ST EDMUND HALL COMMUNITY & GIVING WEEK

THANK YOU!

Over 200 contributors have helped us exceed our fundraising goal of £131,700.

Congratulations to St Edmund Hall Boat Club (SEHBC) on completing their 1317 Challenge. The club were aiming to “row over 500 instances of 1317m, either on the water, or on rowing machines” and smashed their goal, rowing 1317m 602 times across the week!

“Top three athletes with instances of 1317m rowed over the week:
1) Will Randell (59*1317m)
2) Sabi Sulikova (51*1317m)
3) Ben Keates (35.5*1317m)

Massive shout out to our Treasurer, Cyril Schroeder, who ran a marathon on the 27th April, one of our Social Secretaries, Lucy Robinson, who also cycled over 100km over the week, and one of our novices, Del Rajan, who rowed 17*1317m in a single day.”

Community & Giving Week is bringing out all sorts! You never know who’s going to greet you when you come to the Hall…

Lydia Smith (Regular Giving Officer) “I recently got a new puppy, Lemon, who we cannot yet take out for walks as we wait for her to get her final vaccinations. This week, I will do the walking for her, taking my puppy in a bag for a daily walk of 1.317 miles or more and writing a daily summary using 13 or 17 words.”

Day Seven in 13 words: Last walk of the week, a tiring one for a 3 month old!

SEH Boat Club have been busy this week! “From the beginning of the Community & Giving Week, SEHBC have taken the 1317 challenge in its stride, with over two dozen members putting in training logs to participate. In the first several days of the challenge, members have collectively rowed over 500km (a distance equal to driving from Oxford to Edinburgh), and we are hoping to row over 500 instances of 1317m, either on the water, or on rowing machines. 

Currently, the top three members are:

– Sabina Sulikova, who has rowed 41*1317m;

– Will Randell, who has rowed 38*1317m, and;

– Ben Keates, who has rowed 26.5*1317m.

We will continue on our upwards trajectory, and hope to meet our target by Friday!”

Luke Boulton (2022, Medicine) performed “1317” – a carefully swung boogie piano piece based on the notational sequence: 1317 – for the first time. The piece was written especially for Community and Giving Week by James Harpham (1959, History).

Lydia Smith (Regular Giving Officer) “I recently got a new puppy, Lemon, who we cannot yet take out for walks as we wait for her to get her final vaccinations. This week, I will do the walking for her, taking my puppy in a bag for a daily walk of 1.317 miles or more and writing a daily summary using 13 or 17 words.”

Day Six in 17 words: Channeling her inner disney princess, Lemon looks up at me having found a home amongst the daisies.

Henrike Lähnemann (Professor of Medieval German Literature and Linguistics) Hall Heralds hail May Morning in 1317-style! From the tower room of St Peter-in-the-East, a group of Teddy Hall musicians gathered to play May madrigals for 13 minutes and 17 seconds to celebrate May Day.

Nigel Purse (1982, Modern History) has issued a “match-me challenge” for all Aularians to match his gift through a one off donation of £1,317 or by setting up a monthly gift of £13.17 per month.

“It just struck me that there are roughly 10,000 Aularians. If every Aularian were to give £1,317, then that would raise a total of £13.17m. I know that not every Aularian will be in a position to give. But, I would like to bet that a good many can. Now, it occurs to me that I must be just about the most ordinary person ever lucky enough to have been admitted to the Hall. So, if I can do it, then so can many other Aularians.”

Make Your Gift Today.

Lydia Smith (Regular Giving Officer) “I recently got a new puppy, Lemon, who we cannot yet take out for walks as we wait for her to get her final vaccinations. This week, I will do the walking for her, taking my puppy in a bag for a daily walk of 1.317 miles or more and writing a daily summary using 13 or 17 words.”

Day Five in 13 words: Finally down on the ground, on four legs – found to be absolutely exhausting.

Staff members Emily Craven (HR & Academic Assistant), Laura Ellis (Communications Manager), Pam Fortescue (Executive Assistant to the Finance Bursar & Committee Secretary), Alena Nemeckova (Deputy College Registrar) and Rebecca Rainey (Development Operations Officer) enjoyed a sunny lunchtime walk of (just over) 13 minutes and 17 seconds around Christ Church Meadow.

Andrew Vivian (Director of Development) has taken “17 ‘beautiful’ (amateur!) pictures of a lunchtime walk around the Hall with a caption of 13 words depicting each”

1. The green wall, to enhance student wellbeing and demonstrate the Hall’s environmental focus
2. Benefactors Square, under the shade of the Magnolia tree we recognise our supporters
3. The Old Library, the Librarian has displayed some of our most historic books
4. The Hall in about 1470 (with Black Hall, Chimney Hall, and White Hall behind)
5. Generous donors gave towards the Chapel in the 1680s, recorded in the Benefactions Book
6. Former Principals, Gull, Kelly, and Emden recorded histories and memoirs of the Hall
7. The Chapel and its beautiful altar painting ‘Supper at Emmaus’ by Ceri Richards
8. Glorious wisteria over the Buttery…a lovely setting for socialising in this weather!
9. The sundial over the Library, designed and made by Aularian David Brown in 2018
10. Into the depths of the crypt for compline by candlelight, music, and chant!
11. The Broadbent Garden, a peaceful haven for relaxing in the heart of Oxford
12. Our Garden fellow coordinated the tulips to bloom Teddy Hall colours this year
13. Bay view window of the Principal’s Lodgings… perfect spot to survey the quad!
14. Good luck in your exams! Its that time of year in the Library…
15. The Well Bar, complete with rowing oars, dartboard, and images of sporting success!
16. The entrance many students, staff, fellows and alumni come to know very well
17. The Hall’s artwork collection is thanks to the generous bequests of many Aularians

Lydia Smith (Regular Giving Officer) “I recently got a new puppy, Lemon, who we cannot yet take out for walks as we wait for her to get her final vaccinations. This week, I will do the walking for her, taking my puppy in a bag for a daily walk of 1.317 miles or more and writing a daily summary using 13 or 17 words.”

Day Four in 17 words: Teaching the young pup what sheep are – she was not interested and preferred to bite my hand.

Poppy Buckley (2021, Biomedical Sciences) & Elsa Giles (2021, History and French) completed a “13.17km run around Oxford in the sun as a break from finals revision!”

Lydia Smith (Regular Giving Officer) “I recently got a new puppy, Lemon, who we cannot yet take out for walks as we wait for her to get her final vaccinations. This week, I will do the walking for her, taking my puppy in a bag for a daily walk of 1.317 miles or more and writing a daily summary using 13 or 17 words.”

Day Three in 13 words: Sticking to the shade, keeping a keen eye out for those pesky cars.

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Emily Bruce (Head of Alumni Relations) “My contribution to the 1317 challenge – blondies with mini eggs with the date written (harder than I thought!). Was then eaten rather promptly (the cat did not get any despite his keen interest)”

Lydia Smith (Regular Giving Officer) “I recently got a new puppy, Lemon, who we cannot yet take out for walks as we wait for her to get her final vaccinations. This week, I will do the walking for her, taking my puppy in a bag for a daily walk of 1.317 miles or more and writing a daily summary using 13 or 17 words.”

Day Two in 17 words: Another day of sun, flowers and pretending we are abroad. Kept the walk short – for ginger skin.

Lydia Smith (Regular Giving Officer) “I recently got a new puppy, Lemon, who we cannot yet take out for walks as we wait for her to get her final vaccinations. This week, I will do the walking for her, taking my puppy in a bag for a daily walk of 1.317 miles or more and writing a daily summary using 13 or 17 words.”

Day One in 13 words: First trip on the train, visit to Christchurch Meadow and Medieval Mystery Play!

Performed by Director of Music, Carlos Rodriguez Otero, and Choir members Tiffany You (2023, Philosophy, Politics and Economics), Harriet Humfress (2023, Fine Art), Henrike Lähnemann (Professor of Medieval German Literature and Linguistics), Riya Bhattacharjee (2025, Visiting Student in Biomedical Sciences), Catherine Gower (2021, Earth Sciences), Oliver Riordan (Professor of Discrete Mathematics) & Alyssa Chan (2021, Engineering Science).

Text and translation

Old French:
Douce dame jolie,
Pour Dieu ne pensés mie
Que nulle ait signorie
Sur moy fors vous seulement.
Qu’adès sans tricherie
Chierie
Vous ay, et humblement
Tous les jours de ma vie
Servie
Sans villain pensement.
Helas! et je mendie
D’esperance et d’aïe,
Dont ma joie est finie,
Si vous n’avez pitié
De moy, pauvre amoureux.

English translation:
Sweet, lovely lady,
For God’s sake, do not think
That anyone has any power
Over me but you alone.
For always, without deceit,
I have cherished you
And humbly,
All the days of my life,
Served you
Without base thoughts.
Alas, and I beg
For hope and help,
Without which my joy is lost,
Unless you have pity
On me, poor lover.

Basil Lewis (1952, Geography) has written a poem with memories of the Hall and its impact using exactly 1317 letters and figures.

“Bedridden now 24/7
Teddy hall seems a far distant heaven.
69 years now will have passed
Since I left the hall, class teacher at last.
From class 2 to deputy. Then onto head
I gave up teaching. Inspector instead.
To a BBC local, the last move I went
And thirty-five years was the time there I spent.

Oxford itself was nothing too new
I ‘d been at school there since one nine four two
Going to college was normal for all
Most went to Oxford as I now recall
National service meant a two-year delay
But an illness at school stopped me going that way
So back to the hall, my thoughts now must turn
Back to my memories still hard and firm.

Kelly was Principal a canon of note
The Hall was the college which took my first vote
My memories still of the Besse block remain
One of the earliest occupants. That I can claim.
Mindful of people and events often come
Like Cudmore, and Kempster, and soccer man Lunn.
I could name many more, but it would not be right
So more of my memories now fill this site.

One of my hobbies I now ought to tell
Soccer referee; and linesman as well.
I also attended the union debates
And helped give their cellars a new type of fate
Our junior common room. Was a site to relax
Twixt chapel and Hall if I remember my facts
Scouts I don’t mention to avoid any errors
They served us so well; none of them terrors

A gift that I made to the hall long ago
Numbered fifty nine sixty a fine model loco
The railway had named it ‘Saint Edmund Hall’
To go with a name plate once placed on our wall.
Based here in Oxford, it would often appear
Taking a train a long way from here.

As I lie now awake, that ends my thoughts
Teddy Hall gave me pleasure and a degree of some sorts”

David Picksley (1953, Modern Languages – French and Russian) “Between 25 Apr and 2 May I undertake to walk 8.23 miles (13.17km). I hope that we get suitable weather then, but a drop of rain won’t stop me anyway.”

James Harpham (1959, History) “A carefully swung boogie piano piece based on the notational sequence: 1317 !!”

David Picksley (1953, Modern Languages – French and Russian) “I have been preparing a talk to be given to a local history society at the end of June. It is on the subject of the two Edmunds who are painted on the wall of our local All Saints Church in Sanderstead. They are the Martyr King and the Archbishop who was appointed while the church was being built from about 1230, namely Edmund of Abingdon. I have managed to tell the stories in 1317 words.”:

1317 Challenge

Edmund, (Eadmund) (841-869) was King of East Anglia. He was a Saxon, who was brought up as a Christian and became king before 865. One report says it was in 855, when he was 14. In 869 and 870 the Great Army of the Vikings invaded East Anglia, and Edmund led his troops against them. Much of the detail of this period is lost, destroyed by the invaders, so we are missing registers, charters or correspondence from the time. What we have comes from non-contemporary chronicles by hagiographers. One such was Abbo of Fleury who was a French monk who died in 1004, over 130 years after Edmund. There are coins of the period bearing his name. Because those contemporary documents from his reign were destroyed during this momentous event, few historical facts are known about the crucial battle. The traditional account is that he was defeated and captured. He refused to deny his Christian faith or to rule as the vassal of their leader Ingwar. Consequently, he was whipped, shot with arrows and beheaded. It is claimed that this all took place at Hellesdon in Norfolk, (Haegelsdun); perhaps elsewhere but at least the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle does confirm 869 as the date of his death.

He was buried there, and a popular cult emerged after his death, he was seen as a martyr and was canonized by the Church. It seems to have become a norm in the Christian Saxon kingdoms that if a king was killed in a battle with a pagan, he became a martyr and thus a saint. A cult was usually established and would benefit from this. Other examples were Oswald in 642 and Ethelbert in 794. Today canonization is a declaration made by the Pope that the Catholic faithful may venerate a saint. Only since the tenth century is this the case. Later, in 915, Edmund’s body was found to be incorrupt a further indication of sainthood. It was moved to Bedwicksworth, which soon became St.Edmundsbury and later Bury St. Edmunds. A community was set up there to take care of the shrine. In the face of yet another Viking invasion, in 1010, the shrine was moved to London for three years. But the people of Bury wanted it back after that new peril ended. The Danish king Canute (Knut) who ruled England from 1016, and then converted to Christianity, founded the Benedictine Abbey of St.Edmundsbury, in which he placed monks from nearby St.Benet’s Abbey. This was completed in 1032. Edmund’s shrine thus became one of the most famous and wealthy pilgrimage locations in England. An even larger church was built in 1095, into which Edmund’s relics were translated. Almost nothing of this remains other than two entry towers. Two parish churches that were within the precinct of the Abbey did survive, one of them, St James became St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, much rebuilt in the 12th, 16th, and 20th centuries. In 1539 Edmund’s shrine was defaced during the dissolution of the monasteries, and silver and gold was taken away by Thomas Cromwell for Henry VIII. The abbot and his monks were expelled, and the abbey was dissolved. The body remained at Bury, where it is said still to be, but its actual site at the present day is not known.

St. Edmund of Abingdon (1175-1240) was born in Abingdon. Edmund was the son of a wealthy merchant known locally as Reginald Rich. This surname or patronymic was not one adopted by the family; they were known as “Of Abingdon”. Edmund was educated in a grammar school. He will have learned French and Latin, the former because it was the language still spoken by the aristocracy and court since 1066. Around 1189 at the age of just 14, he and his younger brother Robert moved to Paris. Just then this was a city in transformation. After taking most of the Angevin Empire from King John, Philippe Auguste was making it a political and administrative capital with a permanent royal residence in The Louvre. Notre Dame was still to be completed. On the under-populated left bank near the church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre, some masters were already hiring rooms for lecture courses in the arts. Here the arts curriculum then consisted of newly translated books of Greek and Arabic philosophy, logic, and science. After graduating as master, he returned to Oxford and lectured in Arts for six years from 1195 to 1201. Within the city, as in Paris an informal assortment of dwelling houses was coming into being in which the masters were teaching. Towards the end of the period, he is said to have had a dream in which his deceased mother said that he should no longer dally with secular learning, and so in 1202 Edmund returned to Paris to immerse himself in theology for several years, learning and lecturing. But he did return to England, and after living a year with the Austin Friars in Merton, he incepted in theology at Oxford in 1214. He lectured on that subject from.1214 to 1222, During this time, he is known to have been teaching in a house on the corner of what is now Queen’s Lane and the High Street.Through their closeness in these classrooms, masters and their pupils also formed useful social connections with each other which enabled them to meet the need to secure a living with a benefice. Edmund was given one such in a York diocese which helped to support him financially while living and teaching in Oxford.

Through another academic connection, in 1222 he became treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral. This was not a financial appointment. As treasurer he was responsible for the precious objects—the vessels, vestments and reliquaries. He had also to provide at his own expense the oil and wax for lights for altars and shrines, the bread, wine and incense, and pay staff to do all the work involved. This was not so easy for him; besides having always been an aesthete, following closely the demands his religion, he also had acquired the reputation for extreme generosity towards the poor. To meet these expenses the chapter allocated the prebend of Calme in Wiltshire to the treasurership. In 1233 he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Gregory IX after three other elections to this position had been quashed by the pope. This had been on the political grounds that the other candidates had held a secular office for the king, and canon law allowed the secular power no role in the process

Although he found administration and politics distasteful, he became an effective reforming bishop. He quite soon clashed with the young King Henry III, defending church rights and criticising the king’s continental policy. The barons supported Edmund. Civil war threatened. But he forced Henry (by threat of excommunication) to expel Henry’s French wife’s relatives and allies and then made the King promise to observe English law and customs. There were a few other clashes with Henry, who in 1236 asked the pope to send a legate, and Cardinal Otho was sent in reply to this request. Henry III upheld the monks of Canterbury in opposing Edmund’s visitations and authority there. In 1240 he was called to Rome. He stopped for a while at the Cistercian Abbey of Pontigny, where the locals admired him his aestheticism and benefitted from his generosity. But he became unwell and left. As he proceeded further, probably to return home, he died at Soisy on 16 November 1240 and was returned to Pontigny where he was buried and has his shrine. Histories claim that during the three-day journey back, crowds of his admirers surrounded the bier, and miracles occurred. An early demand for his canonization, was granted in 1247 by Pope Innocent IV. His legacy is St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. The earliest documentary mention of it by name occurs in a rental of Oseney Abbey for the year 1317-18.