Oxford was the centre of the two-decades-old Oxford Movement, the leading force in English Anglo-Catholicism. There are conflicting accounts of his theological opinions while at Oxford. Some describe Mackonochie as having "pronounced Low Church views", but he heard Pusey preach and was on personal terms with many of the other leading Anglo-Catholics of the day, especially Charles Marriott. However, we can be sure that during his time at the University he came into contact with the vanguard of the Oxford Movement, though he may not have shared its views at this early stage in his life.