of Oxford
T. FRIDESWIDE'S house of "residence for Catholic women students at Oxford, better known as Cherwell Edge, celebrated at the week-end the golden jubilee of its foundation.
Eighty former students were entertained to dinner on Saturday night, and on Sunday they attended a Mass sung by Mgr. Elwes at the Chaplaincy. The preacher was Fr. Thomas Corbishley, S.J., Master of Campion In the afternoon the ViceChancellor of the University and heads of the colleges attended a grand party. The Mother General of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, the congregation which founded and governs Cherwell Edge, happened to he in England and was able to attend the celebrations.
Well in the tradition of Mother Cornelia Co nnoll y, the society's foundress. the Holy Child Sisters, in opening the house for women undergraduates. now a recognised university hostel. launched the development of university education for nuns and Catholic laywomen. In spite of early miseivings and much anxiety in ecclesiastical circles the Holy See had only just granted permission for Catholics to attend the national universities-the venture has justified itself abundantly.
Cherwell Edge points to a fine record of old students who have joined religious orders, or who, as laywomen, have made their mark in the professions and in the cultural, social and economic life of the country, Its members enter fully into the activities of the university and have won their share of academic honours.
St. Frideswide's has always retained its connection with the Society of Oxford Home Students, through which it developed its early work, and is today a part of St. Anne's College, which is the same society in its modern form. The Principal of St. Anne's attended the week-end celebrations.