Old All Saints Church, Nuneham Courtenay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Old All Saints Church, Nuneham Courtenay
Old All Saints Church, Nuneham Courtenay
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OS grid reference	SU542983
Location	Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	Churches Conservation Trust
History
Founder(s)	Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt
Dedication	All Saints
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	18 July 1963
Architect(s)	Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt with James Stuart
Architectural type	Church
Style	Neoclassical
Completed	1764
Construction cost	Over £800
Specifications
Number of domes	one
Materials	Limestone ashlar Dome copper-covered

Old All Saints Church, also known as Harcourt Chapel, is a special old church in Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire, England. It's a Church of England church that is no longer used for regular services, which is why it's called a "redundant" church. This means it's kept safe by the Churches Conservation Trust.

The church is listed as a Grade II* building. This is a special status given to important historic buildings in England. You can find it southwest of the village, within the beautiful grounds of Nuneham House. It looks out over the River Thames, about 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Oxford.

History of Old All Saints Church

This church is actually the second of three churches built for the village of Nuneham Courtenay. All three were dedicated to "All Saints."

Building the Second Church

The very first church in the village was built a long time ago, in the Middle Ages. However, by 1762, it was in a very bad condition. A powerful local leader, Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt, decided to pull it down. He even turned the old churchyard into a "pleasure ground" for his home.

The church you see today was built in 1764. Earl Harcourt himself designed it, with some changes made by an architect named James Stuart. Building this church cost more than £800, which was a lot of money back then!

Changes Over Time

This new church was very convenient for Earl Harcourt and his family, as it was close to their home. But it was not easy for the villagers to reach. This was because the entire village of Nuneham Courtenay had been moved to a new spot.

So, in 1880, a third parish church was built right next to the new village. After this, Old All Saints Church was no longer the main village church. It became a private chapel for the Harcourt family and was redecorated inside.

The church was officially declared "redundant" on May 8, 1980. This meant it was no longer needed for regular church services. On October 28, 1981, it was handed over to the Churches Conservation Trust, which now looks after it.

Architecture of Old All Saints Church

The church is made from limestone blocks, known as ashlar, and has a dome covered in copper. Its design is thought to be inspired by ancient temples found in Palmyra.

Outside the Church

The church has a rectangular shape with parts that stick out on each side. The main entrance is on the north side. This front looks a bit like the entrance to Chiswick House. It has a large porch, called a portico, with six tall Ionic columns. On each side of the portico, there is a semicircular window, known as a Diocletian window.

Above the portico is a decorative band called an entablature, which includes a triangular top part called a pediment. The wall behind the portico has fake doorways and arches. The south side of the church also has a pediment, but it is enclosed. It has a central doorway with beautiful wrought iron gates.

The east and west sides of the church are semicircular and have half domes on top. The west side has an entrance porch with Ionic columns. The main dome in the center of the church has four Diocletian windows. On the outside of the east wall, there is a large memorial that was moved from the very first church.

Inside the Church

The inside of the church has a central round area, called a rotunda, and two rectangular rooms. Around the rotunda, you'll find special hollow spaces in the walls called niches. There's also a small area for baptisms, called a baptistry, to the south.

The walls are decorated with plaster panels that have religious texts written on them. Along the walls are beautifully carved wooden seats, or stalls, which were added in 1880. These stalls are designed in a 16th-century Italian style. Their backs are decorated with panels separated by Corinthian columns.

The wooden lectern, where readings are given, is very old, dating from the 17th or 18th century. The font, used for baptisms, was made in 1843 and has a decorative, rounded shape called gadrooned. Its cover is in a fancy Italian Baroque style.

Inside the church, you can also see two old chests, four hatchments (diamond-shaped funeral memorials) from the 19th century, and three tapestries. There are also some items from the funeral of King Edward VII and monuments dedicated to the Harcourt family.

See also

• List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South East England