Duties of the Post

1. The Dean of Divinity will be a fixed-term Official Fellow of the College and a member of the Governing Body (a Charity Trustee), and will hold the Fellowship in respect of the office of Dean of Divinity. No person may hold the office of Dean of Divinity who is not either an Anglican priest or a priest of a church in full communion with the Church of England.

2. The Dean of Divinity acts as a pastoral adviser to the whole College community of staff, students and academics, working closely with the Welfare Team; the Dean of Divinity therefore needs to be available, if necessary, outside normal working hours.

3. The Dean of Divinity is responsible for all services in the College Chapel. The current arrangements include choral services six days a week during Full Term, sung by the College Choir on the Foundation of the College. The Choir consists of Choristers who attend Magdalen College School and of undergraduates (Academical Clerks) of the College, and of a small number of professional singers (Stipendiary Clerks); it is directed by the Informator Choristarum, a Tutorial Fellow of the College, who is supported by an Assistant Organist (who is a member of staff) and two Organ Scholars (undergraduates). On some Saturdays (usually five or six in each term) Evensong is sung by the Magdalen College Consort of Voices: this is a mixed choir made up of the same altos, tenors, and basses of the College Choir, with sopranos singing the top line. Choral Evensong or Evening Prayer, in the formal “cathedral style”, is sung every day in Full Term except Monday. Compline is sung by two cantors at 9pm on a Tuesday during Full Term. On Sunday the Sung Eucharist is celebrated at 11am. Currently, a short homily is preached by the Dean of Divinity or one of the assisting clergy or a member of the Fellowship at the Sunday morning service, and there is a pattern of regular visiting preachers at Choral Evensong on Sunday evenings. The ability to attract interesting speakers for Sunday evening services, as for the two sermons before the University hosted by Magdalen each year, would be an advantage in the post.

4. In addition to the choral services, the Dean of Divinity conducts such other services as may be desirable to meet the needs of members of the College. The said services are currently Morning Prayer every day from Monday to Friday. In vacations it is expected that some services will continue for the benefit of those who remain in residence, but the organisation of these is at the discretion of the Dean of Divinity. The Dean of Divinity is responsible for organising funerals, memorial services, baptisms, and weddings in the Chapel. In general, these are held only for members of the College and children of Fellows and staff. There are also up to three services per year in the vacations which are held before Gaudy dinners for old members. Other events are held in the Chapel at the Dean of Divinity’s discretion. This permission would not normally be withheld for College music events or services, or for events requested by Magdalen College School, Oxford. The Dean of Divinity is expected to take part in the May Morning Ceremony each year.

1. The work of the Dean of Divinity is supported by one or more assistant chaplains. The appointment of all chaplains is agreed in consultation with the Chapel and Choir Committee and subject to approval by the College. The current team of Chaplains includes a part-time Assistant Chaplain, part-time Fellows’ Chaplain, and a number of Honorary Chaplains, all of whom are priests working in the vicinity of Oxford or employed in other roles in the University or Magdalen College School. There are also two Founder’s Chaplains, who are lay people drawn from the Fellowship, and who undertake Founder’s Prayers at ten Evensongs per year. It is the Dean of Divinity’s responsibility to ensure that all services in the Chapel are led by the Dean or one of the chaplains.

2. The Dean of Divinity provides pastoral support to members of the College, irrespective of their own beliefs or lack thereof, and will also provide opportunities for students and others to explore ethical issues, their own beliefs, and the Christian faith. The Dean of Divinity also organises meetings of the Addison Society which provides a forum for members of the College to discuss ethical, social, and religious issues with a distinguished speaker. A Confirmation service is held in Chapel once a year. The Dean of Divinity traditionally offers the opportunity for Confirmation preparation – a round of classes each year – to the Choristers.

3. There is no formal junction between the post of Dean of Divinity and Magdalen College School, but it is expected that close co-operation is maintained when needed. The School uses the Chapel on a number of occasions each year and a good working relationship with the Master, Chaplain, and other School staff is important. There are friendly ties between the College Chapel and local churches, chapels, and religious communities, as well as the Diocese of Oxford. The Bishop of Winchester is Visitor of the College. In addition to local support, he can be consulted by the Dean of Divinity on any matters concerning the Chapel and its work.

4. The Dean of Divinity has some administrative functions. These include acting as Secretary to the Chapel and Choir Committee and the Livings Committee, administering with the Informator Choristarum the procedures for examining and admitting Choristers and proposing candidates for College Livings and the preachers of the two University Sermons which are held in College each year. The Dean of Divinity acts as Secretary of the Magdalen College Trust, which meets once per term in order to award small grants to a wide range of charitable organisations. They are also ex officio a member of the Tutorial Board and of the Cases Committee. The Dean of Divinity may be asked to join other College Committees