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Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the 39 constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Out of the 30 colleges that accept both undergraduates and graduates, Mansfield College is one of the smaller colleges in terms of student numbers and comprises approximately 220 undergraduates, 50 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50 academic staff.
LocationThe spacious grounds of Mansfield College are near to the University parks and the River Cherwell. It's located on Mansfield Road. Academic PerformanceMansfield ranked 23rd out of 30 in the 2008 Norrington Table. [1] FellowsDr Albert Schweitzer, theologian and famous Bach expert was a special lecturer at Mansfield and often performed on the chapel organ. Among the notable academic staff is the Reverend Dr John Muddiman, G. B. Caird Fellow in New Testament Theology, and Michael Freeden, director of the Centre for Political Ideologies and founding editor of the Journal of Political Ideologies. Jocelyn Bell Burnell, the British Astrophysicist most famous for first discovering radio pulsars, is currently a visiting professor. As of the 21st of June 2007, the College has been able to number amongst its honorary fellows Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the USA. Will Hutton, prominent journalist, economist and head of the Work Foundation, is also an honorary fellow of Mansfield. HistoryThe college was originally founded in 1838 as Spring Hill College in Birmingham. This was a college for Nonconformist students. In the late nineteenth century, although students from all religious denominations were legally entitled to attend universities, they were forbidden by statute from taking degrees unless they conformed to the Church of England. In 1871, the University Test Act abolished all religious tests for non-theological degrees at Oxford, Cambridge and Durham Universities. For the first time, therefore, the educational and social opportunities offered by Britain's premier institutions were open to all Nonconformists. The Prime Minister who enacted these reforms, William Gladstone, encouraged the creation of a Nonconformist college at Oxford. Spring Hill College moved to Oxford in 1886 and was renamed Mansfield College after its biggest donors, George and Elizabeth Mansfield. It was the first Nonconformist college to open in Oxford. The magnificent Victorian buildings, designed by Basil Champneys, were completed in 1889. The college was initially all male. The first female student was admitted in 1913. In 1955, the college was granted the status of a Permanent Private Hall within the University of Oxford. In 1995, a Royal Charter was awarded giving the institution full college status. Since the college was first formally integrated into the University structure in 1955, the Nonconformist aspects of the institution have gradually diminished. Until 2007, the United Reformed Church (URC) sponsored a course at Mansfield for training ordinands. These students became fully matriculated members of the University and received degrees. Mansfield no longer trains URC ordinands. However the radical history of the college is still apparent in a few of its features. A portrait of Oliver Cromwell hangs in the Senior Common Room and portraits of the 1662 dissenters hang in the library and the corridors of the main college building, together with portraits of Viscount Saye and Sele, John Hampden and Hugh Peters One place, where the radical history of the institution is still very much apparent, is in the college chapel. It is a non-consecrated space and it contains a unique selection of stained glass windows and statues depicting leading figures from the Nonconformist movements, including Cromwell, Sir Henry Vane and William Penn among many others. In 1940, whilst he was a lecturer at University College, future British Prime Minister Harold Wilson married Mary Baldwin in this chapel, although he was not a member of the college. Chapel services are still conducted in a Nonconformist tradition and the college chaplain is always from a Nonconformist denomination. Nonetheless, over the years, attendance at chapel services has declined and the make-up of the general student body no longer reflects the Nonconformist religious origins of the college. Because of its Nonconformist roots, the college still has many strong links with American schools. It has a long established tradition of accepting roughly 30 "Junior Year Abroad" students from the USA every year. These students come to study in Oxford for one academic year and have full access to its libraries and designated tutors, although they do not become matriculated members of the University. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £12 million. [2] Mansfield College Boat Club and a number of other college organizations are popular amongst the students, achieving results at the level of, or competitive with, the larger colleges. Notable former studentsAlumni of Mansfield College include:
College graceAnte cibum Omnipotens Deus, clementissime Pater, omnis boni fons, in donis tuis gaudentes nomen tuum magnificamus, per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. "Almighty God, Father of mercies and fount of every good, in the enjoyment of thy gifts we bless thy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord." The college's pre-supper grace was translated into Latin from the Welsh version originally prepared for the University College of North Wales[4]. ControversyOn 3 June 2008, the bursar and principal made representations to the JCR to the effect that accommodation and food prices would be increased. On 6 June 2008, at 1230, students protested against these proposed increases via a demonstration in the college quadrangle. Domestic StaffThe retired porter Hugh Flint was the drummer for John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and appeared on their first two albums, the second of which featured Eric Clapton. He later formed the band McGuinness Flint. Mansfield College Photo Gallery<gallery caption="" widths="400px" heights="200px" perrow="2"> Image:MansfieldChapelHiraV.jpg | View of the Chapel from the Quad, just outside the main building. Image:Mansfield-2006.jpg|View of the Principal's Lodgings from the American Institute. Image:Mansfield-hdr.jpg|Mansfield College Main Building and JCR with Library on the left. Image:mansfieldprotest.jpg|Protest against rent and food price increase </gallery> See alsoReferences
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