Oxford
 | This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Bahaipedia's quality standards. |
 | This article does not cite any sources; the information may not be accurate or reliable. |
Oxford | ||
|---|---|---|
| City in the United Kingdom | ||
| Location of Oxford
|
||
 Related media
|
Oxford is a city in England which has a number of connections with the Bahá'í Faith. Shortened from Oxenford, its name presumably indicates that this area, with its wide, low, river plain, was a spot at which one could take one's cattle through the river Thames, (actually called the Isis, rather than the Thames, along this stretch). At some point, a University was created here, and Oxford (in south central England) and Cambridge (Eastern England) became the two centres of learning for the country. Oxford University is actually a small group of self-administering colleges, rather than a centrally-organised institution.
Oxford is approximately one hour's drive west of London, with which it is connected by both railway and the M40 motorway (interstate). Coaches (i.e. long-distance express buses) operate between the two cities.
Oxford and 'Abdu'l-Bahá[edit]
'Abdu'l-Baha visited Oxford by train in ______, and visited Manchester College. A portrait of the Master hangs in the library of the college. While in Oxford he went to meet the elderly professor T.K. Cheyne, who went on to write the book, "The Reconciliation of Races and Religions".
Oxford and Shoghi Effendi[edit]
'Abdu'l-Bahá wished for Shoghi Effendi to achieve the highest possible level of English, so that he would be able to translate the Bahá'í Scriptures into that language. It is from the Guardian's English translations that the Scriptures are gradually being translated into other languages. The Master had sent Shoghi Effendi to the Protestant College in Beirut, and having completed his studies there, Shoghi Effendi went on to Balliol College, Oxford. A book entitled Shoghi Effendi in Oxford details some of what is known of his time there. This book has now been expanded into a larger volume entitled "Prelude to the Guardianship". It was during his time there that the Master passed away, and Shoghi Effendi never completed his studies there.
Since Shoghi Effendi's time in Oxford[edit]
A Local Spiritual Assembly was set up in Oxford in the late 1940s, and there has been an L.S.A. in the city ever since then. Among the early pioneers there were Cyril and Margaret Jenkerson. Ian Semple, who was later to become a member of the Universal House of Justice, became a Bahá'í in Oxford. David Hofman also had connections with the city.
Oxford has had long connections with Bahá'í publishing. George Ronald was run for many years from a house in Kidlington, near Oxford, resulting in the name Oxford appearing as the city of publication in many of George Ronald's books. One World Publications moved to Oxford from Cyprus for logistical reasons, and still publish from there.
For Baha'ís who are students at Oxford University, a guided tour is given annually, showing the students places of historical interest to Bahá'ís.
