MER-13565 COVER 2011.indd - Merton College - University of Oxford

The Chapel
The Chapel continues to provide a focal
point for Christian worship within the
College community, attracting a diverse
congregation of current Mertonians and
their guests, as well as an increasing number
of old members and visitors. We are always
pleased to welcome people back to the
College. Details of all our services can be
found on the College website.
The year began with the installation of
Sir Martin Taylor as 50th Warden of
the College. The installation ceremony
takes place within the context of an act of
worship which, on this occasion, included
music sung by the College Choir. The
Chapel community has already benefi ted
enormously from the support of the Warden
and Lady Taylor, for which we are most
grateful.
The Sunday evening service of Choral
Evensong or Sung Eucharist is the principal
act of worship each week and attracts an
average congregation of about 100. Preachers
this year have included the Archbishop of
Wales, the Bishop of Norwich, Prof Alister
McGrath (1976), Canon Gilly Myers and
the Revd Anna Burr, a parish priest serving
in the Diocese of York, who is also mother
of two of our current undergraduates, both
members of the choir.
The celebration of Christian Initiation
forms an important part of the liturgical
cycle each year. Amber Hood, a member
of the MCR, was confi rmed by the
THE CHAPEL
POSTMASTER | 2011
NEWS
Bishop of Stockport in October, and
another graduate, Olga Bardina, was
baptised and made her fi rst communion on
the feast of Pentecost. Also at Pentecost,
Alice Brooke, Tony Chappel and Kristine
Merriman made a public profession of faith
and renewed their baptismal promises.
Last December, Tristan Pichon, son of
Visiting Research Fellow Prof Christophe
Pichon, was baptised, and Jakob Issa, the
son of a member of the MCR, was baptised
in August. Combining elements from the
Christian and Jewish traditions, on Trinity
Sunday there was a service of thanksgiving
for the two children of our politics tutor
Dr Sarah Percy.
The Chapel continues to benefi t from
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