Nominal: 708 Hz Weight: 1687 lbs Diameter: 44.06" Bell 1 of 10
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1913
Dove Bell ID: 632 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Bicester: St Edburg
Overview
Grid reference: SP 583 222
The Church of St Edburg is the oldest surviving building in Bicester, and dominates the skyline from most approaches to the town. The Grade I listed building dates from the early 12th C. The church building has been extended and modified many times since construction. The north and south aisles were re-built in the late 13th/14th C and the central Norman tower was replaced by the 15th C west tower which still stands. Box pews and galleries were added late in the 17th C and removed in a major restoration in 1873, which was along Tractarian principles with a lowered tiled floor, wooden pew platforms and changes to the chancel.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 746 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was probably built over a Saxon minster. The nearby Augustinian priory was itself destroyed at the time of the Reformation.
Exterior Description
The Grade I listed building dates from the early 12th C. The north and south aisles were re-built in the late 13th/14th C and the central Norman tower was replaced by the 15th C west tower which still stands.
The north porch faces the road into the town centre and is the most commonly used entrance. A glazed internal door and wooden steps down into the church were added in the late 20th C, at which time a wooden ramp was also added at the south door to facilitate wheeled access.
An external door on the south side of the chancel has a small stained glass window above it, depicting an angel.
Three round headed arches which supported the original tower still remain, on the east, north and south sides. These are evidence of a more simple earlier church which Pevsner suggests was cruciform and aisle-less.
A peal of ten bells in the tower is rung weekly; beneath the tower is a storage area open to the church through a soaring 13th C perpendicular arch.
Building Fabric and Features
Bell Tower (component)
15th Century A peal of ten bells in the tower is rung weekly
Porch
The north porch faces the road into the town centre and is the most commonly used entrance. A glazed internal door and wooden steps down into the church were added in the late 20th C.
Arch
Norman Three round headed arches which supported the original tower still remain, on the east, north and south sides. These are evidence of a more simple earlier church which Pevsner suggests was cruciform and aisle-less.
Chancel
Interior
Interior Description
The north aisle has tiles along one side and a late 20th C flagstone floor where the pews used to be. At the east end of this aisle is a partly glazed wooden screen giving access to the choir vestry which has a new limestone floor laid in 2012. The vestry is thought to have once had an upper storey which was used as a schoolroom. At the east end of this is an inner vestry, or sacristy, with a painted Victorian screen dividing the two areas.
The chancel is dominated by a Victorian reredos (which partially obscures the brilliantly coloured chancel stained glass window), together with a high altar and choir stalls. The 20th C nave altar is on a modern wooden platform, west of the chancel arch, under the location of the original central tower. An electronic organ is also placed on this nave dais.
In the nave, the north arcade has sections of string course indicating that it was once an external wall. Where this arcade meets the tower pillars, a low triangular-headed arch was possibly the doorway to the early church. The south arcade, altered when the south aisle was built in the 13th C, was re-cut in the 15th C and the pillars are now slender with heavy bell capitals.
The body of the nave and the south aisle are filled by Victorian pine pews on raised wooden plinths. The east end of the south aisle is a prayer corner with no fixed seating although the plinth remains. A window (“The Three Graces”) in this corner was designed by Burne-Jones and believed to have been made by William Morris. Several other windows are stained glass; the clerestory windows are tinted.
The pews in the west end of the nave were removed in 2009, and the same time the church was completely re-wired and re-decorated. In 2014, the west end was reworked to provide toilet facilities, a servery and the first part of the new limecrete floor with limestone tiling and underfloor heating, along with repositioning the font on a larger and lower plinth. Also in 2014 the pews in the South Aisle were removed and carpet fitted on the pew platform as a temporary measure.
Fixtures and fittings
Screen
At the east end of the north aisle is a partly glazed wooden screen giving access to the choir vestry.
Vestry
The vestry is thought to have once had an upper storey which was used as a schoolroom. At the east end of this is an inner vestry, or sacristy, with a painted Victorian screen dividing the two areas.
Screen
Victorian The vestry is thought to have once had an upper storey which was used as a schoolroom. At the east end of this is an inner vestry, or sacristy, with a painted Victorian screen dividing the two areas.
Chancel
The chancel is dominated by a Victorian reredos (which partially obscures the brilliantly coloured chancel stained glass window), together with a high altar and choir stalls
Stained Glass (window)
The chancel is dominated by a Victorian reredos (which partially obscures the brilliantly coloured chancel stained glass window), together with a high altar and choir stalls
Reredos
Victorian The chancel is dominated by a Victorian reredos (which partially obscures the brilliantly coloured chancel stained glass window), together with a high altar and choir stalls
Stall
The chancel is dominated by a Victorian reredos (which partially obscures the brilliantly coloured chancel stained glass window), together with a high altar and choir stalls
Altar
The chancel is dominated by a Victorian reredos (which partially obscures the brilliantly coloured chancel stained glass window), together with a high altar and choir stalls.
Altar
20th Century The 20th C nave altar is on a modern wooden platform, west of the chancel arch, under the location of the original central tower.
Organ (object)
An electronic organ is also placed on this nave dais.
Pillar
15th Century The south arcade, altered when the south aisle was built in the 13th C, was re-cut in the 15th C and the pillars are now slender with heavy bell capitals.
Pew (object)
Victorian The body of the nave and the south aisle are filled by Victorian pine pews on raised wooden plinths
Plinth (pedestal)
Victorian The body of the nave and the south aisle are filled by Victorian pine pews on raised wooden plinths
Plinth (pedestal)
The east end of the south aisle is a prayer corner with no fixed seating although the plinth remains.
Stained Glass (window)
A window (“The Three Graces”) in the prayer corner was designed by Burne-Jones and believed to have been made by William Morris. Several other windows are stained glass; the clerestory windows are tinted.
Clerestory
clerestory windows are tinted.
Bells
Nominal: 1773.2 Hz Weight: 378 lbs Diameter: 23.56" Bell 2 of 10
Founded by Whitechapel Bell Foundry 1998
Dove Bell ID: 10952 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1592.8 Hz Weight: 368 lbs Diameter: 24.13" Bell 3 of 10
Founded by Whitechapel Bell Foundry 1998
Dove Bell ID: 10953 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1416 Hz Weight: 421 lbs Diameter: 25.44" Bell 4 of 10
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1913
Dove Bell ID: 10954 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1326 Hz Weight: 404 lbs Diameter: 25.94" Bell 5 of 10
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1913
Dove Bell ID: 10955 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1180 Hz Weight: 492 lbs Diameter: 28" Bell 6 of 10
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1913
Dove Bell ID: 10956 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1061 Hz Weight: 552 lbs Diameter: 30" Bell 7 of 10
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1913
Dove Bell ID: 10957 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 944 Hz Weight: 740 lbs Diameter: 32.88" Bell 8 of 10
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1913
Dove Bell ID: 10958 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 886 Hz Weight: 891 lbs Diameter: 34.88" Bell 9 of 10
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1913
Dove Bell ID: 10959 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 796 Hz Weight: 1151 lbs Diameter: 39" Bell 10 of 10
Founded by Gillett & Johnston 1913
Dove Bell ID: 10960 Tower ID: 11528 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 583 222
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
Sources
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