November 4, 2022
Each summer, Oakland University Professor Randall Engle leads two separate classes – “Tudors of England” in June and “Cross and Crown” in August — on Study Abroad trips to London, where students spend about two weeks visiting and learning about some of the city’s historic landmarks.
“The classes begin on campus and finish with 12 days in London,” Engle said. “In London, we see all the sights related to the lectures that were given in class, including Leicester, St. Paul’s, Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court, Buckingham Palace, Cambridge, the Tower of London, and more.
“In fact, last June’s class attended the Platinum Jubilee parade of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he added. “Sadly, we can now say that we witnessed the last balcony appearance of Her Majesty.”
The students stay in flats (apartments) in Central London and are within walking distance from tube stations, and are in close proximity to all things Tudor: St. James Palace, Lambeth Palace, and Whitehall. Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle are a short train ride away as well.
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| Professor Engle reviews the 1952 Coronation Bible of the late Queen Elizabeth II. |
“Over the years, I’ve established great contacts at Lambeth Palace with the Lord Archivist,” Engle said. “OU students are now allowed in with me to this little known palace on the bank of the Thames, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
“The archives hold priceless, uninsurable treasures,” Engle added. “For example, we’ve been allowed access to a Gutenberg Bible, a Wycliffe Bible, a Tyndale Bible, Richard III's devotional book (that he used the morning the day he died in battle), and extant working drafts of the King James Bible.”
In August, Engle and his students were also allowed to see the Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Bible, which was presented to her at her 1953 coronation.
“She took her monarchial oath on this very Bible after it was presented to her during the coronation ceremony by the Archbishop of Canterbury,” Engle said. “The Bible had been on loan and exhibit during the Platinum Jubilee year, but just returned to the archives and the Lord Archivist gave me gracious permission to view it.”
To learn more about the “Tudors of England” program, visit www.oakland.edu/ie/ou-programs/tudors-of-england. For more information about the “Cross and Crown” program, visit www.oakland.edu/ie/ou-programs/cross-and-crown-in-london-england.