Oxford Timeline
Below is a chronology of Oxford's history, focusing especially on religion and architecture. This Oxford timeline is not yet comprehensive and will continue to be expanded over time. Click links for articles and photos of the buildings being referenced.
| c.700 | Frideswide, a Saxon princess, becomes a nun and founds a convent in Oxford (later the site of Christ Church Cathedral) |
| 735 | Death of St Frideswide in Oxford |
| 1066 | Norman Conquest of England |
| 1086 | The Domesday Book surveys churches and other properties throughout England in detail |
| 1120 | Construction on St. Giles Church is completed |
| c.1140 | St Peter-in-the-East is built by Robert D'Oilly, William the Conqueror's constable in Oxford |
| 1170 | Construction of Iffley Church by Robert de San Remy, one of many Norman immigrants to the area |
| 1180 | Relics of St Frideswide are transferred to the new Priory Church of St Frideswide (later to become Christ Church Cathedral) |
| 1200 | St. Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, consecrates St. Giles Church |
| 1232-41 | Annora the Anchoress lives in a small cell next to Iffley Church |
| 1264 | Merton College is founded as the first college of Oxford University |
| c.1280 | Installation of the east window in St Michael at the North Gate, the oldest remaining stained glass window in Oxford |
| 1289 | Shrine of St Frideswide (now in Christ Church Cathedral) is constructed |
| 1320 | Creation of the Thomas Becket Window for St Frideswide's Priory (now Christ Church Cathedral) |
| 1427 | Robert Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln, appropriates St Michael at the North Gate and All Saints Church and tears down St Mildred's Church to found Lincoln College, in order to combat the Lollard heresy. |
| 1492 | Columbus sails the ocean blue and the Great Tower of Magdalen College (famous for its May Morning ritual) is built |
| 1518 | Catherine of Aragon, wife of King Henry VIII, makes a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Frideswide in Oxford to pray for a son. |
| 1525 | Cardinal Thomas Wolsey closes St Frideswide's Priory and builds "Cardinal College" on its lands; also demolishes St Michael at the South Gate. |
| 1532 | Cardinal College is refounded as King Henry VIII's College (later Christ Church) |
| 1535 | Dissolution of the Monasteries by order of King Henry VIII |
| 1546 | King Henry VIII refounds his college as Christ Church College, making its church the cathedral of the new diocese of Oxford. |
| 1556 | Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer is stripped of his vestments in the cloister of Christ Church Cathedral, then burned at the stake in Broad Street (commemorated by the Martyrs' Memorial) |
| 1630s | Abraham van Linge creates the Jonah Window for Christ Church Cathedral |
| 1642-46 | Civil War: King Charles I has his headquarters at Christ Church; the Great Quad is used to graze cattle. |
| 1688 | After expelling the fellows of Magdalen College for their resistance to his appointed principal, King James II is forced by public opinion to reinstate them on October 5 (still celebrated as Restoration Day) |
| 1720s | John and Charles Wesley study at Christ Church College and are both ordained in Christ Church Cathedral |
| 1772 | North Gate and Bocardo Prison are demolished |
| 1832 | Over 100 houses stand in the new suburb of Summertown (North Oxford) |
| 1854 | The residential crescents in Park Town (North Oxford) are built. Comprehensive restorations of St Michael at the North Gate's interior are completed by G.E. Street |
| 1858 | Edward Burne-Jones designs the St Frideswide Window for Christ Church Cathedral |
| 1860 | May 8 - Foundation stone of Church of St Philip and St James is laid by Bishop Sam Wilberforce |
| 1862 | May 8 - Church of St Philip and St James consecrated by Bishop Sam Wilberforce |
| 1870-76 | Interior of Christ Church Cathedral is redesigned by Sir George Gilbert Scott |
| 1879 | St Margaret's Road (then Rackham Lane) is laid out, during which the remains of several unfortunate people who had died by hanging are found. |
| 1883 | May 3 - Foundation stone of St Margaret's Church laid |
| 1896 | St Margaret's Church separates from the parish of St Philip and St James, becoming a parish in its own right |
| 1917 | Belfast-born C.S. Lewis begins his studies at University College, Oxford (see C.S. Lewis Places) |
| 1925 | C.S. Lewis becomes Fellow of Magdalene College, Oxford |
| 1939-62 | The "Inklings" literary group, whose members include C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, meet weekly at the Eagle and Child Pub |
| 1950 | C.S. Lewis writes The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Kilns on the outskirts of Oxford (see C.S. Lewis Places) |
| 1953 | St Michael at the North Gate severely damaged by arson |
| 1954 | Restorations of St Michael at the North Gate repair fire damage and remove some Victorian "improvements" |
| 1962 | The "Inklings" move their meetings from the Eagle and Child Pub to the Lamb and Flag across the street |
| 1971 | All Saints Church becomes the library of Lincoln College; St Michael at the North Gate becomes the City Church |
| 1976 | The combined parish of St Philip and St James with St Margaret's in North Oxford is created. |
| 1982 | Church of St Philip and St James in North Oxford is declared redundant and deconsecrated. |
| 1983 | Under pressure to reduce the number of clergy, the Bishop of Oxford announces the combined parishes of St Giles and St Philip and St James with St Margaret. |
Article Sources
See sources listed on individual articles.
