What if the stones of the Parish Church of St Mary, Headington could speak? They would tell tales of faith and community woven through centuries. There has been a church on this site for a thousand years. It stands in the very center of the ancient walled city of Oxford.
The Parish Church of St Mary, Headington has a rich and intriguing history. Its story begins over a thousand years ago. St Mary’s has witnessed the foundation of the University of Oxford. It has seen some of the most significant events in English church history. By the twelfth century St Mary’s was at the heart of the growing medieval university. Students and academics gathered there for special occasions. These included the awarding of degrees and also for services. When the university needed to make decisions academics would meet in St Mary’s. They would vote on important matters. The oldest part of the church that remains is the tower. It was begun in the 1270s. The decorated spire was added in the early fourteenth century. It is one of Oxford’s best-known landmarks.
As the university grew a proper library became essential. St Mary’s was the obvious place to keep the books. They would be safe and accessible. Space was limited so in 1320 plans were drawn up for a new building next door. It had a library on the first floor. The ground floor had a new room for meetings. The library remained here until 1488. The University finished the new Duke Humphrey’s Library to house its growing collection. Congregation continued to meet here until 1640 in what is now the church cafe. A new Convocation House was built next to the Bodleian.
Town and gown both came to St Mary’s. There was often friction between them. In 1355 some students complained about the ale in an Oxford tavern. This sparked a pitched battle between armed groups. Sixty-three scholars were killed. The University forced the town to make amends. Every year on St Scholastica’s day the mayor marched barefoot to St Mary’s. He had to pay a fine.
By the late 1400s the building was crumbling. The chancel was rebuilt in the 1460s. It had wooden stalls arranged in the style of a college chapel. The nave was in very bad shape. Rain regularly came through the roof. People feared the old beams might fall on them. The University rebuilt the nave in the fashionable Perpendicular style. A stone pulpit was set up in 1508 for sermons. An organ was installed. By 1510 the building work was complete.
King Henry VIII initially opposed the Reformation. He wanted to ensure the universities shared his views. A condemnation of Luther’s ideas was fastened to the sundial at St Mary’s. Henry needed a divorce. When the Papacy blocked this he broke with the Roman Church in 1534. His son Edward VI brought in Peter Martyr Vermigli. He was appointed professor in the University of Oxford. Students flocked to hear his sermons at St Mary’s.
In 1553 Mary became queen and brought England back to the Catholic fold. St Mary’s spent a huge amount of money on robes and altars. When Elizabeth came to the throne England became Protestant once more. During the reign of Charles I religious divisions deepened. Oxford remained loyal to Charles. He and his courtiers would come to St Mary’s to hear sermons. After the town surrendered to Parliament new preachers arrived. St Mary’s was at the centre of these religious debates.
In the eighteenth century some churchmen wanted to reawaken religious commitment. John Wesley preached at St Mary’s three times. His last sermon in 1744 was a powerful attack on the University’s spiritual apathy. He was never asked to return. Wesley continued his ministry and founded the Methodist Church.
In the early nineteenth century new galleries were installed. A new pulpit was provided. In 1828 John Henry Newman became vicar. His ministry at St Mary’s had a profound impact. Newman called for a revitalization of the Church. He eventually converted to Catholicism. His friends wanted to renew the Church of England. The Oxford Movement swept across the country. Churches were adorned once more.
In the Victorian period leading philosophers showed how science and scholarship could strengthen faith. In 1939 the Vicar of St Mary’s welcomed German Jewish converts to Christianity. They had fled from Nazi persecution. In 1942 the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief met in the Old Library of the University Church. This was the first meeting of what would become OXFAM.
In recent years St Mary’s has begun an education programme aimed at school children and visitors. Many people act as welcomers and guides. The Church has embraced new technologies. It helps people understand the faith and the history of this place. The Parish Church of St Mary, Headington stands as a testament to enduring faith. It is a place where history continues to unfold.