'Oxford Open Doors’ is an annual celebration of Oxford’s history and heritage. Organised by the Oxford Preservation Trust and the University of Oxford, the weekend of September 8 and 9 is a time when we celebrate the beauty and heritage of our city - and sometimes the more hidden parts of it. I want to alert you to three 'hidden gems' this weekend: the Old Library at St Mary’s (which will provide the venue for an exhibition about Grace Hadow), Holywell Cemetery, and St Cross Church.

The Old Library, St Mary's
The theme of Open Doors this year is ‘Extraordinary People’. Dr Mariama Ifode-Blease, our community engagement officer, has organised an exhibition about Grace Hadow. An alumna of Somerville College, she went on to become Principal of St Anne’s College (then called the Society of Oxford Home Students) and the Vice Chairman of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes. An acclaimed public speaker, Grace Hadow was an active supporter of the campaign for women’s rights as well as other social justice issues. The exhibition will be open in the Old Library between 10am - 4pm on Saturday 8 September and 12noon - 4pm on Sunday 9 September.

Holywell Cemetery
Although the gates of Holywell Cemetery are never locked, it is one of the best-kept secrets of the city. It is an oasis of peace and calm amidst the hustle and bustle of the city of Oxford. On Saturday 8 September and Sunday 9 September (between 2pm-4pm), the Friends of Holywell Cemetery will be organising a series of tours for visitors to look round and to see the places where so many distinguished past residents of the city have been laid to rest. But it is also a sanctuary for wildlife, particularly nesting birds. On the Saturday afternoon, there may be a little music offered by a string quartet as well!

St Cross Church
One of the churches of the benefice is St Cross Church at Holywell. It is now the Historic Collections Centre and Archive of Balliol College (I think that my end of term reports are still kept there!) The ‘Open Doors’ weekend is one of the occasions in the year when the doors are open to the public. It will be open on Saturday 8 September and Sunday 9 September between 2-4pm. 

On Sunday 9 September, there is also another opportunity for celebration in that our annual service of Choral Evensong will take place at St Cross Church at 3.30pm. This takes place each year on one of the Sundays closest to Holy Cross Day (14 September), the patronal festival of St Cross. It is a day which is treasured by many of those who used to worship at St Cross when it functioned as a parish church. Of course, St Cross Church remains a place of worship, even though services take place there only very occasionally. The service will include music by John Stainer (a former organist of St Mary’s buried in Holywell Cemetery nearby). We do hope that you come and join us. You will be very welcome.

Further details about Oxford Open Doors.