Dean of Christ Church, Oxford
Introduction Christ Church CathedralThe '''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. 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. As of 8 July 2023, Sarah Foot is the first female dean of Christ Church.
List of deans From the diocese's foundation in 1542 until 1545, the cathedral was at Osney. There, the cathedral deans were:* John London (1542–1543)* Richard Cox (1543–1545, reappointed dean at Christ Church)The academic deans of Christ Church's predecessor Oxford colleges were:* John Hygdon (Dean of Cardinal College, 1525–1531; Dean of King Henry VIII's College, 1532–1533)* John Oliver (Dean of King Henry VIII's College, 1533–1545)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.NamePortraitTerm of officeRichard Cox60px15461553Richard Marshall60px15531559George Carew60px15591561Thomas Sampson60px15611565Thomas Godwin60px15651567Thomas Cooper60px15671571John Piers60px15711576Tobias Matthew60px15771583William James60px15841596Thomas Ravis(''in commendam'' as Bishop of Gloucester from 1604)60px15961605John King60px16051611William Goodwin60px16111620Richard Corbet60px16201628Brian Duppa60px16281638Samuel Fell60px16381648Edward Reynolds60px16481651John Owen60px16511660Edward Reynolds60pxMarch–July 1660George Morley60pxJuly–October 1660John Fell(''in commendam'' as Bishop of Oxford from 1676)60px16601686John Massey60px16861688Henry Aldrich60px16891710Francis Atterbury60px17111713George Smalridge(''in commendam'' as Bishop of Bristol from 1714)60px17131719Hugh Boulter(''in commendam'' as Bishop of Bristol)60px17191724William Bradshaw(''in commendam'' as Bishop of Bristol)60px17241732John Conybeare(''in commendam'' as Bishop of Bristol from 1750)60px17331755David Gregory60px17561767William Markham(''in commendam'' as Bishop of Chester from 1771)60px17671777Lewis Bagot(''in commendam'' as Bishop of Bristol from 1782)60px17771783Cyril Jackson60px17831809Charles Henry Hall60px18091824Samuel Smith60px18241831Thomas Gaisford60px18311855Henry Liddell60px18551891Francis Paget60px18921901Thomas Strong60px19011920Henry Julian White60px19201934Alwyn Williams60px19341939John Lowe60px19391959Cuthbert Simpson60px19591969Henry Chadwick60px19691979Eric Heaton60px19791991John Drury60px19912003Christopher Lewis60px20032014Martyn Percy60px20142022Sarah Foot60px2023 Died in office
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