ABSTRACT
I spent two terms studying both oICCU and oxford University in the Summer term of 2003 and the Spring term of 2004. As a participant observer, I was also able to attend many oICCU meetings though I was not permitted to attend their weekly ‘College Group’ (relating to the CU in every oxford college) and was restricted in my ability to attend their ‘informal’ Saturday worship meeting ‘Powerhouse’. Interestingly, I was invited to attend a ‘College CU Meeting’ by junior members but this was vetoed by the broader oICCU ‘Executive Committee’ (‘Exec’) as it was felt that my presence as an observer would somehow be intrusive on a small group. However, before beginning our discussion both of oxford University and of oICCU it would be useful to conduct a brief examination of the religious background in England and also the nature of the university system in England, especially in relation to the issue of liminality.
