queen's Lane built in 1671–72. Following a bequest of books from [[Thomas Barlow (bishop)|Thomas Barlow]], a new library was built between 1693 and 1696 by master builder John Townesend. A further bequest from Williamson of £6,000, along with purchase of the buildings along the High Street, allowed a new front quad to be built and for the remaining medieval buildings to be replaced. This was completed by 1759 by John's son William Townesend.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/history|title=The Queen's College, Oxford|website=queens.ox.ac.uk|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110135036/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/history|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.countrylife.co.uk/articles/queens-college-oxford-60488|title=Oxford's greatest neo-classical college is restored|date=17 August 2014|work=Country Life|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=31 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231083831/http://www.countrylife.co.uk/articles/queens-college-oxford-60488|url-status=live}}</ref> The college gained a large number of benefactions during this time, which helped to pay for the buildings and bring in more scholars from other, mostly northern, towns.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

From the 1750s, as with other Oxford colleges, standards dropped. The Oxford commission of 1850–1859 revised the statutes and removed the northern preference for fellows and most of the students. Over the coming years, requirements for fellows to be unmarried were relaxed, the number of fellows required to have taken orders and studied theology was reduced, and in 1871 the [[Universities Tests Act 1871|Universities Tests Act]] allowed non-conformists and Catholics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol3/pp132-143|title=The Queen's College {{!}} British History Online|website=british-history.ac.uk|access-date=1 May 2017|archive-date=5 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705013555/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol3/pp132-143|url-status=live}}</ref>

Like many of Oxford's colleges, Queen's admitted its first mixed-sex cohort in 1979, after more than six centuries as an institution for men only.<ref name="Launch of the Queen's Women's Network">{{cite web|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/launch-queens-womens-network/|title=Launch of the Queen's Women's Network|publisher=queens.ox.ac.uk|access-date=28 February 2019|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228194129/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/launch-queens-womens-network/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Naming ===
The college is named for its first patroness, Queen Philippa. Established in January 1341 'under the name of the Hall of the Queen's scholars of Oxford' (''sub nomine aule scholarium Regine de Oxon''), the college was subsequently called the 'Queen's Hall', 'Queenhall' and 'Queen's College'. The Queen's College, Oxford Act 1584 ([[27 Eliz. 1]]. c. ''2'') sought to end this confusion by providing that it should be called by the one name "the Queen's College";<ref>''A History of the County of Oxford'': Volume 3: "The University of Oxford", 1954, p.132</ref> in practice, the definite article is usually omitted. The full name of the College, as indicated in its annual reports, is ''The Provost and Scholars of The Queen's College in the University of Oxford''.<ref name="Accounts2011">[http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/accounts.pdf Annual Report and Financial Statements, 2011] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423102021/http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/accounts.pdf |date=23 April 2012 }}</ref> [[Queens' College, Cambridge|Queens' College]] in Cambridge positions its apostrophe differently and has no article, as it was named for multiple queens ([[Margaret of Anjou]] and [[Elizabeth Woodville]]).{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

=== In popular culture ===
In April 2012, as part of the celebrations of the [[Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II]], a series of commemorative stamps was released featuring A-Z pictures of famous British landmarks. The Queen's College's front quad was used on the Q stamp, alongside other landmarks such as the [[Angel of the North]] on A and the [[Old Bailey]] on O.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/a-z-of-britain-in-stamps-royal-mails-784766|title=First class: A-Z postal portrait of Britain in stamps is complete|date=10 April 2012|work=Mirror Online|access-date=16 August 2020|archive-date=20 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520152609/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/a-z-of-britain-in-stamps-royal-mails-784766|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Traditions ===
One of the most famous feasts of the College is the Boar's Head Gaudy, which originally was the Christmas dinner for members of the College who were unable to return home to the north of England over the [[Christmas]] break between terms, but is now a feast for old members of the College on the Saturday before Christmas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Queen's College|url=http://www.oxocn.org.uk/colleges/queen-college.html|access-date=24 February 2022|website=oxocn.org.uk|archive-date=17 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217013733/http://www.oxocn.org.uk/colleges/queen-college.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Buildings ==

=== Front Quad ===

The main entrance on the High Street leads to the front quad, which was built between 1709 and 1759. There are symmetrical ranges on the east and west sides, while at the back of the quad is a building containing the chapel and the hall.<ref name=":0" /> The architect [[Nicholas Hawksmoor]], a leading figure of the [[English Baroque architecture|English Baroque]] style, provided a number of designs that were not used directly but that heavily influenced the final design. In the cupola above the college entrance is a statue of the British queen [[Caroline of Ansbach]] by the sculptor [[Henry Cheere]]; the legend 'Carolina Regina, 12 November 1733' may be found marking the laying of the foundation stone of the screen wall, which is visible from the High Street.<ref name=":0" />

=== Back Quad ===
A second and older quad lies to the north of the hall and chapel. The west side consists of the library. The east side is the Williamson building, which was originally built to a design by the architect [[Christopher Wren]], known for his work in the [[English Baroque architecture|English Baroque]] style, but has been largely rebuilt since then.<ref name=":0" />

=== Chapel ===
[[File:Queen's Chapel.jpg|thumb|The Chapel, looking towards the [[Frobenius Orgelbyggeri|Frobenius]] organ|alt=|left|269x269px]]The chapel is noted for its [[Frobenius Orgelbyggeri|Frobenius]] organ in the west gallery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.queenschoir.com/the-organ|title=The Organ|website=Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford|access-date=21 August 2019|archive-date=21 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821162621/https://www.queenschoir.com/the-organ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=N08080|title=The National Pipe Organ Register - NPOR|website=npor.org.uk|access-date=21 August 2019|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512084314/https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=N08080|url-status=live}}</ref> It was installed in 1965, replacing a [[Rushworth and Dreaper]] organ from 1931. The earliest mention of an organ is 1826. The Chapel Choir has been described as "Oxford's finest mixed-voice choir" and continues to perform termly concerts, recent examples of  which include Handel's ''[[Messiah (Handel)|Messiah]]'' and Bach's ''[[St John Passion]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guildmusic.com/artists/choirqco.htm|title=The Chapel Choir of The Queen's College Oxford|access-date=27 April 2007|work=Guild Records page|archive-date=16 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416013627/http://www.guildmusic.com/artists/choirqco.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenschoir.com/archive/|title=Archive|website=Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford|access-date=12 April 2015|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221220/http://www.queenschoir.com/archive/|url-status=live}}</ref> The chapel has stood virtually unchanged since it was consecrated by the [[Archbishop of York]] in 1719.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday morning and at other times, and is open to all communicant members of any Christian church or denomination. The Sunday evening service takes the traditional form of Choral Evensong, which is also held on Wednesday and Friday evenings during term. Morning and evening prayer is said daily, and at other times some like to use the stillness for their own prayer. Baptisms, confirmations, and weddings are also conducted for members or former members of the College.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
[[File:The Queen's College Upper Library.jpg|thumb|284x284px|The Baroque Upper Library (feat. one of the C18 Senex globes)]]

=== Library ===

==== The Upper Library ====
The Upper Library has been a focal point for the College ever since its construction at the end of the 17th century. The ceiling plasterwork, its most outstanding feature, was designed by James Hands, whilst the library itself was built by John Townsend. The designer remains unknown, although a likely candidate is [[Henry Aldrich]], who was Bishop of Oxford and Dean of Christ Church, as well as chief communicator between Christopher Wren and the College whilst the Back Quad was being designed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the Library|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/library-and-your-studies/history-of-the-library/|access-date=23 September 2024|website=The Queen's College, Oxford}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Schapiro|first=Meyer|title=Theory and philosophy of art: style, artist, and society|date=1994|publisher=George Braziller|isbn=978-0-8076-1357-3|series=Selected papers|location=New York}}</ref> Unlike many other similar rooms in Oxford libraries, the Upper Library remains as a silent reading room for students open during staffed hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/library/opening-hours/|title=Opening Hours - The Queen's College|work=ox.ac.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117052447/http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/library/opening-hours/|archive-date=17 January 2016}}</ref>

===== Eighteenth Century Globes and Orrery =====
On display in the middle of the library are two eighteenth century [[Papier-mâché|papier maché]] Senex [[globe]]s and an [[orrery]] from the same period. [[John Senex]] was the foremost globe maker of the eighteenth century,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dorothy Sloan–Rare Books: Auction 22|url=https://www.dsloan.com/Auctions/A22/item-map-senex-1725.html#:~:text=John%20Senex%20(1678-1740),Society%20on%20July%2024,%201728.|access-date=22 September 2020|website=dsloan.com|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002003421/https://www.dsloan.com/Auctions/A22/item-map-senex-1725.html#:~:text=John%20Senex%20(1678-1740),Society%20on%20July%2024,%201728.|url-status=live}}</ref> and also crafted the miniature globe featured in the orrery. The globes are now found in cases that were designed and fitted by Welsh furniture designer Bernard Allen in 2007, after being removed from the library for a period of time in 2002 for structural repair and restoration by renowned English globe conservator Sylvia Sumira.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

The [[Benjamin Cole (instrument maker)|Benjamin Cole]] orrery was a gift to the College in 1763 from a Group of Gentleman Commoners of the College, recorded in two entries in the Benefactors' Book, as well as on an inscription in the lunar calendar scale.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bridgwater|first=David|date=28 December 2018|title=Bath, Art and Architecture: John Vanderstein at Queen's College, Oxford - Part 12, The Upper Library Doorcase - with some notes concerning the Orrery by Benjamin Cole|url=http://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2018/12/john-vanderstein-at-queens.html|access-date=22 September 2020|website=Bath, Art and Architecture|archive-date=2 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002000715/http://bathartandarchitecture.blogspot.com/2018/12/john-vanderstein-at-queens.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The instrument is made of [[brass]], [[steel]], and [[wood]], contained within a wooden case and resting on a mahogany stand with a glazed cover.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Betts|first=Jonathan|date=December 2016|title=Excerpt from A report following the servicing and inspection of The Queen's College Grand Orrery, 2016|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.queens.ox.ac.uk/files/insight-michaelmas-term-2016.pdf|journal=The Queen's College Library 'Insight'|issue=6, Michaelmas 2016|pages=15|access-date=22 September 2020|archive-date=15 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715014609/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.queens.ox.ac.uk/files/insight-michaelmas-term-2016.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Johnathan Betts, in an ''Excerpt from A report following the servicing and inspection of The Queen's College Grand Orrery'' in 2016, describes the instrument as standing<blockquote>on a fine mahogany table with six finely carved cabriole legs, the whole covered with a multi-panelled protective glass shade which can be locked securely onto the table, preventing access to the orrery.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>In the same article, Betts illustrates the orrery,<blockquote>fitted in a mahogany twelve-sided case, with lacquered brass mounts and surmounted, on a brass pillared gallery, with a large lacquered brass hemispherical armillary structure. The mechanical orrery itself incorporates within its compass the solar system out to Mars, including the Earth and Moon, with additional mountings fixed on the outside of the case for attaching static models of Jupiter and Saturn.<ref name=":1" /></blockquote>The turning of the orrery is a traditional event at Queen's, done by hand only once every few years or on special occasions. Only two people are permitted to turn the orrery: the Patroness of the College, a position most recently occupied by The Queen Mother, and the [[Sedleian Professor of Natural Philosophy]], a Fellow of Queen's.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Shaw|first=Tessa|date=September 2011|title=The orrery in the Upper Library|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.queens.ox.ac.uk/files/Insight2011.pdf|journal=The Queen's College Library 'Insight'|issue=1, Michaelmas 2011|pages=15|access-date=22 September 2020|archive-date=15 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715020459/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/sites/www.queens.ox.ac.uk/files/Insight2011.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> This event most recently took place on 4 February 2020, during the Hilary term, with professor [[Jonathan Keating]] as the honorary orrery-turner.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

==== The Lower and New Libraries ====
The open cloister below the Upper Library was enclosed in the 19th century to form the Lower Library, which now houses the bulk of the lending collection. The lending collection consists of around 50,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/current-students|title=The Queen's College, Oxford|website=queens.ox.ac.uk|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=13 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413042805/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/current-students|url-status=live}}</ref> with an additional 70,000 items in the special collections available by appointment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/researchers|title=The Queen's College, Oxford|website=queens.ox.ac.uk|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=13 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413044421/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/researchers|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2017 the New Library opened<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/new-library-opens-students|title=The Queen's College, Oxford|website=queens.ox.ac.uk|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=13 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713093718/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/new-library-opens-students|url-status=live}}</ref> beneath the Provost's Garden,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/new-library|title=The Queen's College, Oxford|website=queens.ox.ac.uk|access-date=30 April 2017|archive-date=13 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113105548/http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/new-library|url-status=live}}</ref> with an official opening by Old Member [[Rowan Atkinson]] taking place in November of the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The right thing at the right time|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/right-thing-right-time|access-date=19 September 2020|website=The Queen's College, Oxford|archive-date=14 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014172007/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/right-thing-right-time|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Annexes ===
Queen's is able to provide accommodation for all of its undergraduates, who are divided between the college's main buildings and annexes nearby. Adjacent to college is Carrodus Quad, located just across Queen's Lane. It has been completely refurbished, and now has approximately 80 en-suite rooms for first-year students, as well as a few second- and third-/final-year students with access requirements. The building also houses a conference room, one of the college's music practice rooms (the other one being located in the Back Quad of the main college), and the college gym. The college also owns the Cardo Building opposite the Oxford University Sports centre on [[Iffley Road]] (where [[Roger Bannister]] ran the first ever [[four-minute mile]] in 1954). This building is home to a mixture of second and third years, and features a common room, breakfast room and the college's two squash courts. Near the Cardo Building is the James Street Building, the smallest of the annexes with twelve rooms.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The [[Florey Building]] in [[St Clement's, Oxford|St Clement's]], designed by [[James Stirling (architect)|James Stirling]] and named after former Queen's Provost and Nobel Prize winner [[Howard Florey]], is a former annex that housed most of the college's first years until 2018, when it fell into disuse following complications that arose in attempts to refurbish the building.<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 April 2016|title=Agenda item - Florey Building, 23-24 St Clement's Street:15/03643/FUL|url=https://mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=11854|access-date=19 September 2020|website=mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028175940/https://mycouncil.oxford.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=11854|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Residents hit out at "grotesque" Florey Building extension in East Oxford after plans approved|url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14461712.residents-hit-grotesque-florey-building-extension-east-oxford-plans-approved/|access-date=19 September 2020|website=Oxford Mail|date=29 April 2016|archive-date=15 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015233848/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/14461712.residents-hit-grotesque-florey-building-extension-east-oxford-plans-approved/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Marrs|first=Colin|date=19 February 2016|title=Avanti's new plans for Florey come under fire|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/avantis-new-plans-for-florey-come-under-fire|access-date=19 September 2020|website=The Architects' Journal|archive-date=21 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921100328/https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/avantis-new-plans-for-florey-come-under-fire|url-status=live}}</ref> It contains nearly 80 rooms; those on the top floor have a mezzanine level where the students' beds were located. At one end of the building on the ground floor, there is a common room and a breakfast room. Following the closure of the [[Florey Building]] in 2018,<ref>{{Cite web|title=St Aldate's House {{!}} The Queen's MCR {{!}} University of Oxford|url=https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/accommodation/st_aldates_house|access-date=19 September 2020|website=mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk|archive-date=18 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018044456/https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/accommodation/st_aldates_house|url-status=live}}</ref> the former post-graduate annex, St Aldate's House, became the largest undergraduate annex at Queen's, with three floors, 90 en suite rooms, and kitchens shared with up to nine other students. The annex is situated down [[St Aldate's, Oxford|St Aldate's]] directly opposite the Christ Church Meadows, near [[Folly Bridge]].{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

While many postgraduate students choose to live outside College accommodation, two postgraduates annexes are provided: Oxley-Wright House, which is owned by the College, and a portion of the Venneit Close complex, which is rented from North Oxford Property Services (NOPS). The former is a large Victorian house on Banbury Road, near Summertown, with 13 rooms and a large garden.<ref name="mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk">{{Cite web|title=Oxley-Wright {{!}} The Queen's MCR {{!}} University of Oxford|url=https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/accommodation/oxley-wright|access-date=19 September 2020|website=mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk|archive-date=28 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228101745/https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/accommodation/oxley-wright|url-status=live}}</ref> None of the rooms are en suite, and there are 3 bathrooms in the building, each shared between approximately 4 people.<ref name="mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk"/> The latter includes 18 apartments, each with three study bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen (with a washing machine) and a dining/sitting room.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Venneit Close {{!}} The Queen's MCR {{!}} University of Oxford|url=https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/accommodation/venneit-close|access-date=19 September 2020|website=mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk|archive-date=28 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228101802/https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/accommodation/venneit-close|url-status=live}}</ref>  Both annexes are within a 10- to 20-minute walk from the city centre.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

=== Gallery ===
<gallery mode="packed" class="center" heights="140">
File:Queens College Oxford 20040124.jpg|The Queen's College, view from the High Street
File:The Queen's College Upper Library (West side).jpg|View of the Upper Library, featuring the last remaining part of the medieval college
File:The Queen's College, Back Quad.jpg|The Queen's College, Back Quad
File:Queens-College-Oxford3.jpg|Back Quad, detail
</gallery>

== Student life ==
[[File:The Queen's College, Cupola.jpg|alt=|thumb|High Street entrance to Queen's College from the Chapel.]]
Queen's is an active community performing strongly in intercollegiate sport competitions, having a variety of societies and, as one of the larger colleges, hosting triennial [[Commemoration ball]]s. The 2007 ball coincided with the 666th anniversary of the college.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thequeensball.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222110821/http://www.thequeensball.co.uk/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=22 February 2007|title=Queen's College Ball|access-date=27 April 2007}}</ref>

Queen's is host to a number of dining, drinking and sports societies, as well as some which are more academically orientated such as a medical society.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

=== The JCR, MCR, and Old Taberdar's Room ===
The [[Common room (university)|Junior Common Room]] (JCR) consists of the collective body of undergraduates at the college, and also refers to the room under the same name, located in the Back Quad, which is the only common room in the college that cannot be booked. The JCR is not to be confused with the JCR General Committee, which consists of all members of the Executive Committee, Equalities Committee, and Welfare Committee, all presidents of college societies and the president of the ball committee, as well as the Academic & Careers Representative, Access and Outreach Representative, Food Representatives, Environment & Ethics Representatives, Student Union Representatives, Stash Representative, Charities Representative, Webmasters, Arts Representative, Antisocial Secretary (a position passed on in a 'hereditary' manner through one's 'College family'), Warden of the Beer Cellar, and the Keeper of the Boars, Bees, and Eagles.

The Middle Common Room (MCR) refers to the postgraduates of the college. Like the JCR, the MCR have an Executive team, which includes the President, Victualler, Vice-President Secretary, Treasurer, Social Secretary, SCR Liaison Officer, LGBTQ+ Officer, Welfare Officer, Environment and Charities Representative, IT Officer, Sports Secretary, Oxford SU Representative, First Year Representative, and Entz Representative (the last four positions being empty as of 2020).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Members {{!}} The Queen's MCR {{!}} University of Oxford|url=https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/the_mcr/members|access-date=6 October 2020|website=mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk|archive-date=27 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227183126/https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/the_mcr/members|url-status=live}}</ref> The MCR and JCR will often liaise with one another in order to organise events in the college.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The Old Taberdar's Room is a room unique to Queen's, described by the college as: ''a traditional wood-panelled room, furnished with comfortable sofas and chairs. The room is ideal as a lounge space or for informal discussion based session''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Old Taberdars' Room|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/old-taberdars-room|access-date=2020-10-06|website=The Queen's College, Oxford|archive-date=1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001200837/https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/old-taberdars-room|url-status=live}}</ref> It is open for use by all members of the college, though it is possible to book it for events such as welcome drinks, pre-dinner drinks, student production rehearsals, and society meetings. A Taberdar is specifically "a holder of a scholarship at Queen's College, Oxford".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Taberdar definition and meaning {{!}} Collins English Dictionary|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/taberdar|access-date=6 October 2020|website=collinsdictionary.com|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427123134/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/taberdar|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sport ===
[[File:Queen's College pavilion.jpg|thumb|Queen's College pavilion]]
College sport at Queen's is organised and funded through the Amalgamated Sports Clubs Committee, consisting of individual club captains and other representatives of college sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.queens.ox.ac.uk/|title=The Queen's College|author=The Queen's College, Oxford University|work=ox.ac.uk|access-date=18 October 2013|archive-date=22 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022153219/http://sport.queens.ox.ac.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> The college competes in most of the intercollegiate [[Cuppers]] (tournament style) and league sports, with many 1st teams competing in top divisions.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

The college playing field, less than a mile from the main buildings, runs down to the banks of the Isis. It has a football and a hockey pitch, together with hard tennis courts, a netball court and a pavilion. The football ground is nicknamed Fortress Riverside by the club and its supporters, owing to its close proximity to the Isis {{citation needed|date=February 2019}}. The Queen's College shares a rugby pitch nearby with [[University College, Oxford|University College]]. In the summer, the goalposts go down and a cricket square appears in the middle.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} The college's two squash courts are located at the Cardo Building annex on Iffley Road.

====Rowing====
{{main|The Queen's College Boat Club}}
The Queen's College Boat Club was founded in 1827 and is one of the oldest boat clubs in the world. In 1837, QCBC represented Oxford in a [[The Boat Race|Boat Race]] against [[Lady Margaret Boat Club]], representing Cambridge, and won. This event, held on the [[River Thames]] at [[Henley-on-Thames]], is credited with contributing to support from the town for the establishment of the [[Henley Royal Regatta]] in 1839.<ref>{{cite book|last=Howard|first=Henry Charles|date=1911|title=The Encyclopaedia of Sport and Games|url=https://archive.org/details/b28120681_0003|publisher=William Heinemann|page=[https://archive.org/details/b28120681_0003/page/53 53]|author-link=Henry Howard, 18th Earl of Suffolk}}</ref> The college's colours were changed thereafter from red and white to navy blue and white, the colours of the university. 

Queen's shares its boathouse with [[Oriel College, Oxford|Oriel]] and [[Lincoln College, Oxford|Lincoln]] colleges. [[Sport rowing|Rowing]] is still a major sport in the College, with the men's first boat winning blades in [[Torpids]] 2021<ref>{{Cite web|title=success on the river!|url=https://www.queenscollegeoxford.news/content/success-on-the-river|access-date=15 January 2024|website=The Queen's College Newsletter}}</ref> and the women's first boat winning blades in both Torpids 2023<ref>{{Cite web|title=Torpids success!|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/torpids-success/|access-date=15 January 2024|website=The Queen's College, Oxford}}</ref> and [[Eights Week|Summer Eights]] 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Women's 1st VIII makes history at Summer Eights|url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/womens-1st-boat-makes-history-at-summer-eights/|access-date=15 January 2024|website=The Queen's College, Oxford}}</ref> The College was last Head of the river in Torpids and Eights in 1958.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

=== Music ===
[[File:Choir of The Queen's College, Oxford.jpg|thumb|left|The choir performing in the Front Quad on [[Ascension of Jesus|Ascension]] morning 2009.]]
The Queen's College is host to a mixed-voice Chapel Choir. The singers include Choral Scholars (up to eighteen at any one time) and volunteers, all of whom are auditioned. The Choir sings Evensong three times a week during term, and performs one major concert each term, often with a noted orchestral ensemble. The choir also undertakes regular tours and short visits both within this country and abroad. The Eglesfield Musical Society, named after the founder, is the oldest musical society in Oxford. It organises a substantial series of concerts each year, ranging from chamber music to orchestral works.

=== College Grace ===
As is the case with many Oxbridge colleges, Queen's uses a Latin grace which is recited every evening before the second sitting of dinner:

''Benedic nobis, Domine Deus, et his donis, quae ex liberalitate Tua sumpturi sumus; per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.''

A rough English translation: "Bless us, Lord God, and these gifts which we are about to receive through your bounty; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen"

At gaudy dinners this grace is sung by the choir.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}

==Notable people==
=== Notable alumni ===
[[File:King Henry V from NPG.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Henry V of England|Henry V]]]]
[[File:Jwycliffejmk.jpg|thumb|upright|[[John Wycliffe]]]]
[[File:LS3_4919_(cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Tim Berners-Lee]]]]
[[File:Studio portrait photograph of Edwin Powell Hubble (cropped).JPG|thumb|upright|[[Edwin Hubble]]]]
<!-- Please discuss any additions to this section on the Talk page -->
{{main category|Alumni of the Queen's College, Oxford}}
* [[Tony Abbott]], 28th [[Prime Minister of Australia]]
* [[Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu]], Justice of the [[Supreme Court of Ghana]]
* [[Joseph Addison]], co-founder of ''[[The Spectator (1711)|The Spectator]]''
* [[Rowan Atkinson]], actor and comedian, known for ''[[Blackadder]]'' and ''[[Mr. Bean]]''
* [[Michael Barber (chemist)|Michael Barber]] FRS, chemist and mass spectrometrist
* [[Jeremy Bentham]], English philosopher, and legal and social reformer
* [[Tim Berners-Lee]], inventor of the [[World Wide Web]] and director of the [[World Wide Web Consortium]]
* [[Wilfred Bion]], British psychoanalyst<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melanie-klein-trust.org.uk/?location_id=17|title=Wilfred Bion - melanie klein trust|work=melanie-klein-trust.org.uk|access-date=23 December 2012|archive-date=9 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709014501/http://www.melanie-klein-trust.org.uk/?location_id=17|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Christopher Bland]], British businessman and politician
* [[Cory Booker]], United States Senator from New Jersey
* [[Vere Gordon Childe]], Archaeologist, socialist, excavator of [[Skara Brae]] and [[Maes Howe]]
* [[Clayton Christensen]], American business academic known for coining "[[disruptive innovation]]"
* [[Myles Cooper]], 2nd [[President of Columbia University]]
* [[Frank Cowper]], English yachtsman and author 
* [[John Crewdson]], Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The New York Times
* [[Peter Daniell|Peter Daniell MP]], Member of Parliament
* [[Ernest Dowson]], English poet and prose writer
* [[Alfred Enoch]], English actor
* [[Howard Florey]], Lord Florey, Nobel Laureate and co-developer of penicillin, later Provost of the College
* [[Oliver Franks, Baron Franks]], civil servant and philosopher, Provost of The Queen's College, later Provost of Worcester College
* [[Eric Garcetti]], Mayor of Los Angeles
* [[Herbert Branston Gray]], educationalist
* [[Leonard Hoffmann, Baron Hoffmann]], English jurist and judge
* [[Edmund Halley]], English astronomer
* [[Fred Halliday]], Irish academic, Fellow of the [[British Academy]], [[Montague Burton Professor of International Relations]] at [[London School of Economics]]
* [[John Heath-Stubbs]], English poet and editor
* King [[Henry V of England]]
* [[Edwin Powell Hubble]], American astronomer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/section/rhodes-scholars|title=Rhodes Scholars - the Rhodes Trust|access-date=15 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726134358/http://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/section/rhodes-scholars|archive-date=26 July 2011}} "For example, the Rhodes Scholar identifiers for Edwin Hubble (American astronomer for whom the Hubble Telescope is named) would be "Illinois & Queen's 1910"."</ref>
* [[Ruth Kelly]], former UK [[Cabinet Minister|Cabinet and Government Minister]]
* [[Kenneth Leighton]], twentieth-century English composer
* [[John Henry Mee]], nineteenth-century English composer
* [[Thomas Middleton]], English [[English Renaissance theatre|Jacobean playwright]] and poet
* [[John Milbank]], [[Anglican]] [[Theologian]]
* [[David Moule-Evans]], twentieth-century English composer
* [[David Oliver (doctor)|David Oliver]], Geriatrician. Professor of Medicine for Older People at City University. Former National Clinical Director for Older People Department of Health. President [[British Geriatrics Society]]. Visiting Fellow [[The King's Fund]]
* [[John Owen (theologian)|John Owen]], seventeenth-century English theologian
* [[Brian Paddick]], twice Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London
* [[Walter Horatio Pater]], English essayist
* [[Richard Rampton]], barrister in high-profile cases such as ''[[Irving v Penguin Books and Lipstadt]]'', which was the subject of the film ''[[Denial (2016 film)|Denial]]''
* [[Benedict Read]], Art Historian
* [[Ryan Max Riley]], United States Ski Team skier
* [[Gilbert Ryle]], British philosopher
* [[Oliver Sacks]], neurologist and writer
* [[Barnabas Simpson]], English clergyman
* [[Leopold Stokowski]], conductor
* [[Claire Taylor]], English cricketer
* [[William Thomson (bishop)|William Thomson]], Archbishop of York
* [[Phil Venables (computer scientist)|Phil Venables]], British computer scientist and security specialist
* [[Charles Leslie Wrenn]], English scholar and a [[Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon]] at [[Pembroke College, Oxford]]
* [[John Wycliffe]], English theologian
* [[Adam Zamoyski]], historian and author

===Fellows===
{{main category|Fellows of the Queen's College, Oxford|Fellows of the Queen's College, Oxford}}
{{further|List of honorary fellows of the Queen's College, Oxford}}

===Provosts===
{{Main list|List of provosts of the Queen's College, Oxford}}
Since 2019, the British geophysicist [[Claire Craig]] has been Provost at Queen's. She will be succeeded by [[Paul Johnson (economist)|Paul Johnson]], Director of the [[Institute for Fiscal Studies]] from 2 August 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Queen’s announces pre-election of next Provost |url=https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/news/queens-announces-pre-election-of-next-provost/ |website=The Queen's College |access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Daniel Faraday]] and [[The Constant]] in ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]''
* The [[Neda Agha-Soltan Graduate Scholarship]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/}}
* [http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/oxfordtour/queenscollege/ Virtual Tour of the Queen's College]
* [https://jcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/ Queen's College JCR]
* [https://mcr.queens.ox.ac.uk/ Queen's College MCR]

{{University of Oxford}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Colleges of the University of Oxford]]
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