Old All Saints Church, Nuneham Courtenay
Encyclopedia
Old All Saints Church, Nuneham Courtenay, or Harcourt Chapel, is a redundant
Anglican
church near the village of Nuneham Courtenay
, Oxfordshire
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
. The church is sited to the southwest of the village, in the grounds of Nuneham House
overlooking the River Thames
, some 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Oxford
.
es serving Nuneham Courtenay, each of which was dedicated
to All Saints. The original church dated from the medieval
period but was in a "ruinous state" by 1762. The medieval church was demolished by Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt
. The churchyard was destroyed and turned into a "pleasure ground" for the earl. This church was built in 1764. It was designed by the earl himself, with alterations to the design made by the architect James Stuart. Its estimated cost was over £800 (£ as of ). The church was sited conveniently for the earl and his family, but not for the parishioners living in the village. In 1880 the third parish church was built, this time in the village, and this church (the subject of this article) was converted for use as a private chapel for the family and refurnished. It was declared redundant on 8 May 1980, and was vested
in the Churches Conservation Trust on 28 October 1981. For visitor access, a key can be obtained from the Global Retreat Centre nearby.
ashlar
, and has a copper-covered dome. Its design is said to be based on one of the temples of Palmyra
. The plan of the church is rectangular, with projections on each side. The principal front is the north front, which is said to resemble the entrance front of Chiswick House
. This has a projecting portico
with six Ionic
columns and a semicircular Diocletian window
on each side of the portico. The portico is surmounted with an entablature
consisting of a dentil
cornice
and a triangular pediment
. The wall at the back of the portico contains a blind doorway and blind arches. The south front also has a pediment but this is enclosed. It has a central doorway with wrought iron
gates. The east and west fronts are semicircular and are surmounted with half domes. The west front contains an entrance porch with Ionic columns. The main central dome contains four Diocletian windows. On the exterior of the east wall is a large memorial that was moved from the earlier church.
and two rectangular spaces. Around the rotunda are niches
, and a there is a small baptistry to its south. On the walls are plaster panels containing texts. Along the walls are elaborately carved stalls that were introduced in 1880. These are in 16th-century Italian style; their backs are decorated with panels divided by Corinthian
columns. The wooden lectern
dates from the 17th or 18th century. The font
is gadrooned
and dates from 1843; it has an Italian cover in Baroque
style. Also in the church are two chests
, four hatchment
s from the 19th century, three tapestries
, relics from the funeral of Edward VII
, and monuments to the Harcourt family.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church near the village of Nuneham Courtenay
Nuneham Courtenay
Nuneham Courtenay is a village and civil parish about southeast of Oxford.-Manor:The toponym evolved from Newenham. In the 14th century the village belonged to the Courtenay family and in 1764 "Newenham" was changed to "Nuneham"....
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, England. It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
. The church is sited to the southwest of the village, in the grounds of Nuneham House
Nuneham House
Nuneham House is a Palladian villa, at Nuneham Courtenay in Oxfordshire England. It was built for Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt in 1756. It is owned by Oxford University and is currently used as a retreat centre by the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University...
overlooking the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, some 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
History
This church is the second of three parish churchParish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
es serving Nuneham Courtenay, each of which was dedicated
Dedication
Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church or other sacred building. It also refers to the inscription of books or other artifacts when these are specifically addressed or presented to a particular person. This practice, which once was used to gain the patronage and support of...
to All Saints. The original church dated from the medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
period but was in a "ruinous state" by 1762. The medieval church was demolished by Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt
Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt
Simon Harcourt, 1st Earl Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, PC, FRS, Viceroy of Ireland , known as 2nd Viscount Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, between 1727 and 1749, was a British diplomat and general....
. The churchyard was destroyed and turned into a "pleasure ground" for the earl. This church was built in 1764. It was designed by the earl himself, with alterations to the design made by the architect James Stuart. Its estimated cost was over £800 (£ as of ). The church was sited conveniently for the earl and his family, but not for the parishioners living in the village. In 1880 the third parish church was built, this time in the village, and this church (the subject of this article) was converted for use as a private chapel for the family and refurnished. It was declared redundant on 8 May 1980, and was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Churches Conservation Trust on 28 October 1981. For visitor access, a key can be obtained from the Global Retreat Centre nearby.
Exterior
The church is constructed in limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
, and has a copper-covered dome. Its design is said to be based on one of the temples of Palmyra
Palmyra
Palmyra was an ancient city in Syria. In the age of antiquity, it was an important city of central Syria, located in an oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus and 180 km southwest of the Euphrates at Deir ez-Zor. It had long been a vital caravan city for travellers crossing the Syrian desert...
. The plan of the church is rectangular, with projections on each side. The principal front is the north front, which is said to resemble the entrance front of Chiswick House
Chiswick House
Chiswick House is a Palladian villa in Burlington Lane, Chiswick, in the London Borough of Hounslow in England. Set in , the house was completed in 1729 during the reign of George II and designed by Lord Burlington. William Kent , who took a leading role in designing the gardens, created one of the...
. This has a projecting portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
with six Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
columns and a semicircular Diocletian window
Diocletian window
Diocletian windows, also called thermal windows, are large semicircular windows characteristic of the enormous public baths of Ancient Rome...
on each side of the portico. The portico is surmounted with an entablature
Entablature
An entablature refers to the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture, and are commonly divided into the architrave , the frieze ,...
consisting of a dentil
Dentil
In classical architecture a dentil is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect Vitruvius In classical architecture a dentil (from Lat. dens, a tooth) is a small block used as a repeating ornament in the bedmould of a cornice.The Roman architect...
cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
and a triangular pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
. The wall at the back of the portico contains a blind doorway and blind arches. The south front also has a pediment but this is enclosed. It has a central doorway with wrought iron
Wrought iron
thumb|The [[Eiffel tower]] is constructed from [[puddle iron]], a form of wrought ironWrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon...
gates. The east and west fronts are semicircular and are surmounted with half domes. The west front contains an entrance porch with Ionic columns. The main central dome contains four Diocletian windows. On the exterior of the east wall is a large memorial that was moved from the earlier church.
Interior
The interior contains a central rotundaRotunda (architecture)
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
and two rectangular spaces. Around the rotunda are niches
Niche (architecture)
A niche in classical architecture is an exedra or an apse that has been reduced in size, retaining the half-dome heading usual for an apse. Nero's Domus Aurea was the first semi-private dwelling that possessed rooms that were given richly varied floor plans, shaped with niches and exedras;...
, and a there is a small baptistry to its south. On the walls are plaster panels containing texts. Along the walls are elaborately carved stalls that were introduced in 1880. These are in 16th-century Italian style; their backs are decorated with panels divided by Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
columns. The wooden lectern
Lectern
A lectern is a reading desk with a slanted top, usually placed on a stand or affixed to some other form of support, on which documents or books are placed as support for reading aloud, as in a scripture reading, lecture, or sermon...
dates from the 17th or 18th century. The font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is gadrooned
Gadrooning
Gadrooning is any decorative motif consisting of convex curves in a series. In furniture and other interior accessories, the term is applied to, among other things an ornamental carved band of tapered, curving and alternating concave and convex sections, usually diverging obliquely either side of a...
and dates from 1843; it has an Italian cover in Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
style. Also in the church are two chests
Chest (furniture)
A chest is one of the oldest forms of furniture. It is typically a rectangular structure with four walls and a liftable lid, for storage. The interior space may be subdivided...
, four hatchment
Hatchment
A hatchment is a funeral demonstration of the lifetime "achievement" of the arms and any other honours displayed on a black lozenge-shaped frame which used to be suspended against the wall of a deceased person's house...
s from the 19th century, three tapestries
Tapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom, however it can also be woven on a floor loom as well. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running parallel to the length and those parallel to the width ; the warp threads are set up under tension on a...
, relics from the funeral of Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, and monuments to the Harcourt family.
See also
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in South East England