Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore |
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| 51°43′16″N 1°13′24″W / 51.721086°N 1.223221°W | |
| Location | Cowley Road, Littlemore, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 4PB |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Nicholas |
| Consecrated | 22 September 1836 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Designated | 18 July 1963 |
| Architect(s) | H. J. Underwood Joseph Clarke |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Littlemore |
| Deanery | Cowley |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Oxford |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
The Church of St Mary and St Nicholas is a special Church of England church in Littlemore, a village near Oxford, Oxfordshire. It's a very old and important building, listed as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a historic place that needs to be protected. The church was started by a famous person named John Henry Newman, who later became a Cardinal in the Catholic Church. It became a key place for a religious movement called Anglo-Catholicism.
Contents
The Church's Story
The Church of St Mary and St Nicholas was built between 1835 and 1836. It was designed by an architect named H. J. Underwood. A very important person, John Henry Newman, helped to start it. His mother, Jemima, laid the first stone in 1835. The church was officially opened, or consecrated, on September 22, 1836.
Later, in 1848, more parts were added to the church. These included the chancel (the area around the altar) and the tower. These additions were designed by another architect, Joseph Clarke.
From Chapel to Parish Church
When it was first built, the church was a "chapel of ease." This meant it was a smaller church that helped people attend services more easily. It was part of the larger University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford.
But in 1847, Littlemore became its own separate parish. A parish is like a local church district. At this time, the chapel was renamed the Church of St Mary and St Nicholas.
Around 1900, a beautiful new window was added to the east side of the church. This window had stained glass designed by Louis Davis. It was put there to remember Vernon Green, who used to be the vicar of the church. In 1901, a sculpture of a crucifix was given to the church by an American poet, Louise Imogen Guiney. This was to celebrate 100 years since Cardinal Newman was born.
Because of its history and architecture, the church was officially named a Grade II* listed building on July 18, 1963. This protects it for future generations.
The Church Today
Today, the parish of Littlemore is part of the Archdeaconry of Oxford. This is a larger area within the Diocese of Oxford, which is part of the Church of England. The church continues to be an active place of worship for the local community.
Important People at the Church
Many interesting people have been involved with the Church of St Mary and St Nicholas.
- John Henry Newman was the first vicar of the parish from 1836 to 1845. He was a very influential religious leader.
- Teresa Morgan is a professor at Oxford University and has served as a Non-Stipendiary Minister (NSM) since 2002.
- Helen-Ann Hartley was a curate here from 2007 to 2012. She later became a Bishop in New Zealand and then in England.
Gallery
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The church tower
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The church seen from the west side
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The Rood screen inside the church
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The Chancel area with the high altar and reredos (decorated screen behind the altar)
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The beautiful East window
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The font, used for baptisms
