Didn’t you know that Saint Nicholas Church has stood here in Old Marston for nearly 900 years? This church has been a central part of the community for centuries. Imagine Marston long ago. It was just an island in a marshland near the River Cherwell.
The first mention of the Chapel in Marston is in 1122. It was assigned to the Augustinian Canons of St. Frideswide. Today we can still see parts of the 12th-century building. Look at the chancel arch, the arcade of the nave, and the inner south door. This work happened when the Lord of Headington Manor gave land to the church. Further changes continued in the 15th and 16th centuries. The vestry was enlarged recently in 1977.
Beside the vestry door, you can find a list of clergy from 1210. It begins with Osbert, son of Hereward. The list continues to the present day. There is only a gap between 1529 and 1637. The 16th century was a time of religious change. However, there is little evidence of how people in Marston reacted.
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Marston had no resident vicar. Various clerics from the university served the church. In 1849 Canon Richard Gordon became vicar. He lived in Elsfield and a curate took most of the services in Marston. The first vicar to live in a vicarage here was Revd John Mortimer. He arrived in 1904 and stayed for 46 years. He trained the school choir and the church choir. Mortimer Road and Mortimer Hall mark his life here. Paul Rimmer came later and lived in a purpose-built vicarage.
The Lord of Headington Manor gave land to Saint Nicholas Church in the late 1100s. Archbishop John Chichele gave land in the 1400s for rood light. Armorial tiles in the chancel show a connection with Chichele. The first main rebuilding took place during this time. The church became part of Cardinal College now Christ Church College. During the Reformation, the endowment was withdrawn. The connection with St Frideswide’s was broken.
The church was rebuilt in the Perpendicular style in the 15th century. It was thoroughly restored in 1882-3. Mr. John Honour of Marston carried out the work. Mr. H. Drinkwater was the architect. The Bishop of Oxford reopened Saint Nicholas Church on December 6th, 1883. Rev. J. P. Smith was the vicar then.
A new open timber oak roof was built for the chancel. The roofs of the nave and aisles were stripped and renewed. The interior was cleaned and the plastering repaired. The exterior was re-leaded and slated. Remains of texts from the time of Elizabeth or James I were discovered. Also, an aumbrey at the east end of the north aisle was found.
The old seats were restored. In the chancel, the old return stall desks were retained. New stalls and a screen were added across the chancel arch. The Jacobean pulpit was repaired. A new base was added, and the canopy was supported by wrought iron.
Miss Rippington installed the East window in 1903. It honored Mrs. M. A. Cannon and other relatives. Mr. F. C. Eden designed it. The center light shows the Crucifixion. The right-hand light shows Saint Nicholas. The left-hand light shows Saint John the Baptist. Some fragments of old glass have been inserted.
The side windows are of two lights. There is good painted glass in the heads of these windows. The recess of the first window on the south side has a stone bench for the priest. Eastward is a small square piscina.
There is a hagioscope in the south aisle. It allows worshippers to see the Holy Table. The font is a modern imitation Gothic. Saint Nicholas Church possesses a chalice of early 14th-century workmanship.
Carol Services by Candlelight began here in Old Marston. It was in 1928. Rev. Howard Rose, Chaplain to the Oxford Pastorate, had the idea. He attended a service in New York in 1927. The Rector bore a big Yule candle into the church. Rev. Rose mentioned it to the vicar of Old Marston, Rev John Mortimer. On Christmas Eve, 1928, they held the first candlelight carol service.
A chorister bears the Yule candle into the darkened church. Then the clergy light other candles. The nave and chancel glow with golden light. The service spread to churches all over the world.
Saint Nicholas Church has had bells for many years. In the 19th century, five bells were installed in the tower. In 1972 a sixth bell was added.
Today Saint Nicholas Church is at the heart of the village. It has been for almost 900 years. The interior and graveyard are lovingly cared for. The congregation plays a full part in the community.