Church of St Peter-le-Bailey
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Peter-le-Bailey is a church on New Inn Hall Street
in central Oxford
, England
. It was formerly next to Bonn Square
, which was originally the churchyard. Now it is located half way up New Inn Hall Street to the north.
Several churches have existed on or close to the site.
The current church is now the chapel of St Peter's College, Oxford
.
The Church of St Peter-le-Bailey has existed in or near the area now known as Bonn Square, since the twelfth century The suffix "le-Bailey" was due to its position close to Oxford Castle
. It also distinguished it from Oxford's other church dedicated to St Peter, namely St Peter-in-the-East
, near the original east gate of the city, now the library of St Edmund Hall, one of the Oxford University colleges.
The Church of St Peter-le-Bailey existed as a parish church until 1961, when the parish of St Peter-le-Bailey was combined with that of St Ebbe's. Since the inception of the parish, there have been three different church buildings with the name St Peter-le-Bailey.
The first St Peter-le-Bailey church was built in the 12th century. It had a single, pitched-roofed nave with a low tower at the southwest corner. A second church was built on the site of the original church, opening in 1740. It was a flat roofed rectangular building with a tower at the northwest corner. The churchyard remained in its original position since there was no room to expand it. The church remained in use until the middle of the 19th century, when in 1848 Holywell Cemetery
, Osney Cemetery
, and St Sepulchre's Cemetery
opened. In 1855, new burials were forbidden at all city churches, apart from existing vaults. This church was demolished in 1873 as part of a road widening scheme.
The third St Peter-le-Bailey Church was built to the north of the old church, approximately half way along New Inn Hall Street
, to designs by Basil Champneys
. It was opened in 1874 and was photographed by Henry Taunt
. When St Peter's Hall was founded in 1928, this church took on the combined role of the parish church and a college chapel. In 1961, St Peter's Hall became a full Oxford University college. In the same year, with a decreasing number of resident in the parish, it was merged with St Ebbe's parish and the church building became solely used a the college chapel, as it still is today.
The original churchyard was retained as a memorial garden when the church was moved in 1874. Many of the gravestones were moved at that time.
undertook the archaeological investigations on behalf of Oxford City Council
.
New Inn Hall Street
New Inn Hall Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It is a shopping street running north-south parallel and to the west of Cornmarket Street, with George Street to the north and Queen Street to the south...
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...
. It was formerly next to Bonn Square
Bonn Square
Bonn Square in Oxford, England, is named after the German city of Bonn with which Oxford is twinned. It is close to the original west gate of the city of Oxford, where the Westgate Shopping Centre is now located. To the east is Queen Street, a shopping street. New Inn Hall Street leads north from...
, which was originally the churchyard. Now it is located half way up New Inn Hall Street to the north.
Several churches have existed on or close to the site.
The current church is now the chapel of St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College, Oxford
St Peter's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, located in New Inn Hall Street. It occupies the site of two of the University's oldest Inns, or medieval hostels - Bishop Trellick's, later New Inn Hall, and Rose Hall - both of which were...
.
History
The church of "St Peter at the Castle", subsequently known as "St Peter-in the-West" or "St Peter-le-Bailey", was granted to St Frideswide's Priory in 1122.The Church of St Peter-le-Bailey has existed in or near the area now known as Bonn Square, since the twelfth century The suffix "le-Bailey" was due to its position close to Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle is a large, partly ruined Norman medieval castle situated on the west edge of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. The original moated, wooden motte and bailey castle was replaced with stone in the 11th century and played an important role in the conflict of the Anarchy...
. It also distinguished it from Oxford's other church dedicated to St Peter, namely St Peter-in-the-East
St Peter-in-the-East
St Peter-in-the-East is a 12th century church on Queen's Lane, north of the High Street in central Oxford, England. It forms part of St Edmund Hall, one of the Oxford University colleges. It is now deconsecrated and houses the college library for graduates and undergraduates...
, near the original east gate of the city, now the library of St Edmund Hall, one of the Oxford University colleges.
The Church of St Peter-le-Bailey existed as a parish church until 1961, when the parish of St Peter-le-Bailey was combined with that of St Ebbe's. Since the inception of the parish, there have been three different church buildings with the name St Peter-le-Bailey.
The first St Peter-le-Bailey church was built in the 12th century. It had a single, pitched-roofed nave with a low tower at the southwest corner. A second church was built on the site of the original church, opening in 1740. It was a flat roofed rectangular building with a tower at the northwest corner. The churchyard remained in its original position since there was no room to expand it. The church remained in use until the middle of the 19th century, when in 1848 Holywell Cemetery
Holywell Cemetery
Holywell Cemetery is next to St Cross Church in Oxford, England. The cemetery is behind the church in St Cross Road, north of Longwall Street.-History:...
, Osney Cemetery
Osney Cemetery
Osney Cemetery is a disused Church of England cemetery in Osney, west Oxford, England. It is in Mill Street south of Botley Road and near the site of Osney Abbey. It borders the Cherwell Valley Line railway a short distance south of Oxford railway station....
, and St Sepulchre's Cemetery
St Sepulchre's Cemetery
St Sepulchre's Cemetery is located in Jericho, central Oxford, England.The cemetery was opened in 1849, initially as an overflow for north Oxford because existing cemeteries were overcrowded with corpses from epidemics such as cholera...
opened. In 1855, new burials were forbidden at all city churches, apart from existing vaults. This church was demolished in 1873 as part of a road widening scheme.
The third St Peter-le-Bailey Church was built to the north of the old church, approximately half way along New Inn Hall Street
New Inn Hall Street
New Inn Hall Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It is a shopping street running north-south parallel and to the west of Cornmarket Street, with George Street to the north and Queen Street to the south...
, to designs by Basil Champneys
Basil Champneys
Basil Champneys was an architect and author whose more notable buildings include Newnham College, Cambridge, Manchester's John Rylands Library, Mansfield College, Oxford and Oriel College, Oxford's Rhodes Building.- Life :...
. It was opened in 1874 and was photographed by Henry Taunt
Henry Taunt
Henry William Taunt was a professional photographer based in Oxford, England. His studio was in Broad Street, Oxford.Henry Taunt was born in Penson's Gardens in St Ebbe's, Oxford...
. When St Peter's Hall was founded in 1928, this church took on the combined role of the parish church and a college chapel. In 1961, St Peter's Hall became a full Oxford University college. In the same year, with a decreasing number of resident in the parish, it was merged with St Ebbe's parish and the church building became solely used a the college chapel, as it still is today.
The original churchyard was retained as a memorial garden when the church was moved in 1874. Many of the gravestones were moved at that time.
Excavations
Bonn Square was redeveloped in 2008 and this made it possible to inspect and record a number of gravestones which had been buried since the church on the site was demolished in 1873. During the redevelopment, Oxford ArchaeologyOxford Archaeology
Oxford Archaeology is one of the largest non-governmental archaeological organisations in Europe....
undertook the archaeological investigations on behalf of Oxford City Council
Oxford City Council
The Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
.
See also
- St Peter-in-the-EastSt Peter-in-the-EastSt Peter-in-the-East is a 12th century church on Queen's Lane, north of the High Street in central Oxford, England. It forms part of St Edmund Hall, one of the Oxford University colleges. It is now deconsecrated and houses the college library for graduates and undergraduates...
at St Edmund Hall, OxfordSt Edmund Hall, OxfordSt Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
. - Tirah MemorialTirah MemorialThe Tirah Memorial is a war memorial erected in Oxford, England in 1900. The first war memorial to be erected in Oxford, it was designed by Inigo Thomas, and dedicated to soldiers of the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry who died during the Tirah Campaign and the North West Frontier Campaign...
, a war memorialWar memorialA war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
erected in 1900.
External links
- Richard Cox Hales, Six sermons preached at St. Peter-le-Bailey church, Oxford, to which are added, prayers for particular occasions. J, Vincent, 1852. (Google Books)