Description

SP 5302 LITTLEMORE COWLEY ROAD
(East side)
15/99 Church of SS. Mary and
18/07/63 Nicholas.
GV II*

Church. 1836, tower and chancel 1848. By H.J. Underwood for Rev. (later
Cardinal) J.H. Newman, extended by Joseph Clarke. Coursed limestone rubble
with ashlar dressings; steep-pitched tiled roof. 4-bay aisleless nave, and
chancel with tower and vestry to north. Early English style. Nave has lancets
flanked by buttresses and, to west, a double lancet with plate-tracery. The
west door has detached shafts with stiff-leaf capitals. Triple lancet
east window with dogtooth ornament and shafts. The 3-stage tower has 2-light
shafted openings with plate tracery (in the top stage ) flanked by quatrefoil
openings. Interior: Chancel roof of 4-bays has 5-sided coupled rafters and
arched braces rising from wooden angel corbels with elaborate bosses. Nave roof
(not original) has 7-boarded trefoil trusses. The stone altar stands against
richly-decorated and gilded arcading with a triple sedilia to south. The lancet
to north has an elaborate double-shafted rear arch with trefoil head and
dogtooth ornament. The richly-carved oak screen of 1913 in C15 style is by
F.H. Crossley and has rood figures from Oberammergau. Elaborate 4-tiered oak
font cover of 1924 stands on a C13 font with pointed trefoil arcading
divided by fleur-de-lys brought from Church of St. Mary, Oxford. Mid C19 glass
in 8 lancets is by T. Willement, and 2 others (the eastermost in the nave) have
figures, of c.1887 by Morris and Co. East window of c.1900 by Louis Davis, and
the central pair in the nave north wall also c.1900 by Shrigley and Hunt of
Lancaster. Wall monument of c.1836 to Newmans' mother, with shallow relief, by
R. Westmacott Jnr.Graded II* for historical asaciation with JH Newman.
(V.C.H. Oxfordshire V, pp.213; Buildings of England, Oxfordshire pp. 688-9)

Listing NGR: SP5375502770

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St Mary and St Nicholas at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17548688

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)