St Aldate's Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Aldate's |
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| Location | St Aldate's, Oxford |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Low Church / Charismatic Evangelical |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Aldate's |
| Deanery | Oxford |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Oxford |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Aldate's is a Church of England parish church located in the centre of Oxford, England. It is part of the Deanery and Diocese of Oxford. The church stands on the street called St Aldate's. It is directly opposite Christ Church college. Pembroke College is right next door. St Aldate's has a large group of people who attend its services. It also has a team of about 30 staff members. This team includes clergy (church leaders), pastoral helpers, and administrative staff. The main offices for the Rector and other staff are at 40 Pembroke Street.
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History of St Aldate's Church
The place where St Aldate's Church stands has been used for Christian worship for a very long time. People have gathered here since the Saxon era. It might have been one of three churches within the area of Saint Frideswide's monastery.
Early Buildings and Changes
The first big parts of the church were built in the 12th century. These were the nave (the main part where people sit) and the chancel (the area near the altar). These parts form the central section of the building today. Since then, the church has been made bigger and changed many times. The original tower was built in the 13th century. However, it was completely rebuilt in 1873.
The south and north aisles were added later. These are the sections on either side of the nave. The south aisle was built in the 14th century. The north aisle was added in the 15th century. These additions helped make space for more people as Oxford's population grew.
Modern Updates and Features
The church continued to develop during the 19th century. Its inside was updated in 1832. A very important leader named Canon Alfred Christopher served the church for 46 years, from 1859 to 1905. During his time, the north and south chancel aisles were added. A vestry (a room for clergy robes) was also built.
More changes were made in 2002. The old wooden pews were taken out. This created more room for the growing number of people attending services. New features were installed, like under-floor heating and carpet. They also added Jerusalem stone tiles and wood flooring. A modern sound and video system was put in, with projector screens and TV monitors. These updates made the church a modern place for its active community.
One of the most noticeable changes was to the North Wall. It was opened up to create a large glass entrance area. This new entrance makes the church feel more open to the main St Aldate's Street. Also, the graveyard at the front was turned into a garden. This garden is a nice place for tourists and people passing by to enjoy.
How St Aldate's Church is Run
St Aldate's is a parish church within the Deanery and Diocese of Oxford. This means it is looked after by the Bishop of Oxford. The church is managed locally by its leaders. These include clergy and other church ministers. They work with the parochial church council. This council follows rules set out in the Church Representation Rules from 1969.
Who Attends St Aldate's
Most people who attend St Aldate's do not live in the immediate area. Members come from all over Oxford and nearby villages. Some travel from places like Grove, Heyford, and even north towards Banbury. Because many people in Oxford are students or researchers, the church community changes often. It is thought that up to 30% of the congregation changes each year.
The church has people of all ages. There are older people, young families, families with teenagers, and single people. Many young people and students also attend. During university terms, as many as 400 students come to the Sunday services. When students are away for holidays, many tourists and visitors join the church.
St Aldate's encourages its members to get involved in church life. Many volunteers help in different areas. These include prayer, office work, setting up events, cooking, and maintenance. Volunteers also help with counselling, guiding people, and teaching.
Catacombs Youth and Prayer Centre
In October 2009, a building called the Catacombs was reopened. It is located at 12 Littlegate Street. This building was completely updated. The ground floor is now a youth centre. The basement has been set aside as a special prayer room for Oxford. In March 2010, the Oxford Prayer Room hosted its first "24-7 week of prayer." This event was open to all churches in Oxford. Representatives from over 24 churches attended during the week.
Love Oxford Event
In 2006, St Aldate's helped organise a special event in Oxford. More than 30 churches in the city came together for an outdoor service. This service took place in Broad Street on a Sunday morning in June. The event was called Love Oxford. Its goal was to "declare God's praises," "pray for the peace of the city," and "hear the word of God preached." This event became an annual tradition. In 2009, it moved to South Park on Headington Hill. About 4,000 people now attend this large gathering each year.
Channel 4 Documentary
In June 2009, a TV channel called Channel 4 showed a documentary. It was titled Revelations - How to find God. This programme was about the Alpha course held at St Aldate's earlier that year. The show was one of eight episodes in a series. It was made by Jon Ronson. He was given "complete access" to film. He created the final show from about 120 hours of video footage.
