Nominal: 656 Hz Weight: 1913 lbs Diameter: 45.88" Bell 1 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 384 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Banbury: St Mary
Diocese of Oxford
Major Parish Church, 627130
http://www.banburystmary.org.ukThis church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2024-11-14)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SP 454 405
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. The church is the only Grade I listed building in Banbury and is one of the larger churches of the region.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Facilities include toilets (accessible), parking, ramped entrance, and the church is guide-dog friendly. Services: Sundays- 8am communion, 9:30am CofE parish communion, 11:15am URC morning worship, 6pm evening worship. Thursdays (alternate weeks)- 10:30am mid week communion. Fridays- 12pm prayer Other events are held at the church throughout the week.
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 1157 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
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.
Exterior Description
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. 5 square headed windows to ground floor. First floor has 5 semi-circular headed windows with rusticated, keystoned surrounds.
Interior
Interior Description
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).
Fixtures and fittings
Chancel
Clock
19th Century Clock with flat bed frame made by Gillett & Johnston from Croydon in 1897
Historical Notes
1897 - 1897
Period Qualifier: 2
Column
Chapel (component)
Side chapels to north and south; Lady chapel to north. Resurrection chapel to south in memory of those killed in 1939-1945 war.
Vestry
Vestries either side of chancel.
Staircase
Staircase with wreathed handrail, balcony and meeting room.
Choir
Stall
Choir stalls
Altar Rail
Organ (component)
1874 organ case carved in 1874 by Rattee and Kett
Pulpit
1885 Carved in 1885 by Rattee and Kett
Font (object)
square white font inlaid with marble by Alfred Claridge
Pew (object)
oak pews in nave as per original plan - probably cut down or renewed late 19th Century
Stained Glass
19th Century by Heaton Butler and Bayne 1864-1881
Mosaic
1876 imitation mosaic by Pevsner in chancel depicting Christ in majesty
Bells
Nominal: 1662 Hz Weight: 495 lbs Diameter: 25" Bell 2 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9647 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1478 Hz Weight: 535 lbs Diameter: 26.5" Bell 3 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9648 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1320 Hz Weight: 570 lbs Diameter: 28" Bell 4 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9649 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1240 Hz Weight: 624 lbs Diameter: 29" Bell 5 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9650 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1104 Hz Weight: 652 lbs Diameter: 30.38" Bell 6 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9651 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 984 Hz Weight: 750 lbs Diameter: 32.5" Bell 7 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9652 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 877 Hz Weight: 852 lbs Diameter: 34.88" Bell 8 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9653 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 827 Hz Weight: 1075 lbs Diameter: 36.75" Bell 9 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9654 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 736 Hz Weight: 1462 lbs Diameter: 41" Bell 10 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9655 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1170 Hz Weight: 631 lbs Diameter: 29.5" Bell 11 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9656 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 930 Hz Weight: 767 lbs Diameter: 33.38" Bell 12 of 13
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1930
Dove Bell ID: 9657 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1865 Hz Weight: 130 lbs Diameter: 18.25" Bell 13 of 13
Founded by Pack & Chapman 1773
Dove Bell ID: 9658 Tower ID: 13990 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: turned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 454 405
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Quinquennial Inspections
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