Worship in the Residential Community
Worship is central to our life at Ripon College Cuddesdon. Through the regular practice of prayer and worship, students are encouraged to come to engage more deeply with God.
The pattern of prayer and worship is rooted in the Anglican liturgical tradition of the daily office and regular eucharists. Students are expected to share in the regular offices of Morning Prayer in Chapel and Evening Prayer in Church from Common Worship Daily Prayer Monday to Friday, There is a very close connection with the twelfth-century All Saints' Parish Church which provides the venue for evening acts of worship and larger services. The rhythm, simplicity and continuity of the offices provide space for prayer, worship and reflection on Scripture in an otherwise busy day. The Book of Common Prayer is used for Evensong in the second half of Michaelmas and Hilary terms. The Eucharist is celebrated daily, usually at 8.00am, and Compline is said or sung each night in Chapel for those who wish to attend. On Wednesdays at 5.15pm the community usually gathers for a Sung Eucharist in Church.
Students, who come from a wide diversity of traditions, are encouraged to bring variety to this pattern of worship by preparing and leading creative liturgy and worship in weekly small groups and for the whole College, usually instead of Evening Prayer, on Monday evenings. Twice a term there is a shared act of worship with the non-residential students of the Oxford Ministry Course.
The current weekly pattern of worship is as follows:
Monday: 7.30am Morning Prayer; 8.00am Eucharist (Common Worship); 5.45pm Group Worship for the whole College
Tuesday: 7.30am Eucharist (Common Worship); 9.00am Worship in College Groups; 5.45pm Evening Prayer (in Church)
Wednesday: 7.30am Morning Prayer and Litany followed by meditation; 5.15pm College Eucharist with sermon in Church
Thursday: 7.30am Morning Prayer; 8.00am Eucharist (Common Worship); 5.45pm Evening Prayer in Church
Friday: 7.30am Morning Prayer; 8.00am Eucharist (BCP or Common Worship); 5.15pm Evening Prayer in Church
Compline is said or sung daily in Chapel (except Saturday) at 10.00pm (Tuesdays at 9.30pm)
There is also an emphasis on personal spiritual growth. The Church, Chapel and Oratory are available for private prayer. Guided quiet days are held once a term and spiritual directors visit from outside the College. We have a College Chaplain, the Revd Raymond Tomkinson, who is available to listen and offer guidance.
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