STUDY HERE ABOUT JESUS COLLEGE NEWS & EVENTS ACCESS & OUTREACH ALUMNI & FRIENDS About Jesus College/History/ Our History From humble beginnings 450 years ago, Jesus College has always moved with the times; forward-facing yet proud of its rich cultural history. Jesus College was founded in 1571 by a group of Welshmen led by Hugh Price, Treasurer of St. David’s Cathedral. In approving the new foundation, however, Elizabeth I appointed herself its Foundress (although she never took much interest in it afterwards). It was the first Oxbridge College to be founded after the Queen’s Protestant Settlement. Jesus College Founding Charter of 1571 Jesus was small and poor, and it was not until the 1610s that a succession of energetic Principals attracted donations to endow fellowships and scholarships, and erect buildings. Thanks to their efforts, the First Quadrangle was completed by the mid-1630s, and work on the Second Quadrangle begun in 1639. By now the College’s Welsh links were well established: almost all its fellowships and scholarships were open only to Welsh applicants. The building of the College’s Second Quadrangle began in 1639 The English Civil War affected Jesus badly: Principal Mansell and several Fellows were expelled, and the College’s finances were left in a bad state. In 1661, however, the College elected a new Principal, Sir Leoline Jenkins. Jenkins was a diplomat and politician, becoming Secretary of State to Charles II. On his death in 1685, Jenkins bequeathed his estate to Jesus College, giving it a financial security never known before. Jenkins is rightly considered the College’s second Founder. Sir Leoline Jenkins (1623-1685) by Hubert Tuer (copy of) The Second Quadrangle was finally completed in 1713, the same year in which an Old Member, Edmund Meyricke, died, bequeathing estates to fund more Welsh scholarships and exhibitions. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Jesus was never a famous College, but rather stayed true to its Welsh roots, educating a stream of young Welshmen, many of whom returned there as parish priests. In the later 19th century, the proportion of Welsh fellowships and scholarships was reduced, but the Welsh tradition remained strong. Sir John Rhŷs, Principal from 1895-1915, was one of the most important Celtic scholars of the day. As the College grew in size, so it erected more buildings. Third Quadrangle was finished in 1908, with a new laboratory (now the Meyricke Library), while the Old Members’ Building was opened in 1971 by HRH The Prince of Wales. The Prince of Wales stops to talk with students seated on a bench in First Quad during his visit to Jesus College in 1971, where he opened the Old Members’ Building to mark the 400th anniversary of the College. Elsewhere in Oxford, Stevens Close (off the Woodstock Road) was completed in 1976, thanks to a benefaction from an Old Member, Edwin Stevens, while Herbert Close grew up over several years next to the College’s playing fields in East Oxford. The most important event in the later 20th century was the admission of women as students in 1974. Jesus is proud to be one of the first five Colleges in Oxford to become co-ed. The first women of Jesus return to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the college becoming co-educational. This flagstone was laid to celebrate the first women to study at Jesus College, in 1974 As the College celebrates its 450th anniversary, an important new architectural development is taking shape on the corner of Cornmarket and Market Street. Our new Northgate building will provide state-of-the-art research and educational facilities, new student accommodation and a fourth quad. By Dr Robin Darwall-Smith, Jesus College Archivist Further reading on Jesus College Useful links Jesus College Timeline ACCESSIBILITY MERCHANDISE COOKIE POLICY GET IN TOUCH PUBLIC DOCUMENTS & POLICIES Jesus College, University of Oxford, Turl Street, Oxford, OX1 3DW Registered charity number: 1137435 Designed and built by Alberon Your choice regarding cookies on this site We use cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience. ACCEPT PREFERENCES X