The Dean of Christ Church is the dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and head of the governing body of Christ Church, a constituent college of the University of Oxford. The cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford and seat of the Bishop of Oxford. The chapter of canons of the cathedral formed the governing body of the college from its foundation until the Christ Church (Oxford) Act of 1867, by which the Governing Body was expanded to include the Students (academics) in addition to the Dean and Chapter. [1] The dean was ex officio head of the chapter and ipso facto head of the college. From 26 April 2022 until July 2023, the position was vacant. [2] As of 8 July 2023, [3] Sarah Foot is the first female dean of Christ Church. [4]
From the diocese's foundation in 1542 until 1545, the cathedral was at Osney. There, the cathedral deans were:
The academic deans of Christ Church's predecessor Oxford colleges were:
Both the college and the see at Osney surrendered to the Crown on 20 May 1545. Christ Church, the double establishment of cathedral and college, was founded by letters patent on 4 November 1546. [5]
† Died in office
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Horn, Joyce M. (ed.). "Deans of Christ Church, Oxford". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541-1857. Vol. 8. pp. 80–83. Retrieved 12 September 2019.