The Queen's College Record 2023

Reports and College Activities
A YEAR IN THE CHAPEL
Revd Alice Watson
Chaplain
It’s been a year of change and continuity in the life of the
Chapel; finally beginning to establish normality after the
years of the pandemic, cementing ourselves as a highlight
in the world of the Oxford college choral tradition, but with
a new Chaplain in place.
As that new Chaplain, this past year has been a
rollercoaster; challenging, but full of delights. I came to
Queen’s from my curacy in Kettering, Northamptonshire,
a very different world, yet I’ve been reassured by God’s
steadfastness, and the fact that priesthood, leading
worship, getting to know people, is much the same no matter where you happen
to serve. I was so grateful for the warm and caring welcome shown to me over my
first summer, particularly from the staff of the College as I blundered my way around
trying to figure out how things worked. I hope I (mostly) have the hang of things now.
We hit the ground running in Michaelmas, with a full Freshers’ service, quickly followed
by the daunting task of a live broadcast Radio 3 Evensong, for which the Choir were
in wonderful voice. A sadder occasion was the funeral of our beloved SCR Butler
Robert Saberton-Haynes; the sun shone as I led him through a packed Front Quad
into Chapel for a final goodbye. The term continued apace and ended with a joyful
carol service, with perhaps slightly more tinsel than has been customary! Throughout
this year I have been patiently and ably assisted by my two Chapel clerks – Conor
Boyle and Elizabeth Lee – and a band of readers and sacristans. Their support has
been much appreciated, as has that of the Choir and the Director of Music.
One of my hopes when I started this role was to spend each Hilary Term exploring
a theme, both within Chapel services (particularly during sermons) and outside of
them, with workshops and events. This Hilary Term set the bar high, with a theme of
‘exploring the intersections between creativity and faith’. We were treated to sermons
from creative practitioners and experts in their fields: The Revd Dr Ayla Lepine (Art),
Jay Hulme (Poetry), and The Revd Dr Jonathan Arnold (Music). Unfortunately, The
Revd Prof. Steven Shakespeare was prevented from joining us by COVID, but he
will preach on creativity and liturgy this coming Michaelmas. Musically, we had a
Cantata service with Instruments of Time and Truth – a particular highlight of the
term. Outside of Evensong a group of us learnt how to paint icons, led by The
Revd Charlotte Gibson, and we spent a Saturday walking to Iffley and exploring the
beautiful stained glass in the church there.
The Easter break was unusually full, with two weddings, and two memorial services –
for two Honorary Fellows, former Provost Sir Alan Budd, and former tutor, Professor
42 The Queen’s College | College Record 2023