St Clement's Church, Oxford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Clement's |
|
|---|---|
| St Clement's Parish Church | |
The present church, completed in 1828, viewed from the east
|
|
| Location | Marston Road, Oxford OX4 1FN |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| History | |
| Founded | Before 1122 |
| Dedication | Clement, Bishop of Rome (died c.100 AD) |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Daniel Robertson |
| Style | Romanesque Revival (Anglo Norman) |
| Years built | 1827–1828 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Cowley |
| Archdeaconry | Oxford |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Clement's Church is a Christian church in Oxford, England. It belongs to the Church of England and is known for its evangelical style of worship. The church is located just east of Oxford's city centre.
Contents
History of St Clement's Church
The church you see today was built in the 1820s. It replaced a much older church that stood for centuries before it was taken down in 1829.
The Old Church Building
The original St Clement's Church was located at what is now The Plain roundabout. This spot was important because roads from London and Henley crossed the River Cherwell there, near Magdalen Bridge. The church served a small community called Bruggeset, which means "Bridge Settlement," and the surrounding countryside.
The first time the church was mentioned in writing was in 1122. King Henry I gave it to St Frideswide's Priory. Some historians think the church might have been built by a Danish group between 1016 and the 1050s. This would explain why it was near a bridge and dedicated to St Clement, which was unusual for churches far from the coast back then.
We don't know much about what the very first church looked like. However, a stone head now in the Ashmolean Museum might have been part of the 13th-century church. This suggests the early church was colourful and had carved stone decorations.
In 1323, money was given to rebuild the church. Most of the building that was torn down in 1829 dated from this time. In 1816, the church's small, capped tower was replaced with a square one.
St Clement's During the Civil War
During the Siege of Oxford (1644-1646), St Clement's Church and its area were right on the front line. The Parliament forces were on Headington Hill, and the Royalists were in the city. Because of this, the area suffered a lot. Many streets were destroyed to build defences or to stop the enemy from hiding. The old Black Horse Inn and the church were some of the few buildings that survived.
Church records from 1643 show how serious things were. One entry notes, "Capt. Slade, shot to death buried 12th Sept." Another says, "Jan (9) Francis Cole executed for a spie & buried beside ye church privately without any ceremonie."
Growing Community and New Leadership
In the early 1800s, Oxford's population grew quickly. St Clement's parish expanded, with over 300 new houses built between 1821 and 1824. The old church was small, only seating 250 people. Services were often disturbed by the noise of carriages passing by. So, a plan was made to build a new, larger church in a new location.
The church's rector, Revd John Gutch, was in his 80s. So, a curate was appointed to help him and to raise money for the new church.
John Henry Newman, who later became a very famous religious leader (Saint John Henry Newman), became the curate in 1824. Even though he was only at St Clement's for two years, he made a huge difference. He visited every home, started a Sunday school, and preached to a church that was always full. People respected him greatly.
Building the New Church
Thanks to Newman's efforts in raising money, the current church was built between 1827 and 1828. It cost over £6,000 and was built on land given by Sir Joseph Lock. The church was designed in an Anglo-Norman style, which looked like old Romanesque buildings. This style was chosen because it was more affordable.
The architect was Daniel Robertson. St Clement's is an early example of this Anglo-Norman or Romanesque Revival style. The new church was designed to hold up to 1024 people.
The new location was chosen because people expected new houses to be built along Marston Lane (now Marston Road).
A Law About Marriages
St Clement's was the first church in Oxford to be built on a completely new site since the Middle Ages. This caused an unexpected problem: the new building didn't automatically become the official parish church when it was opened in 1828. This wasn't realized at the time. So, in 1836, a special law had to be passed by Parliament to make sure all the marriages that had taken place in the new church were legal!
Changes to the Church Building (1800s-Today)
The inside of the church was greatly updated in the 1870s. In 1871, the old box-pews were replaced with the current pews. The West Gallery was removed in 1876. These changes were paid for mostly by the wealthy Morrell family, who owned Morrell's Brewing Company. They were big supporters of St Clement's for many years.
In recent times (late 1900s and early 2000s), the church has been changed to be more flexible. A crèche (a place for babies) and a kitchen were added in 1973. Disabled access was installed in 2005. From 2020 to 2022, the organ and some pews were removed to create more open space, and the kitchen was improved.
St Clement's Today
The church community today includes people of all ages and backgrounds from across Oxford.
Many church and community activities also happen at the St Clement's Centre on Cross Street.
St Clement's usually has Sunday services at 10:30 AM and 6:30 PM. Children and young people can join the morning service with their families or have their own activities at the St Clement's Centre. During the week, activities include:
- Home groups (small groups meeting in homes)
- Youth activities
- A popular Baby and Toddler Group
- Café Club for older people
St Clement's also works with the Oxford Churches Debt Centre to help people with debt problems.
The church has a team of staff, including the Rector (Revd Mark Hay), an Assistant Curate (Revd Dr Joanna Tarassenko), a Parish Administration Manager, and a Children and Families Worker. Many volunteers also help with daily activities.
Church Bells
St Clement's has three bells, all of which were moved from the old church in the 1820s. The two larger bells are now on display in the church entrance.
- The largest bell was made in 1636.
- The second bell is the oldest bell in Oxford, dating from the late 13th century.
- The small bell is still in the tower, but it is not rung. It was made in 1731.
Music at St Clement's
The first professional musician mentioned in church records was a clarinet player hired in 1843. The church bought its first organ in 1846. It was later moved and then replaced by a new organ in 1897-99. This new organ was first used for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
Over time, the organ became less used. Since the late 20th century, music for worship has mainly been provided by a worship group using different instruments. They use both modern worship songs and traditional hymns. The church also holds a monthly Taizé service, which is a quiet, reflective style of worship.
During the pandemic in 2020-21, when people couldn't sing together in church, the musicians recorded music from their homes for online services.
Stained Glass Windows
The beautiful east window at the front of the church shows ten scenes from the life of Jesus. It was made by Isaac Hugh Russell, a talented artist, and installed in 1847.
The four north windows show scenes about faith. They were originally made for another church in 1865 and moved to St Clement's in 1896 when that church was torn down.
The "Seven Churches" window in the north-west corner was given in memory of George Herbert Morrell, a Member of Parliament. It shows scenes from the Bible's book of Revelation, which talks about letters to seven churches in Asia. This window was installed in 1908.
The south windows are made of plain glass.
From 2018 to 2021, St Clement's worked to clean and repair its windows. This included fixing a window that had been partly taken apart when a crèche room was built.
The Churchyard
The churchyard around the new church was originally small. In 1879, the Morrell family gave the church more land to make the churchyard bigger. They gave another acre of land in 1920, which is now the main part of the churchyard between the church and Marston Road. This 1920 extension was partly to create a space for a war memorial, which was dedicated in 1921. Inside the church, a scroll lists the names of men from St Clement's who died in the First and Second World Wars.
The old churchyard at The Plain was used until the 1870s. In 1950, the remaining memorials were moved to the top of the current churchyard. Human remains that were found during roadworks at The Plain were respectfully reburied in the new churchyard in 1950 and 2009.
The churchyard is becoming a peaceful place for visitors and a home for wildlife. Woodpeckers, jays, robins, and even deer are often seen there.
Charities Connected to St Clement's
St Clement's Church is linked to three charities, which help the community. The Rector of the church is in charge of these charities.
Dawson's Charity
This charity, started in 1521, owns property. The money earned from this property is used for good causes. It helps poorer people in St Clement's parish and has an Education Fund that helps children and young people in Oxford. It also helps pay for the upkeep of the church building.
The Parochial Charities
This charity helps people in need in St Clement's Parish. It supports older people with money and gives grants to groups working to reduce poverty in the area.
St Clement's Community Property
This group owns and looks after several properties, including the St Clement's Centre on Cross Street. These properties are used for activities that help the spiritual, intellectual, moral, or social needs of people in the parish.
Schools (1839-1958)
In 1839, the church opened schools for boys, girls, and infants in a former chapel. As the population grew, the schools moved to new locations. The boys' school moved to Cross Street in 1903, thanks to land provided by the Morrell family. The girls' school joined the boys' school there in 1929. The schools eventually closed in 1958, and the Cross Street site is now used by the church and community.
Church Records
Most of St Clement's old records are kept at the Oxfordshire History Centre. Some records, like baptisms, marriages, and burials, are also available to view online. These records go back to the 1600s and tell us a lot about the people who lived in the parish over the centuries.
See also
