Wycliffe Hall

The primary purpose for being in Oxford this week is so that I can attend the Wycliffe Hall Summer Conference.  Wycliffe Hall is what as known as a Permanent Private Hall, rather than a College.  The principal difference between a college and a PPH is that whereas the former are governed by the fellows of the college, the governance of a PPH resides, at least in part, with the corresponding Christian denomination. Wycliffe Hall was founded in 1877 by a group of evangelical Christians in response to growing ritualism and rationalism in the Church of England.  This historical beginning gives Wycliffe College its unique flavour, and to this day it still maintains its evangelical tone.  It trains people for ordained ministry in the Church of England (as well as other denominations).  The summer conference is for clergy and lay leaders in the church.  The topic of this year's conference is "Heroes of Oxford - City of Saints and Scholars", a look at the history of Christianity in England as exemplified by the various leaders and movements found in Oxford's rich and long history.

So far this week I have listened to 5 lectures given by various Oxford professors, had a tour of Oxford's historically important sites for its Christian heritage, and of  C.S. Lewis's home (known as the Kilns) and his home church (Holy Trinity - Headington Quarry). These tours were led by a recent graduate and Lewis specialist.  Each morning begins with a worship service that includes a sermon given by one of the Wycliffe Hall teachers.  After only two days I have filled pages of notes and I have found the lectures and tours very interesting and inspiring.  Today I learned about the Reformation as it unfolded in England, something I really didn't know much about before.  I am certainly looking forward to the rest of the conference.