St Barnabas Church, Oxford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Barnabas Church, Oxford |
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View of St Barnabas Church and its campanile
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 St Barnabas Church, Oxford
Location in Oxfordshire
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| 51°45′28″N 1°16′11″W / 51.7578°N 1.2697°W | |
| Location | St Barnabas Street, Jericho, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 6BG |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Traditionalist Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founder(s) | Thomas Combe and Martha Combe |
| Dedication | St Barnabas |
| Consecrated | 19 October 1869 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Architect(s) | Sir Arthur Blomfield |
| Architectural type | Victorian, Romanesque, Italianate |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | tubular |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Oxford St. Barnabas and St. Paul with St Thomas the Martyr |
| Deanery | Oxford Deanery |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Oxford |
| Episcopal area | Oxford Episcopal Area |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
St Barnabas Church is a Church of England parish church located in Jericho, a part of central Oxford, England. You can find it very close to the Oxford Canal.
Contents
History of St Barnabas Church
St Barnabas Church was built a long time ago, during the Victorian era. Like many churches built then, it was meant to help people, especially those who were poor or worked hard in the growing city of Oxford. The church became its own parish in 1869.
Founders and Design
The church was started by Thomas Combe (1796–1872) and his wife Martha (1806–1893). Thomas was in charge of the Oxford University Press, which was near the church. Both Thomas and Martha were big supporters of a religious movement called the Oxford Movement. A special blue plaque now honors Martha Combe.
The church's architect was Sir Arthur Blomfield. He was the son of the Bishop of London. Sir Arthur designed the church in a Romanesque style. This style might remind you of old churches in Rome or Italy. St Barnabas has a unique square tower, called an Italianate campanile, which you can see from far away.
Building and Features
The land for the church was given by George Ward, a local landowner. The church was officially opened in 1869 by Bishop Wilberforce of Oxford. The tall campanile tower was finished in 1872.
Inside, the pulpit was added in 1887. It has painted panels by Charles Floyce. The church also has a set of ten special tubular bells. These bells ring out the hours and quarter hours.
A school for girls and young children, connected to St Barnabas, was built nearby in 1857.
St Barnabas in Books
St Barnabas Church has appeared in many books! Famous writers like Thomas Hardy and P. D. James have mentioned it. The poet John Betjeman even wrote a poem about this church.
St Barnabas Today
The church still follows the Anglo-Catholic traditions it started with. For many years, a magazine called Jericho Matters was made every three months. It was given to all homes and businesses in Jericho. The church also hosts many events, like concerts, talks, and art shows.
Parish Changes
In 2015, St Barnabas joined with another nearby church, St Thomas the Martyr. They formed a new, larger parish. St Barnabas is the main church for this new parish.
For a long time, the church had a rule about who could be a priest. In 2023, after discussions, the church decided to welcome women priests and bishops. The Revd Dr Melanie Marshall was the first woman to lead the main Sunday service on May 14, 2023.
Visiting St Barnabas
The church is open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM. You can get a short guide about the building and its history there. You can also find a special "Jericho" mug, made just for St Barnabas Church.
Gallery
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St Barnabas Church from the Oxford Canal in Jericho.
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View of the campanile from the northwest across the Oxford Canal.
