St Mary's Church, Bloxham
St Mary's, Bloxham | ||
---|---|---|
Our Lady of Bloxham | ||
Style English Gothic | | |
Specifications | ||
Materials | ironstone rubble | |
Bells | 8 | |
Administration | ||
Province | Canterbury | |
Diocese | Oxford | |
Archdeaconry | Dorchester | |
Parish | Bloxham | |
Clergy | ||
Vicar(s) | Dale Gingrich |
The church of Our Lady of Bloxham, informally called St Mary's Bloxham, is the
Building
The earliest record of a church at Bloxham is from AD 1067, when William of Normandy granted it to Westminster Abbey. But the earliest parts of the current building are fragments of 12th-century masonry, including two doorways and the responds of the chancel arch.[3]
The arcades date from the rebuilding of the original nave in the 13th century, but the present building was mainly constructed in the 14th and 15th centuries. The chancel and aisles were rebuilt in the early 14th century, as were the north and south porches. At this time the church was ornamented with much fine stone sculpture, including tracery and ornate capitals, much of which survives. It is likely that it was crafted by a school of masons who carried out similar work on the nearby Oxfordshire churches of Adderbury, Alkerton and Hanwell.[4] The tower is thought to have been built between 1300 and 1340.
Fragments of
In the 15th century the Perpendicular Gothic Milcombe chapel (also known as the south chapel) was added.[6] Although the patron and architect are unknown, it is likely that the new building was designed by Richard Winchcombe.[6] The chapel contains a number of 18th-century monuments to members of the local Thornycroft family and the tomb of Sir John Thornycroft, 1st Baronet.
In 1864–66 the church was restored under the direction of the Gothic Revival architect GE Street. As well as stabilising the spire, Street's work includes the pulpit, choir stalls and reredos.[6] In 1868 Edward Burne-Jones created a stained glass window of St Christopher in the chancel and in 1869 William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Philip Webb created the east window.[7]
In 2018 the parish was taken to a Church of England
Bells
The church tower has a ring of eight bells. The fifth bell was cast in about 1570, possibly by John Appowell of Buckingham. James Keene of Woodstock cast the tenor bell in 1648. Abel Rudhall of Gloucester cast the sixth bell in 1750. James Barwell & Co of Birmingham cast the treble, second, third and seventh bells in 1903.[9] They are the heaviest ring of change-ringing bells in the World that are rung from the ground floor, inside the church.[10]
The church has also a Sanctus bell that was cast in about 1599, and a service bell that John Warner & Sons of Cripplegate, London cast in about 1899.[9]
Patronage and use
In 1067 William of Normandy granted the church and
The church has a large graveyard, which has been expanded to the east several times.
Schools in Bloxham use the church for their annual Christmas services. The benefice is now combined with those of Milcombe and South Newington, of which Our Lady of Bloxham is the main church.[11]
References
- A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, pp. 477.
- ^ a b Historic England. "Church of St Mary (Grade I) (1284130)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, p. 357.
- ^ Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, pp. 477–479.
- ^ a b c Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, pp. 479.
- ^ Sherwood & Pevsner 1974, pp. 478–480.
- ^ Williams, Tom (4 June 2018). "Church's 'taken to court' over decision to remove pews". Oxford Mail. Newsquest. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ a b Smith, Martin (17 January 2015). "Bloxham, Our Lady of Bloxham". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
- ^ Dovemaster. "Ground Floor peals of bells, sorted by weight". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ a b Lobel & Crossley 1969, pp. 53–85.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-0-19722-726-8.
- Sherwood, Jennifer; ISBN 0-14-071045-0.
External links
- Haval, Nikhilesh. "Our Lady of Bloxham". Oxfordshire in 360 degrees. Nikreations.