St Peter ad Vincula, South Newington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter ad Vincula, South Newington |
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| Parish Church of Saint Peter ad Vincula, South Newington | |
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| 52°0′10.8″N 1°23′24″W / 52.003000°N 1.39000°W | |
| Location | South Newington, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 4JF |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Peter ad Vincula |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Norman, Decorated Gothic and Perpendicular Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Saint Peter ad Vincula, South Newington |
| Deanery | Banbury |
| Archdeaconry | Oxford |
| Diocese | Oxford |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Parish Church of Saint Peter ad Vincula, South Newington is a special Church of England church. It is located in the village of South Newington, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of Banbury in Oxfordshire, England. This church is one of only 15 in England named after "St Peter in Chains" (ad Vincula means "in chains"). This name comes from a famous church in Rome called San Pietro in Vincoli.
What Makes the Church Building Special?
The church building has changed and grown over many centuries. It shows different styles of English Gothic architecture.
Early Norman Design
The oldest parts of the church were built in the late Norman period. This was around the 11th or 12th century. Back then, the church had a main hall called a nave. It also had a north aisle (a side section) and a chancel (the area near the altar). You can still see two Norman arches inside the church today. These arches connect the nave to the north aisle.
Later Gothic Additions
Around the late 1200s, the church was made bigger in a style called Decorated Gothic. The nave was extended, and the old Norman chancel became part of it. A new chancel was built further east. A south aisle and a tall tower were also added at this time. In the late 1400s, more changes were made. A clerestory (a row of windows high up) was added to the nave. A fancy south porch was also built.
The Church Tower and Bells
The church tower has had a clock since at least 1560. The clock you see there now is quite old. It was made in 1741 by Joseph Hemmins of Banbury. This clock used to be in St Mary's Church, Banbury. It was moved to St Peter ad Vincula in 1895.
The tower also has a set of five bells. These bells are used for a special type of ringing called change ringing. The oldest bell was made in 1656. The newest bells were made in 1861.
Protected Status
Because of its history and beauty, St Peter ad Vincula is a very important building. It has been a Grade I listed building since 1955. This means it is protected by law.
Amazing Wall Paintings
One of the most exciting things about this church is its old wall paintings. These paintings were created around 1330–1340 in the north aisle. They are painted with oil on plaster, which is quite unusual for medieval wall paintings. Experts say these are some of the best medieval wall paintings in all of Oxfordshire. The artist who painted them was very skilled.
Stories on the Walls
The paintings in the north aisle tell many stories. One shows the sad murder of St Thomas Becket. He was an important archbishop who was killed in 1170. Another rare painting shows the execution of Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster.
The east end of the north aisle is a special area called the Lady Chapel. Here, you can see paintings of the Annunciation (when the angel Gabriel told Mary she would have Jesus). There is also a beautiful painting of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Next to them is a painting of St James receiving a gift. Near the window, there is a painting of St Margaret the Virgin fighting a dragon.
Who Commissioned the Paintings?
The paintings include images of Margaret and two Thomases. They also show the coat of arms of the Giffard family. This suggests that Thomas Giffard and his wife Margaret Mortayne paid for these amazing artworks. They were important landowners in South Newington.
Hidden Art Rediscovered
For many centuries, these wall paintings were hidden under layers of whitewash. People didn't know they were there! The paintings in the north aisle were uncovered in 1893. Later, in 1931, more paintings were found in the nave. These later paintings show scenes from the Passion Cycle, which tells the story of Jesus's last days. While not as detailed as the earlier ones, they are still very interesting.
Church History and Connections
St Peter ad Vincula has a long history with different religious groups. In the 1160s, the church was given to Eynsham Abbey, a Benedictine monastery. It stayed with the abbey until 1538, when monasteries were closed down in England.
Later, in 1565, the right to choose the church's priest was given to Exeter College, Oxford. This college kept that right until 1979. Today, St Peter ad Vincula is part of a larger group of churches. It shares a priest with the parishes of Bloxham and Milcombe.
Images for kids
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Wall painting of St Margaret the Virgin, 1330s
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Detail of wall painting of Martydom of St Thomas Becket
