OICCU: History
The OICCU began as a Daily Prayer meeting in Brasenose college in 1867. The Revd. Arthur Downer and an Exeter undergraduate had been moved by the need to pray for evangelistic meetings being held for Oxford citizens in the old Town Hall. The DPM then moved to the St. Aldate's Rectory in Pembroke Street. In 1869, the then-Rector of St. Aldate's, Alfred Christopher, started giving 'Bible readings' on a Saturday evening. When the OICCU was formally founded in 1879 these evening expositions continued - a tradition that has lasted until 2004 when they took place twice a term, before stopping completely in 2006 (being replaced by a new-format Wednesday evening meeting).
In 1871, nonconfirmists were admitted to the University for the first time, and during this time daily attendance at college chapel was compulsory. In 1877, the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union was founded, and there was a desire to start an organised Christian witness in Oxford. This happened in 1879, and the OICCU is the oldest religious society (of a non-specialist nature) in the university. By 1895, membership had grown to about 150, and Bible study groups - 'Biblers' met in most colleges. Public witness at the Martyrs' Memorial was at 5pm on Sundays. The first OICCU mission was conducted in 1892 by the Revd. George Grubb, a well-known Irish evangelist.
By the turn of the century, leadership in the OICCU gradually passed into the hands of those who doubted or disliked traditional evangelical beliefs. It was around this time that the liberal Student Christian Movement (SCM) gained popularity - the centrality of the cross being the crucial issue that led to CICCU disaffiliation in 1910. In 1908, the OICCU amalgamated with the (predominatly anglo-catholic) Oxford University Church Society, further evidence of its liberal direction.
In 1919, inspired by the re-activation of the CICCU, the OICCU found its evangelical roots. It was renamed to the Oxford University Bible Union (OUBU). There was yet more pressure to unite with the SCM in 1925, and in 1928 the OICCU name was recovered. The OICCU also adopted the IVF basis of faith - something it still uses today.
In 1948, it was decided to set up a Standing committee, designed to provide against inadequate and ill-advised changes of constitution or policy. In this same year, the Northgate Hall became the permanent home of the OICCU - it was later sold once it became a financial liability. In the late fifties, some OICCU members founded a social club for North London boys from difficult homes. In 1958, premises were obtained in Kilburn, and the club became known as the OK (Oxford-Kilburn) club. To this day, groups from the OICCU help out with the club on Friday nights.
Despite the rising tide of neo-pentecostalism in the 1960s, it was possible to contain divergent viewpoints within the union. The disputed issues were coined to be 'secondary issues' by future execs, and many recent problems within the OICCU can be attributed to an unnecessary and unbiblical emphasis on these areas. In 1979, the centenary year, membership approached 400. In 2004, the OICCU observed its 125th anniversary by an event with Jim Packer and Andrew Goddard. In 2006, the membership of the OICCU Facebook group overtook the official membership of the OICCU.
This piece was written with reference to "Born Anew, Historical Outlines of the Oxford Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, 1879-1979" by John Reynolds, and the OICCU Wikipedia article.
