Web Design: Geoff Roynon

Last Update: 19th January 2020

This is the Local History page for the Horspath Archaeology & History Group.

This page, and pages linked to this one, will discuss the history of Horspath and the local area from ancient times up to the present.

The majority of the text and images making up this section were supplied by Brian Lowe.


Horspath St. Giles Church Timeline

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Late 12th. cent. South wall and existing pillars constructed.
13th. cent., south transept added. The font and water stoup are from this time also.

1230

Advowson of the church (see separate timeline) passed to the Earl of Cornwall.

1280

Date for the earliest stained glass in the chancel (Originally in the first east window of three lancets)

14th cent.

An Abbot of Oseney (Johannis) interred here; his slab lies in the nave aisle by the font.

1400

Tower and tower arch built, with the westernmost arch in the nave altered to run into the tower wall. The original respond for this pillar is visible today. The two lifesize corbels carved at this time, though the origin is unknown; popularly thought to be "Thomas London and his wife" (Hearne) who is thought to be the person who built the tower. The porch added about this time.

15th c. Late

Windows in nave and chancel.

1553

Church Inventory in the reign of Edward VI. Mentions "three bells and one little bell" (These do not exist today - see the entry for 1719).

1602

Earliest existing bell (now the #4). Cast by Joseph Carter of Reading.

1611

Present tenor bell cast by William Yare of Wokingham.

1719

Two bells cast by Abraham Rudhall II - most probably cast from the three mediaeval bells mentioned in the 1553 inventory.

1740

The "Copcot" window made in commemoration of Humphrey Copcot (a village family) by William Price of York... who was working at New College; paid for by Magdalen and relating to the Queen's College "Boar's Head" legend - Copcot was a student at The Queen's College. A very rare item of painted glass in an English parish church.

18th cent

Pulpit (Jacobean) given by Magdalen College, which depicts "perspective" panelling. Large gallery paid for by Magdalen & the Earl of Abingdon, which concealed the delicate 15c. Arch to the tower.

1838

Bell cast by William & John Taylor added. (Now the #5 bell, and a rare example of a Taylors of Oxford bell).

1840

Chancel east wall out of alignment, and the chancel was pulled down and rebuilt. The three lancet window was replaced by the present perpendicular 3 light window with two mullions & tracery. The Early English stone windows on both sides were reinserted. The mediaeval glass retained and placed in the side windows. Architect was H J Underwood.

1844

Gallery demolished, revealing the tower arch again.

1850

Revd. J H Parker (antiquarian), visits and describes the church, together with a contemporary plan before the 1852 restoration.

1852

Church again restored, but more drastically. Magdalen gave £200, as did Baker Morrell of Horspath. Clerestory removed, and north nave wall rebuilt and the north transept added. Window apertures in the north wall repositioned, and "Copcot" window reinstalled. Architect was George Edward Street.

1866

Treble bell added, the gift of Rev. H R Bramley, making the church a six bell ring for the first time. He also gave the chancel screen, and the East window by Jonathan Baguley of Newcastle. Possibly the church sanctus bell and the handbells also? Also, old vicarage demolished and a new one built adjacent to the site.

1880

The present organ by Rouse of Summertown, Oxford installed. Given by Elizabeth Mary Cruikshank, sister of the Revd. H C B Cruikshank, Curate of St. Giles, 1870 - 1880.

1914

Church redecorated.

1920

Wall plaque to the WW1 fallen positioned in the south transept.

1952

Magdalen relinquishes patronage, which moves to the Diocese of Oxford.

1963

Bells rehung in a new oak frame.

1974

Church and tower roof reslated by Nathan & Franklin.

1995

South churchyard wall demolished and rebuilt, with York stone flags on top. "2004" inset on left-hand side of gate pier.

2004

New two-lancet window dedicated 20th November. New Burial ground opened north of the sports fields.

( )

Mothers Union/WI create wall hanging of village organisations.

2018

Churchyard formally closed for burials. The new village war memorial on the Green is used for the Armistice service on 11th November. (100 years since the Armistice).

2019

(Feb) Revd. Emma Pennington leaves for Canterbury Cathedral as a canon. Revd. Karen Charman appointed as Benefice Vicar in November - from Delaval, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

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