St Mary's Church, Banbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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St Mary's Church, seen from the west
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| 52°03′41″N 1°20′21″W / 52.061483°N 1.339084°W | |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Central |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Architect(s) | Samuel Pepys Cockerell Charles Robert Cockerell |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Banbury St. Mary |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Dorchester |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
St Mary's Church is a beautiful Church of England church located in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. It's a very important building, recognized as a Grade I listed building, which means it has special historical and architectural value. It's a place where people come together for worship and community events.
Contents
The Story of St Mary's Church
The current St Mary's Church was built in the 1790s. It replaced an older, Medieval church that was damaged during the English Civil War. The first plans for the church were made by Samuel Pepys Cockerell. Later, between 1818 and 1822, Charles Robert Cockerell added the tower and the grand entrance (called a portico).
Inside the Church: A New Look
In the 1860s and 1870s, the inside of the church was changed. This was done by the vicar at the time, Henry Back. He wanted the church to be more suitable for Eucharistic worship, which is a special Christian service.
He asked Arthur Blomfield to help with these changes. Blomfield also decorated the church in a Byzantine style, which is a unique and ancient art style. During this time, beautiful stained-glass windows were added. These were designed by Robert Turnill Bayne. One of these windows shows the famous story of The Parable of the Talents.
St Mary's Church Today
St Mary's Church follows the Central tradition within the Church of England. This means it blends different styles of worship. It is also a member of Inclusive Church, which supports welcoming everyone.
For a while, starting in 1993, the church was shared by both the Church of England and the United Reformed Church. This agreement ended around 2019.
The church has a special place called the Resurrection Chapel. Here, you can find one of the 84 Lamps of Brotherhood. These lamps were created after World War II as a symbol of peace and friendship between different countries.
Important Leaders of the Church
Over the years, several important people have served as vicars at St Mary's Church:
- David Thomson was the vicar from 1984 to 1994. He later became the Bishop of Huntingdon.
- Anthony Williams served as vicar from 1931 to 1946. He later became the Bishop of Bermuda.
Gallery
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Chancel, with altar and wall paintings
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Down onto nave from balcony
