racter. Student rooms were installed in the (very
large) roof space in the 1980s.
The New Building was built across a large lawn to the north of the
Great Quad in 1733. Its spacious setting is due to the builders'
intentions to create an entirely new quad, but only one side was
completed. C. S. Lewis
rooms in this building, and as there are very few student rooms
(many being occupied by tutors), they are highly sought
The college has four other quads. The irregularly shaped St John's
Quad is the first on entering the college, and includes the Outdoor
Pulpit and old Grammar Hall. It connects to the Great Quad via the
Perpendicular Gothic Founder's Tower, which is richly decorated
with carvings and pinnacles and has carved bosses in its
The Chaplain's Quad runs along the side of the Chapel and Hall, to
the foot of the Great Tower
Swithun's Quad and Longwall Quad (which contains the Library) date
from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and make up the
southwest corner of the college. The Grove Buildings are the
newest, built in the 1990s in a traditional style.
The chapel is a place of worship for members of the college and
others in the university community and beyond. Its tradition is
influenced by the Catholic Revival
in the Church of England. Said and sung services are held daily
during term. The choir sings Choral Evensong
every day except Tuesday.
On Sundays, Sung Mass is offered in the morning and Compline
(Night Prayer) and Benediction
congregationally to plainsong
o'clock. Mass is also sung on major holy days.
is one of the three Choral Foundations in Oxford, meaning that the
formation of the choir was part of the statutes of the college, the
other two choral foundations being New College and Christ Church.
consists of twelve Academical Clerks who are students at the
College, and sixteen boys aged seven to fourteen, all of whom have
scholarships at Magdalen College School.
The school was originally founded for this
express purpose but has long since become an independent public
The choristers' day begins at 7:30, with an early morning practice
before school. There is further practice immediately after school,
followed by Choral Evensong six nights a week, in term; the Monday
service is sung by the boys only, and the Friday service only by
the Academical Clerks. On Saturdays there is an afternoon practice,
while on Sundays there is a practice at 09:30 followed by
Eucharist, then a further afternoon practice followed by Evensong
which ends at 7pm. Most of the boys thus have a longer working day,
and a busier weekend, than their parents.
The Choir has numerous College duties as well as a recording and
touring schedule. Traditionally the Choir sings at College Gaudies
and at other special events throughout the year, as well as
performing on social occasions such as Carols by Candlelight before
Christmas and the famous May Morning
this occasion the Choir sings madrigals at 6am from the top of the
college bell-tower to the assembled mass of students and townsfolk
celebrating in the streets below.
In its long history the choir has had many well known organists,
such as Daniel Purcell
, Sir John Stainer
and Bernard Rose
, while past Organ
Scholars include Dudley Moore
, and past
Academical Clerks include Harry
(founder and director of The Sixteen) and Robin Blaze
The choir records regularly and In 2005 was nominated for a
prestigious Grammy Award
, With a Merrie Noyse
music by Orlando Gibbons
recent works include the BBC's Blue
and Paul McCartney's classical piece Ecce Cor Meum
The former Informator Choristarum (the master and conductor of the
choir) was the composer Dr Bill Ives
possibly better known as a former King's Singer. A disc of his
music, Listen Sweet Dove
, is amongst the choir's latest
releases. The College has recently appointed organist Daniel Hyde
as Informator Choristarum.
List of organ scholars
Centre for the History of Childhood
Centre for the History of Childhood, situated at Magdalen College,
is the first institution within the United Kingdom that focuses on
studying every interdisciplinary aspect 