The Lord Bishop of Winchester Received Ad Portas

On Thursday 23 April, Winchester College welcomed its Visitor, the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen, Lord Bishop of Winchester, in the ancient ceremony of Ad Portas, one of the school’s most historic traditions.

A Tradition Six Centuries in the Making

The tradition of Ad Portas (literally translated to ‘at the gates’) is steeped in the history of the school and dates back to the late 14th century. The College Statutes decreed that each year a party of examiners should travel from New College, Oxford, to Winchester to elect scholars for both foundations and to examine current scholars. On arrival, the visitors would be greeted by senior scholars delivering Latin speeches of welcome. The modern Ad Portas ceremony is derived from those ancient roots, and to be received Ad Portas remains the highest honour the school can bestow on a distinguished guest or alumnus.

The Ceremony

At 16.45, the whole school stood in a hollow square in Chamber Court, the medieval heart of the College, quietly awaiting the Bishop’s arrival.

Only the Chapel bells broke the silence and as the bells ceased, the Bishop entered and was welcomed by the Prefect of Hall (the senior scholar) with a speech that drew on four of his predecessors as Bishop of Winchester and noted that the ceremony was taking place on St George’s Day.

In keeping with modern tradition, only the opening section was delivered in Latin, to the relief of the assembled audience.

Reflections and Evensong

In response, the Bishop reflected of the shared legacy of Winchester College and New College, Oxford, both founded by his predecessor, William of Wykeham. He also reflected on Winchester’s place at the heart of Wessex and the deep roots of Christianity in England, a legacy that predates even Wykeham’s foundations.

The occasion concluded with the Bishop and his guests attending a choral evensong for St George’s Day in Chapel.