Convocation House is the lower floor of the 1634–1637 westward addition to the
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...
's
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in ...
and
Divinity School
A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...
in
Oxford
Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town.
The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
,
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
.
It adjoins the
Divinity School
A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...
, which pre-dates it by just over two hundred years, and the
Sheldonian Theatre
The Sheldonian Theatre, in the centre of Oxford, England, was built from 1664 to 1669 after a design by Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford. The building is named after Gilbert Sheldon, List of Wardens of All Souls College, Oxford, Wa ...
, to its immediate north.
History
Seventeenth-century origins
The entire westward section was originally known as Selden End, in recognition of the gift of books from the lawyer
John Selden
John Selden (16 December 1584 – 30 November 1654) was an English jurist, a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law. He was known as a polymath; John Milton hailed Selden in 1644 as "the chief of learned m ...
which occupy the portion of the Bodleian Library housed above. In 1665 and 1681, during the reign of
Charles II, the chamber served as home for the Royalist Members of the
English Parliament
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England from the 13th century until 1707 when it was replaced by the Parliament of Great Britain. Parliament evolved from the great council of bishops and peers that advised th ...
. Its present stone-vaulted ceiling dates from 1758 to 1759.
Present
Convocation House is used for meetings of the University of Oxford's
Convocation
A convocation (from the Latin ''wikt:convocare, convocare'' meaning "to call/come together", a translation of the Ancient Greek, Greek wikt:ἐκκλησία, ἐκκλησία ''ekklēsia'') is a group of people formally assembled for a specia ...
, but may be hired as a venue for civil weddings and partnership ceremonies, for which it, like the Divinity School and Chancellor's Court, is licensed,
renewal of vows, wedding blessings, wedding receptions, and conferences.
References
1634 establishments in England
Bodleian Library
Buildings and structures completed in 1637
Buildings and structures of the University of Oxford
History of the University of Oxford
Tourist attractions in Oxford
{{Oxfordshire-struct-stub