St Columba's United Reformed Church, Oxford
Overview
St. Columba's United Reformed Church, Oxford was founded as a Chaplaincy to Presbyterian students in 1908. It became a congregation of the Presbyterian Church of England in 1929, and on the union of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches, a member of the United Reformed Church. It continues to provide a Chaplaincy to students in the University of Oxford from Reformed, Presbyterian and Congregational church backgrounds.
Building
The church building dates to 1915, and was designed by T. P. Figgis. The stained glass in the chancel was designed by Theodora Salusbury. The front courtyard was replaced by an extension by E. Brian Smith in 1966. Pevsner described the building as 'well-mannered'.[1] Funding for the building was provided in part by Agnes and Margaret Smith, the 'Sisters of the Sinai'.
LGBTQ Ministry
St. Columba's URC is praying to be an inclusive church. Civil partnerships are blessed at St. Columba's, and it hosts First Sunday, fellowship for LGBTQ Christians.
Ministers
Among the Ministers to have served the church are:
- Rev. David Lusk (father of Mary Levison)
- Rev. Roy Drummond Whitehorn, later Principal of Westminster College, Cambridge
- Rev. Ray Bailey
- Rev. John Thornton
- Rev. Caryl Micklem (1978-1990)
- Rev. Wesley Workman (1990-1992)
- Rev. Dr. Susan Durber (1995-2007), later Principal of Westminster College, Cambridge
- Rev. Dr. Carla Grosch-Miller (2008-2016)
Since 2001, the church has shared Ministry with Cumnor United Reformed Church.