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Blackfriars Hall
University of Oxford
Arms: Gyronny sable and argent, a cross flory counterchanged.
Location	St Giles', Oxford
Established	1994
Named after	The black cappa of the Dominican friars
Regent	Rev. John O’Connor, OP[1]
Undergraduates	0 (4 visiting students)
Postgraduates	86[2]
Website	Hall website

Blackfriars Hall is a Catholic permanent private hall of the University of Oxford. Unlike a college, a hall is owned and governed by an outside institution (in this case, the English Province of the Order of Preachers) and not by its fellows. Although historically a centre for the study of theology and philosophy informed by the intellectual tradition of St Thomas Aquinas, it now admits men and women of any faith to a wide range of postgraduate degree programmes in the humanities and social sciences. The current Regent of Blackfriars is Fr. John O'Connor, O.P..

Overview

Blackfriars Hall is the home of a number of other institutes including, the Las Casas Institute on ethics, governance and social justice.^[3] Launched in November 2008, the institute contributes to the hall's founding vision to be a centre of the social as well as the sacred sciences.^[4] Its founding director (from October 2008 to January 2011) was Francis Davis;^[5] As of 2022^[update] the director is Richard Finn.^[6]

The Aquinas Institute was established in 2004 under the directorship of Fergus Kerr.^[7] It aims to foster study of St Thomas at Oxford through seminars, conferences, summer schools and programmes. Patrons of the institute include John Haldane, Alasdair MacIntyre and Eleonore Stump.^[8]

People associated with Blackfriars

Notable former students

• Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Cardinal prelate and Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark
• Anthony Fisher OP, 9th Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
• Delia Gallagher, journalist, CNN Faith and Values Correspondent

Fellows and academics

• John Battle - former MP for Leeds West
• Brian Davies - philosopher and former Regent
• Richard Finn - former Regent and Novice Master for The English Province of The Order of Preachers
• Timothy Radcliffe - Master of the Order of Preachers from 1992 to 2001
• Fergus Kerr - Regent (1998-2004)
• James MacMillan - classical composer and conductor, Honorary Fellow
• John Loughlin - Emeritus Fellow of St Edmund's College, Cambridge

References