Welsh connection Jesus College, Oxford

late 19th-century stained glass in chapel, showing st david, patron saint of wales

education in wales had been stimulated foundation of grammar schools during reigns of henry viii , edward vi: king henry viii grammar school in abergavenny , christ college, brecon established in 1540s, , friars school, bangor dates 1557. however, despite numbers of welsh students coming oxford university result, there no special provision welshmen before 1571. despite links wales hugh price , many of founding fellows had, neither 1571 charter nor of later charters limited entry college welshmen. nevertheless, college students predominantly welsh outset, , college became pinnacle of academic ambition of young men of wales . many of fellows in past welsh, since when new fellowships created benefactions (often people of welsh descent) there stipulation recipients related donor or come specified part of wales. these specific limitations removed part of reforms of oxford university during 19th century. between 1571 , 1915, 1 principal (francis howell, 1657–1660) not wales or of welsh descent.

jesus still has particular association wales , referred welsh college . college home university s professor of celtic, , specialist celtic library in addition college s normal library. meyrick scholarships, bequest of edmund meyrick in 1713, awarded academic merit student native of wales (or child of native of wales), able speak welsh or educated last 3 years of secondary school in wales.

the college s undergraduate gossip sheet entitled sheepshagger in allusion offensive joke welsh people s supposed penchant sheep. furthermore, welshness of college self-perpetuating, welsh students apply jesus because seen welsh college. old members recall college having majority of welsh members until 20th century; today, however, around 15% of undergraduates come wales. comparison, residents of wales comprise under 5% of united kingdom population (2.9 million out of total of 58.8 million @ time of 2001 census).

in modern times, welsh roots of college come fore prominently on saint david s day. feast marked choral evensong in chapel, decorated occasion daffodils. service, including music, conducted entirely in welsh (despite small minority of choir being native speakers of language). attended members of welsh community in oxford. college s annual st. david s day dinner traditionally culminates serving of sir watkin williams-wynn s pudding. name recalls welsh politician , prominent jacobite attended college in 18th century.