All Saints Church, Oxford
Encyclopedia
All Saints Church is on the north side of the High Street
in central Oxford
, England
, on the corner of Turl Street
. It is now the library of Lincoln College
. This former church is Grade I listed.
However, on 8 March 1700, the spire
of the church collapsed, destroying most of the building. There was an appeal for funds and the current building, seating 350, was completed in 1720.
The building was designed by Henry Aldrich
, the Dean of Christ Church. Nicholas Hawksmoor
is thought to be responsible for the tower and spire. Four of the original bells survived the collapse. The repairs to the church were very expensive and donations were received from most of the Oxford
colleges and also Queen Anne.
In 1896, when St Martin's Church at Carfax
was demolished, All Saints became the official City Church
, where the Mayor and Corporation were expected to worship. In 1946 a Union Jack which had been draped over the coffins of prisoners of war at Batu Lintang camp
, Sarawak, Borneo was placed in the church together with two wooden memorial plaques; they were later moved to Dorchester Abbey
.
In 1971, All Saints Church was declared redundant and the City Church move to St Michael at the North Gate. All Saints was thus deconsecrated
and offered to Lincoln College, located immediately to the north of the church. Since 1975, after conversion, the building has been Lincoln College's library.
The upper reading room is known as the Cohen Room and has an elegant plastered ceiling. The decorations include the shields of the major donors who contributed to the cost of the conversion.
The lower reading room is the science library and the senior library, holding older books. The science section is named after a former Lincoln College Fellow, Howard Florey (1898–1968), instrumental in the development of penicillin
.
The Library still has a full peal of eight bells, which are regularly rung by the Oxford Society of Change Ringers
, founded in 1734. They are also rung for special occasions, such as the election of a new Rector of the College.
to the east of central Oxford, on Lime Walk. It was consecrated in 1910.
High Street, Oxford
The High Street in Oxford, England runs between Carfax, generally recognized as the centre of the city, and Magdalen Bridge to the east. Locally the street is often known as The High. It forms a gentle curve and is the subject of many prints, paintings, photographs, etc...
in central Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on the corner of Turl Street
Turl Street
Turl Street is an historic street in central Oxford, England.- Location :The street is located in the city centre, linking Broad Street at the north and High Street at the south. It is colloquially known as The Turl and runs past three of Oxford's historic colleges: Exeter, Jesus and Lincoln...
. It is now the library of Lincoln College
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
. This former church is Grade I listed.
History
The original All Saints Church was founded in 1122 on this site.However, on 8 March 1700, the spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
of the church collapsed, destroying most of the building. There was an appeal for funds and the current building, seating 350, was completed in 1720.
The building was designed by Henry Aldrich
Henry Aldrich
Henry Aldrich was an English theologian and philosopher.-Life:Aldrich was educated at Westminster School under Dr Richard Busby. In 1662, he entered Christ Church, Oxford, and in 1689 was made Dean in succession to the Roman Catholic John Massey, who had fled to the Continent. In 1692, he...
, the Dean of Christ Church. Nicholas Hawksmoor
Nicholas Hawksmoor
Nicholas Hawksmoor was a British architect born in Nottinghamshire, probably in East Drayton.-Life:Hawksmoor was born in Nottinghamshire in 1661, into a yeoman farming family, almost certainly in East Drayton, Nottinghamshire. On his death he was to leave property at nearby Ragnall, Dunham and a...
is thought to be responsible for the tower and spire. Four of the original bells survived the collapse. The repairs to the church were very expensive and donations were received from most of the Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
colleges and also Queen Anne.
In 1896, when St Martin's Church at Carfax
Carfax, Oxford
Carfax is located at the conjunction of St Aldate's , Cornmarket Street , Queen Street and the High Street in Oxford, England. It is considered to be the centre of the city, and is at...
was demolished, All Saints became the official City Church
City Church, Oxford
The City Church in Oxford, England, is where the mayor and corporation are expected to worship. There have been three churches designated the City Church in Oxford, first established around 1122:...
, where the Mayor and Corporation were expected to worship. In 1946 a Union Jack which had been draped over the coffins of prisoners of war at Batu Lintang camp
Batu Lintang camp
Batu Lintang camp at Kuching, Sarawak on the island of Borneo was a Japanese internment camp during the Second World War. It was unusual in that it housed both Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees...
, Sarawak, Borneo was placed in the church together with two wooden memorial plaques; they were later moved to Dorchester Abbey
Dorchester Abbey
Dorchester Abbey is a Church of England parish church in Dorchester on Thames, Oxfordshire, about southeast of Oxford. It was formerly a Norman abbey church and was built on the site of a Saxon cathedral.-History:...
.
In 1971, All Saints Church was declared redundant and the City Church move to St Michael at the North Gate. All Saints was thus deconsecrated
Deconsecration
Deconsecration is the act of removing a religious blessing from something that had been previously consecrated by a minister or priest of that religion. The same act when performed by a member of a differing religion may be considered a curse by some religions and not a complete removal of the...
and offered to Lincoln College, located immediately to the north of the church. Since 1975, after conversion, the building has been Lincoln College's library.
Library
The only major change to the interior of the church during its conversion into a library was the raising of the original floor by over four feet to provide space for the lower reading rooms.The upper reading room is known as the Cohen Room and has an elegant plastered ceiling. The decorations include the shields of the major donors who contributed to the cost of the conversion.
The lower reading room is the science library and the senior library, holding older books. The science section is named after a former Lincoln College Fellow, Howard Florey (1898–1968), instrumental in the development of penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
.
The Library still has a full peal of eight bells, which are regularly rung by the Oxford Society of Change Ringers
Oxford Society of Change Ringers
The Oxford Society of Change Ringers, established in 1734, is a society dedicated to change ringing in Oxford, England. It should not be confused with the Oxford University Society of Change Ringers. The society is based at the Cathedral Church of Christ where its members ring for Sunday services...
, founded in 1734. They are also rung for special occasions, such as the election of a new Rector of the College.
Headington
There is another All Saints Church in the suburb of HeadingtonHeadington
Headington is a suburb of Oxford, England. It is at the top of Headington Hill overlooking the city in the Thames Valley below. The life of the large residential area is centred upon London Road, the main road between London and Oxford.-History:...
to the east of central Oxford, on Lime Walk. It was consecrated in 1910.