ministry to students
St Columba's is the Reformed churches' chaplaincy to the University of Oxford. It was founded as a Presbyterian Chaplaincy, and is now a congregation of the United Reformed Church. It is part of our mission to provide a place where students from both universities and other institutions nearby may encounter a Christian community which has been shaped by the Holy Spirit's work through the Reformation (and of course before and since!), where students from churches in the Reformed tradition may find familiar worship and Christian practice, and where they may meet those who will offer care, support and encouragement through a significant time in their journey of life and faith. We share in this ministry with Mansfield College Oxford, a college founded by Congregationalists and which has a URC Chaplain.
The centre of our life is the Sunday morning service where we gather to worship God and to hear the Gospel proclaimed. On many Sundays there are other activities too; lunches, Bible studies, concerts, or informal gatherings at a nearby pub. You will find opportunities to meet and to befriend other students or people of student age, as well as people of all ages and backgrounds. We are a mixed and diverse community and pleased to be so!
Keeping in touch There is a mailing list for students at St Columba's. To subscribe, just send the list blank email message. There is also a Facebook group for the whole St Columba's church.
Oxford Reformed Christian Union ORCU meets weekly at St Columba's URC in Oxford to hear theologians and clergy speak, as academics who are also theists, on a sub-section of the term's theme. Bread is broken and open communion is shared, to which any and all are welcome. ORCU's vision is to provide a space where people can reflect openly and honestly about the issues of faith in contemporary society and culture and it is open to people from any of the academic institutions in Oxford, although the primary targets are Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University members. It as its own facebook group.
St Columba's works very closely with Wesley Memorial Church and you are welcome to join in with the activities of the John Wesley Society (JWS), the student society based there. In return St Columba's invites JWS members to our annual Burns Supper in January, a feast not to be missed!
There are also opportunities to be involved in service to the community, through Wednesday Welcome (a call-in cafe for those hurt by loneliness) and by volunteering at the Gatehouse (where the homeless of Oxford are offered food and support). Please ask our minister for details.
Pastoral care and support All new members of our congregation, including students, are encouraged to have their own Elder. Elders play an important part of our way of being the Church and they are people who offer the whole congregation pastoral care and leadership. Each Elder has a group of people for whom they particularly care and they are very happy to welcome students. An Elder is someone who is available to you as a friend and supporter and will be glad to meet with you and to talk or to pray.
The Chaplain The minister of our congregation is also Chaplain with Oxford University to students in the Reformed tradition (with the Chaplain at Mansfield College).
The Chaplaincy Fund. The Oxford Chaplaincy Fund was raised to provide for expenses in connection with the URC Chaplaincy in Oxford. The Elders have decided that one seventh of the income from the fund each year (about 1,000 pounds) is set aside 'to create a fund to which students can apply for grants to finance any travel, attendance at conferences and other activities that will develop their faith, particularly in the Reformed tradition'. No single grant normally exceeds either 200 pounds or 50% of the cost of the activity involved, and it is asked that the recipients share their experiences with the congregation as a whole (e.g. by giving a talk or writing a newsletter article)
First Sunday: on the first Sunday of each month there is an evening gathering for LGBT people and their friends, for Christian fellowship, worship and food. Students are welcome of course!.
