St Aldate's Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Aldate's |
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| Location | St Aldate's, Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| 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 church located in the heart of Oxford, England. It is part of the Diocese of Oxford. You can find it on a street also called St Aldate's. The church is right across from Christ Church college and next to Pembroke College. St Aldate's has many people who attend its services. It also has a team of about 30 staff members. This team includes clergy (church leaders), people who help with care, and office staff.
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History of St Aldate's Church
People have worshipped God at this spot for a very long time. It dates back to the Saxon era. It might have been one of three churches near the old monastery of Saint Frideswide.
Early Buildings
The first main parts of the church were built in the 1100s. These were the nave (the main part where people sit) and the chancel (the area near the altar). Since then, the church has been made bigger and changed many times. The original tower was built in the 1200s. It was completely rebuilt in 1873.
Growing the Church
The south and north aisles were added later. These are the parts on either side of the nave. The south aisle was built in the 1300s, and the north aisle in the 1400s. They were added to make space for more people as Oxford grew.
Modern Changes
The church changed a lot in the 1800s. The inside was updated in 1832. A very important leader named Canon Alfred Christopher was in charge from 1859 to 1905. During his 46 years, the north and south chancel aisles and the vestry (a room for clergy) were added.
More changes were made in 2002. The old wooden benches (pews) were taken out. This made more room for the growing number of people attending. New heating was put under the floor. The church also got carpet, special Jerusalem stone tiles, and wood flooring. A modern sound and video system was installed with projector screens. These updates made the church a modern place for its active community.
One big change was opening up the North Wall. This created a large glass entrance area. It made the church feel more open to the main street. Also, the graveyard at the front was turned into a garden. This garden is now a nice spot for visitors and people passing by.
The Church Community
Most people who attend St Aldate's do not live in the local area. They come from all over Oxford and nearby villages. Some travel from places like Grove and Heyford. Because many people in Oxford are students, the church community changes often. It is thought that up to 30% of the people change 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, up to 400 students come to the Sunday services. When students are away, many tourists and visitors join the church.
St Aldate's encourages everyone to get involved. Many people volunteer their time to help the church. They assist with things like prayer, office work, and setting up events. Volunteers also help with food, maintenance, and teaching.
Catacombs Youth and Prayer Centre
In October 2009, a building called the Catacombs was reopened. It is located at 12 Littlegate Street. After a lot of work, the ground floor became a youth centre. The basement was set aside as a special prayer room for Oxford. In March 2010, the Oxford Prayer Room held its first "24-7 week of prayer." Churches from all over Oxford took part in this event.
Love Oxford Event
In 2006, St Aldate's helped organize a special event in Oxford. More than 30 churches in the city came together for an outdoor service. This event was held in Broad Street on a Sunday morning in June. It was called Love Oxford. The goal was to praise God, pray for the city, and hear God's word. This event became a yearly tradition. In 2009, it moved to South Park on Headington Hill. About 4,000 people now attend this large gathering.
Channel 4 Documentary
In June 2009, a TV show called Revelations - How to find God was shown on Channel 4. This documentary was about the Alpha course held at St Aldate's earlier that year. The Alpha course is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. The TV show was one of eight episodes in the series. A filmmaker named Jon Ronson made the program. He was given full access to film everything. He used about 120 hours of video to create the final show.
