List of deans of Christ Church, Oxford

The Dean of Christ Church is the dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and head of the governing body of Christ Church, a constituent college of the University of Oxford.

The cathedral is the mother church of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford and seat of the Bishop of Oxford. The chapter of canons of the cathedral formed the governing body of the college from its foundation until the Christ Church, Oxford Act 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 76), by which the governing body was expanded to include the students (academics) in addition to the dean and chapter. The dean was ex officio head of the chapter and ipso facto head of the college. From 26 April 2022 until July 2023, the position was vacant. As of 8 July 2023, Sarah Foot is the first female dean of Christ Church.

List of deans From the diocese's foundation in 1542 until 1545, the cathedral was at Osney. There, the cathedral deans were: John London (1542–1543) Richard Cox (1543–1545, reappointed dean at Christ Church)

The academic deans of Christ Church's predecessor Oxford colleges were: John Hygdon (Dean of Cardinal College, 1525–1531; Dean of King Henry VIII's College, 1532–1533) John Oliver (Dean of King Henry VIII's College, 1533–1545)

Both the college and the see at Osney surrendered to the Crown on 20 May 1545. Christ Church, the double establishment of cathedral and college, was founded by letters patent on 4 November 1546.

NamePortraitTerm of officeRichard Cox15461553Richard Marshall15531559George Carew15591561Thomas Sampson15611565Thomas Godwin15651567Thomas Cooper15671571John Piers15711576Tobias Matthew15771583William James15841596Thomas Ravis(in commendam as Bishop of Gloucester from 1604)15961605John King16051611William Goodwin16111620Richard Corbet16201628Brian Duppa16281638Samuel Fell16381648Edward Reynolds16481651John Owen16511660Edward ReynoldsMarch–July 1660George MorleyJuly–October 1660John Fell(in commendam as Bishop of Oxford from 1676)16601686John Massey16861688Henry Aldrich16891710Francis Atterbury17111713George Smalridge(in commendam as Bishop of Bristol from 1714)17131719Hugh Boulter(in commendam as Bishop of Bristol)17191724William Bradshaw(in commendam as Bishop of Bristol)17241732John Conybeare(in commendam as Bishop of Bristol from 1750)17331755David Gregory17561767William Markham(in commendam as Bishop of Chester from 1771)17671777Lewis Bagot(in commendam as Bishop of Bristol from 1782)17771783Cyril Jackson17831809Charles Henry Hall18091824Samuel Smith18241831Thomas Gaisford18311855Henry Liddell18551891Francis Paget18921901Thomas Strong19011920Henry Julian White19201934Alwyn Williams19341939John Lowe19391959Cuthbert Simpson19591969Henry Chadwick19691979Eric Heaton19791991John Drury19912003Christopher Lewis20032014Oxford Mail – Dean of Christ Church preparing to retire and start new life in Suffolk (Accessed 7 May 2014)Martyn PercyChrist Church, Oxford – The Dean of Christ Church (Accessed 7 May 2014)20142022Sarah Foot2023

Died in office

References