Campion College Celebrates First Formal Hall of 2026

Students, faculty and staff gathered last Thursday evening for the first Formal Hall of the semester, continuing one of Campion College’s most distinctive academic traditions: a shared meal shaped by ritual, conversation, and reflection.

Following drinks in the courtyard, the community assembled in the Grand Hall for grace and dinner, before hearing from Campion College President Dr Paul Morrissey, who reflected on the deeper significance of Formal Hall within the life of the College.

Dr Morrissey began by reflecting on the place of feasting in Christian culture, noting that eating together has long carried both social and spiritual significance. Shared meals, he suggested, can shape the habits of a community, bringing people together not simply to eat, but to practise gratitude, conversation, and moderation.

Turning then to the meaning of tradition, Dr Morrissey recalled G. K. Chesterton’s description of tradition as the “democracy of the dead”, through which the wisdom and practices of earlier generations are passed on. Drawing on the thought of the English philosopher Roger Scruton – who once addressed a Formal Hall at Campion College – he described traditions as structures that guide behaviour and remind communities that their actions take place within a larger social inheritance.

The tradition of Formal Hall itself has its origins in the collegiate life of Oxford and Cambridge, where shared dining formed an important part of university life. Over time, the custom spread throughout the Commonwealth and eventually found a home at Campion College.

The evening also included announcements and a musical performance by Clara and Marigold Barratt, who performed The Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar before dessert was served.

See below for photos from the night.