Description

BANBURY HORSE FAIR (East side) SP4540NW Church of St. Mary 6/73 09/04/52 GV I

Church. c.1790. By S.P. Cockerell. Tower and portico 1818-1822 by C.R. Cockerell. Internal alterations c.1858-59 for the Revd. William Wilson and c.l863-81 for the Revd. Henry Back. Second stage of alterations carried out by the architect Arthur Blomfield. Ironstone ashlar. Copper and lead roofs. Nave, chancel and west tower. Classical style. West portico of tower: semi-circular Doric portico with columns and half-dome surmounted by a tower of 3 stages and cupola. Portico has wide triglyph frieze. Ground floor of rusticated stone. 3 entrances; main entrance and 2 side entrances. All doorways have 8-panelled doors and cornices on consoles. 2 side windows with semi-circular heads. Central oculus. Nave: rusticated ground floor, ashlar above. 5 square headed windows to ground floor. First floor has 5 semi-circular headed windows with rusticated, keystoned surrounds. Moulded cornice. Chancel: pedimented central bay flanked by vestries which have oculi and panelled doors. Northern oculus blocked. Interior: original plan included 90' square nave with 12 Ionic columns supporting a shallow domed roof; galleries surrounded nave on 4 sides: small rectangular chancel; eastern gallery carried organ. Present arrangement is the result of alterations and remodelling by Blomfield. Chancel: apse formed within existing walls of chancel and surmounted by a half-dome, linked to the arch supporting the nave dome by a barrel vault. Nave as originally planned but with gallery on 3 sides only; the eastern gallery pulled down and the organ placed on the north side of the chancel. Side chapels to north and south; Lady chapel to north. Resurrection chapel to south in memory of those killed in 1939-1945 war. Vestries either side of chancel. Staircase with wreathed handrail, balcony and meeting room above. Side entrances in west end also contain staircases to upper floor. Chancel fittings by Blomfield include: low stone walls of chancel with patterns of inlaid marble surrounding choir; choir stalls; altar rails; chancel pavement (Godwin of Lugwardine); organ case (carved in 1874 by Rattee and Kett); pulpit (carved in 1885 by Rattee and Kett); square white font inlaid with marble (by Alfred Claridge); wrought-iron gates to the choir (1902 by Starkie Gardner). Nave fittings: oak pews as per original plan, probably cut down or renewed late C19. Stained glass by Heaton, Butler and Bayne 1864-1881 to Blomfields design. Rich colour scheme designed by Blomfield and executed by Heaton, Butler and Bayne including imitation mosaic (Pevsner) in the chancel, depicting Christ in majesty, 1876. Redecoration in 1960 caused Blomfields unified colour scheme to be lost. Memorials: in marble to Ann Dolly, daughter of Paynton Piggott, d.1824 aged 21, situated in east wall of nave to left of chancel arch; marble memorial to Francis Piggott, d.1790 situated on east wall of nave to right of chancel arch; wall memorials in porch to right of main entrance; stone wall tablet to Iohn Knight and Ioane his wife (he died 22/11/1587, she died 26/12/1590); marble wall tablet to Margareta Knight; marble wall tablet to William Knight (d.20/9/1631). (Photographs in N.M.R.; V.C.H.: Oxfordshire, Vol.X, pp.102-4; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, 1974, pp.435-9; Cooper, N. The Building and Furnishing of St. Mary's Church, Banbury, 1972, off-printed from Cake and Cock Horse; Proof of evidence submitted by Peter Howell, in the Consistory Court 26/9/84).

Listing NGR: SP4540840553

External Links

• Church of St Mary at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17528230

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

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  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
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  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
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  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
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  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)