2006: Love Oxford

In 2006, Charlie Cleverly, Rector of St Aldates, invited all churches in the city to meet in Broad Street one Sunday in June, to declare God’s praises, to hear the word of God preached and to pray for the peace of the city. Over 30 churches cancelled their usual worship services and 4,000 people joined together. This event was called ‘Love Oxford.’

Similar events took place in 2007, 2008 and 2010, 2011 and then every other year until 2019 – nine events in all.

These built a growing appetite to work together, including with a growing number of diaspora congregations.

2014

Oxford Churches Debt Centre begun as a collaboration between various Oxford churches and Christians Against Poverty.

2018-2022: Engage

Between 2018 and 2022, events were run for Christians working in health care, beginning to explore other ways to form connections across churches.

2022: Renew Oxford

Following the Covid pandemic, the first Renew Oxford event was held in June 2022, with input from the mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees – aiming to become ‘Love Oxford in action.’

2023: Renew Oxford

The second Renew Oxford event in June 2023 heard from Martin Reeves, chief executive of Oxfordshire County Council, and we explored a manifesto for action.

2024

January saw the launch of a partnership between many Oxford churches and the national charity Safe Families.

In April 2024 we held our first pastors dinner, gathering leaders from many churches across the city.

In June we launched our city mapping project in partnership with Viva.

2025

In June 2025 we held our Renew Oxford event, featuring speakers such as Sian Wade from Transform Lincoln and Roger Sutton from Gather movement.

We also held a Kingdom Come prayer meeting, and united church events in Cowley on Pentecost Sunday.

In October 2025 our mapping report was published, leading to the forming of new working groups and invitations to join a range of public boards.