Originally founded in 1786 as a dissenting academy in Manchester, and later brought to Oxford in the late 19th century, Harris Manchester is one of the University’s most distinctive and characterful colleges. Unusually for Oxford, it was founded by public subscription rather than by a single powerful patron, reflecting the determination of ordinary people to create a place of learning open to those excluded from the traditional system and opened in Oxford in the 1890’s.

Its foundation represents an important moment in the University’s long journey toward religious openness and inclusion. For generations, the college served students from outside the Church of England, and it remains committed to intellectual independence, tolerance, and broad-minded scholarship.

Harris Manchester is the only Oxford college where adults aged 21 and over can study for full undergraduate degrees.

The architectural heart of the college is the very special Victorian chapel, completed in 1893. The chapel is celebrated for its stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris & Co., leading artists of the Pre-Raphaelite circle. The windows, capture a brief but brilliant artistic moment in Oxford’s history: rich colours, elongated figures, and the distinctive spiritual idealism of the Arts and Crafts movement.

The combination of Pre-Raphaelite stained glass and late Victorian architecture makes the chapel one of Oxford’s artistic gems.

For a more in-depth visit to Harris Manchester, you may like to include it within an Oxford Introductory Tour, a bespoke day itinerary, or one of our specialist routes such as the Stained Glass Tour or the History of Religion walk.

If you would like to visit independently, the college sometimes allows visitors at selected times. Check ahead before making travel plans.