Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore explained

Church of St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore
Location:Cowley Road, Littlemore, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 4PB
Country:England
Denomination:Church of England
Dedication:Saint Mary the Virgin and Saint Nicholas
Consecrated Date:22 September 1836
Status:Active
Functional Status:Parish church
Heritage Designation:Grade II* listed
Designated Date:18 July 1963
Architect:H. J. Underwood
Joseph Clarke
Parish:Littlemore
Deanery:Cowley
Archdeaconry:Archdeaconry of Oxford
Diocese:Diocese of Oxford
Priestincharge:Margreet Armitstead
Asstpriest:Teresa Morgan
Organist:Richard Vendome
Warden:Sue Aldridge
Sacristan:Barbara Kelly

The Church of St Mary and St Nicholas is a Church of England parish church in Littlemore, Oxford, Oxfordshire. The church is a grade II* listed building. The church was founded by John Henry Newman, later Cardinal Newman of the Roman Catholic Church, and it became a centre of Anglo-Catholicism.

History

The church was built from 1835 to 1836 by H. J. Underwood for John Henry Newman (later Cardinal Newman of the Roman Catholic Church). The foundation stone was laid in 1835 by Jemima, mother of Newman, and the church was consecrated on 22 September 1836.[1] In 1848, the chancel and tower were added by Joseph Clarke.[2]

The church had originally been built as a chapel of ease in the parish of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford. In 1847, Littlemore became its own parish and the chapel was renamed the Church of St Mary and St Nicholas.[3]

A new east window was added to the church in approximately 1900. The stained glass had been designed by Louis Davis and was in memory of Vernon Green, a former vicar.[4] The American poet, Louise Imogen Guiney gave a crucifix sculpture to the church to mark the centenary of Cardinal Newman's birth in 1901.[5]

On 18 July 1963, the church was designated a grade II* listed building.

Present day

The parish of Littlemore is in the Archdeaconry of Oxford of the Diocese of Oxford.[6]

Notable clergy

List of vicars

The incumbent of the parish is the vicar. The following have been vicar, or otherwise stated, of the parish:[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Newman’s Littlemore legacy. St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore. 11 June 2017.
  2. Book: Sherwood . Jennifer . Pevsner . Nikolaus . Nikolaus Pevsner . . Oxfordshire . 1974 . . Harmondsworth . 0-14-071045-0 . 688.
  3. Howell. Peter. Newman's Church at Littlemore. The Oxford Art Journal. 1983. 6. 1. 11 June 2017.
  4. Web site: Building. St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore. 11 June 2017.
  5. Web site: Parishes: Littlemore Pages 206-214 A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 5, Bullingdon Hundred. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1957. . British History Online.
  6. Web site: Littlemore SS Mary the Virgin and Nicholas, Littlemore. A Church Near You. Archbishops' Council. 11 June 2017.
  7. K. E. Macnab, 'Copeland, William John (1804–1885)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2006 accessed 11 June 2017
  8. Web site: Vicars and Priests-in-Charge of Littlemore. St Mary and St Nicholas, Littlemore. 11 June 2017.