500th Anniversary celebrations begin with Tudor banquet

In 1525 Thomas Wolsey, Lord Chancellor of England and Cardinal Archbishop of York, cleared Oxford’s ancient St Frideswide’s Priory to make way for a great educational institution, founded as ‘Cardinal College’. Wolsey’s project was ultimately adopted by King Henry VIII, who in 1546 established ‘Christ Church’ as a unique joint Foundation between the College and the site’s church, which he made Oxford’s cathedral. Five centuries later, we now celebrate the story of Christ Church and give thanks for all that generations of remarkable Christ Church Members have achieved.

Last week our busy 500th Anniversary programme began with a banquet for 300 lucky current students, academics and staff. At 7pm on Tuesday 28 January, the gates to Christ Church’s magnificent Great Hall were flung open and expectant attendees spilled out of a densely packed Antehall and Buttery bar. They were met with a resplendent Hall and treated to an evening of enchanting 16th-century music and Tudor-themed culinary delights.

The evening began with music – first, a shawm fanfare performed by the talented players of the English Wind Consort. This gave way to a Latin grace from songmen of Christ Church’s renowned Cathedral Choir, after which the full Choir sang two period works. Most notable was Pastyme with good companye – a piece composed by our second founder King Henry VIII, and a fitting pre-dinner reminder of the joys of conversation and togetherness. 

Dinner was served, and on the menu were creations inspired by Tudor fare, though decidedly more palatable! Diners first enjoyed a delicately prepared starter of deviled stuffed eggs on a bed of watercress. This was followed by the much heartier main course: a lamb, prune and stout mincemeat pie accompanied with a savoury frumenty – a mediaeval porridge made with cracked wheat and enriched with currants – and a flavourful grand sallet. To conclude the feast each person was presented with a pair of small cheesecakes with fine pastry crusts, topped with rosewater and candied orange pieces. 

The appetising meal was partnered with a sublime atmosphere, in no small part due to the music played throughout the evening. Five members of the English Wind Consort – each obligingly dressed in Tudor attire – took on the role of minstrels and moved from place to place playing jaunty Renaissance tunes on dulcian, shawm, recorder and period percussion. 

The 1525 Banquet was a triumph. It was the perfect start to our quincentennial celebrations, and the Great Hall was the perfect venue – one of the first buildings in Wolsey’s scheme to be built, completed nearly 500 years ago, and looked over by his portrait and that of his king, Henry VIII.