Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the diocese of Oxford, which consists of the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. It is also the chapel of Christ Church at the University of Oxford. This dual role as cathedral and college chapel is unique in the Church of England. The cathedral was originally the church of St Frideswide's Priory. The site was historically presumed to be the location of the nunnery founded by St Frideswide, the patron saint of Oxford, and the shrine now in the Latin Chapel, originally containing relics translated at the rebuilding in 1180, was the focus of pilgrimage from at least the 12th until the early 16th century. In 1522, the priory was surrendered to Thomas Cardinal Wolsey, who had selected it as the site for his proposed college. However, in 1529 the foundation was taken over by Henry VIII. Work stopped, but in June 1532 the college was refounded by the King. In 1546, Henry VIII transferred to it the recently created See of Oxford from Osney. The cathedral has the name of Ecclesia Christi Cathedralis Oxoniensis, given to it by Henry VIII's foundation charter. There has been a choir at the cathedral since 1526, when John Taverner was the organist and also master of the choristers. The statutes of Wolsey's original college, initially called Cardinal College, mentioned 16 choristers and 30 singing priests. Christ Church Cathedral is one of the smallest cathedrals in the Church of England. The nave, choir, main tower and transepts are late Norman. There are architectural features ranging from Norman to the Perpendicular style and a large rose window of the ten-part type. As of 28 January 2019: Dean, Martyn Percy. Sub-Dean, Edmund Newey. Diocesan Canon Precentor, Grant Bayliss. Archdeacon of Oxford, Martin Gorick. The university's four senior theology professors are also ex officio Canons Residentiary: Regius Professor of Divinity, Graham Ward. Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, Carol Harrison. Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology, Nigel Biggar. Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Sarah Foot. The organ is a 43-rank, four-manual and pedal instrument built in 1979 by Austrian firm Rieger Orgelbau. First among the notable organists of Christ Church Cathedral is the Renaissance composer John Taverner, who was appointed as the first organist by Wolsey in 1526. Other organists have included Basil Harwood, Thomas Armstrong, W. H. Harris, Simon Preston, Francis Grier and Nicholas Cleobury. The post of organist is currently held by Stephen Darlington. The main choir, the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, consists of 12 adults and 16 choristers, and is directed by Steven Grahl. They sing in university term time, at Christmas and Easter, and have an extensive touring and recording programme. Former choristers include the composer William Walton. The Cathedral Singers consists of volunteers and is currently directed by James Potter. They are usually in residence outside of term time when the choristers and academical clerks of the main choir are on holiday. The college choir sings every 1-2 weeks in term time and is made up of current undergraduates and postgraduates from the college. Since September 2019, the Cathedral has also had a choir for girls aged 7-14 called Frideswide Voices. The choristers are drawn from schools around Oxford, and sing evensong once a week.