St Andrew's Church, Oxford
Encyclopedia
St Andrew's Church, Oxford is an evangelical, bible-teaching Church of England parish church
in Oxford
, England
. It was consecrated
in 1907 and is located on the southeast corner of Linton Road
and Northmoor Road
in the suburb of North Oxford
.
which saw, among others, the residential neighbourhood of North Oxford
being built. The vision of the founders of the church was to create an evangelical, Bible-believing church between Carfax and the northern ring road. Land for the parish was eventually carved out of part of the parishes of Ss. Philip & James (on Woodstock Road, now the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) and that of St. Giles.
St Andrew's has now for over a hundred years served as the parish church to the eastern half of this area, from Banbury Road
in the west to the River Cherwell
in the east and from Park Town
in the south to Marston Road
in the north. Other members of the church congregation are drawn from a wider area; from other parts of Oxford and surrounding villages.
The Bishop's House, home of the Bishop of Oxford, is located within the parish.
style with four bays
and two aisles alongside the large clerestoried nave
. The chancel
is a semi-circular apse
with stained glass windows of biblical scenes. A west gallery augments the seating capacity, above which is the west rose window, a stylised version of which is used as the church logo. Some original plans for the building included a large campanile
tower, but no money was available for it. There is a small bellcote
on the south-west side.
In the 1980's, the expanding congregation meant that a larger building was deemed necessary, in order to accommodate all the activities that started up during this time. The result was the building of the wrap-around narthex
at the west end of the building, containing increased office space, more toilet facilities and improved kitchen and meeting room facilities.
The size of the congregation at the start of the 21st century demanded extra space for church activities and meetings, with a range of possibilities considered - including digging a crypt
basement beneath the nave, buying adjacent properties, and building on land to the south of the main building. The last of these was eventually chosen, with the new (temporary) rooms called "Southside".
two Sundays a month, Common Worship
the rest of the month), 09:30 (family service, with groups for children and young people - all-age worship is held on the first Sunday), 11:15 (more formal Morning Worship, with robed clergy and a small choir) and 18:00 (more contemporary, lively service, with a worship band). As well as giving church members Bible teaching and Christian fellowship St Andrew's has ministries outside its walls, with outreach and charitable work locally in the parish and in estates
elsewhere in Oxford as well as internationally, with support for missionaries around the World. The church also works closely with other churches, both in North Oxford and in the rest of the city, especially through the annual 'Love Oxford' event and the regular 'Vertigo' events, for young people county-wide.
On the first Sunday of the month, in conjunction with Causeway Prospects
, St Andrews has a service for adults with learning disabilities, the JOY Place.
St Andrew's makes extensive use of modern technology and media services - two of the main services (at 9:30am and at 6:00pm) use projection software
and have a worship band
, full use is made of the church website, including using it for scheduling volunteers and sending out regular emails for prayer meetings.
At all main services, prayer ministry is offered at the end of the services (all services except the 8:00am). The church also has an active pastoral care team, and offers activities for retired and senior members of the church, such as a monthly lunch club.
St Andrew's also runs regular Alpha courses
, as well as after-Alpha courses and ministries to international students in the local area. St Andrew's is also active in schools work in partnership with other churches in the Oxford area - indeed, people from the church have been instrumental in founding an independent charity, the Oxford Schools Chaplaincy, to carry on this work.
At full complement there are usually three or four ordained clergy
(the Vicar, a stipendiary
curate
(currently Rev. Peter Scamman), a non-stipendiary curate (currently Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mobey) and an Associate Vicar (Rev. Paul White)), who together with a large lay staff team and PCC
lead, care for, and manage the church. Many clergy have gone on from St Andrew's to leading positions in the wider Church of England, including the present Bishop of Dorchester and Bishop of Kensington
.
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
in 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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
in 1907 and is located on the southeast corner of Linton Road
Linton Road
Linton Road is a road in North Oxford, England.-Location:At the western end is the Banbury Road. At the eastern end is Wolfson College, a graduate college of the University of Oxford. The road also adjoins Northmoor Road, Charlbury Road and Chadlington Road.Linton Lodge Hotel is located in this...
and Northmoor Road
Northmoor Road
Northmoor Road is a road in North Oxford, England. It runs north-south parallel to and east of the Banbury Road. At the northern end is a junction with Belbroughton Road and to the south is a junction with Bardwell Road, location of the Dragon School...
in the suburb of North Oxford
North Oxford
North Oxford is a suburban part of the city of Oxford in England. It was owned for many centuries largely by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold by the College....
.
History
The church was established during the period of suburban expansion around OxfordOxford
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...
which saw, among others, the residential neighbourhood of North Oxford
North Oxford
North Oxford is a suburban part of the city of Oxford in England. It was owned for many centuries largely by St John's College, Oxford and many of the area's Victorian houses were initially sold on leasehold by the College....
being built. The vision of the founders of the church was to create an evangelical, Bible-believing church between Carfax and the northern ring road. Land for the parish was eventually carved out of part of the parishes of Ss. Philip & James (on Woodstock Road, now the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) and that of St. Giles.
St Andrew's has now for over a hundred years served as the parish church to the eastern half of this area, from Banbury Road
Banbury Road
Banbury Road is a major arterial road in Oxford, England, running from St Giles' at the south end, north towards Banbury through the leafy suburb of North Oxford and Summertown, with its local shopping centre. Parallel and to the west is the Woodstock Road, which it meets at the junction with St...
in the west to the River Cherwell
River Cherwell
The River Cherwell is a river which flows through the Midlands of England. It is a major tributary of the River Thames.The general course of the River Cherwell is north to south and the 'straight-line' distance from its source to the Thames is about...
in the east and from Park Town
Park Town, Oxford
Park Town is a small residential area in central North Oxford, a suburb of Oxford, England. It was one of the earliest planned suburban developments in the area.-History and overview:...
in the south to Marston Road
Marston Road
Marston Road is a road in the east of Oxford, England. It links the junction of St Clements and the foot of Headington Hill to the south with the suburb of New Marston to the north. This is a mini-roundabout connecting with Cherwell Drive and Headley Way at the northern end. To the north is the ...
in the north. Other members of the church congregation are drawn from a wider area; from other parts of Oxford and surrounding villages.
The Bishop's House, home of the Bishop of Oxford, is located within the parish.
Buildings
The building was designed by A.R.G. Fenning (1855–1937). It is in a neo-NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
style with four bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
and two aisles alongside the large clerestoried nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
is a semi-circular apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
with stained glass windows of biblical scenes. A west gallery augments the seating capacity, above which is the west rose window, a stylised version of which is used as the church logo. Some original plans for the building included a large campanile
Campanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
tower, but no money was available for it. There is a small bellcote
Bell-Cot
A bell-cot, bell-cote or bellcote, is a small framework and shelter for one or more bells, supported on brackets projecting from a wall or built on the roof of chapels or churches which have no towers. It often holds the Sanctus bell rung at the Consecration....
on the south-west side.
In the 1980's, the expanding congregation meant that a larger building was deemed necessary, in order to accommodate all the activities that started up during this time. The result was the building of the wrap-around narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
at the west end of the building, containing increased office space, more toilet facilities and improved kitchen and meeting room facilities.
The size of the congregation at the start of the 21st century demanded extra space for church activities and meetings, with a range of possibilities considered - including digging a crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
basement beneath the nave, buying adjacent properties, and building on land to the south of the main building. The last of these was eventually chosen, with the new (temporary) rooms called "Southside".
Services and ministry
On most Sundays there are four services, each with a different focus and format, ranging from formal to contemporary - these are at 08:00 (BCPBook of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
two Sundays a month, Common Worship
Common Worship
Common Worship is the name given to the series of services authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and launched on the first Sunday of Advent in 2000. It represents the most recent stage of development of the Liturgical Movement within the Church and is the successor to the...
the rest of the month), 09:30 (family service, with groups for children and young people - all-age worship is held on the first Sunday), 11:15 (more formal Morning Worship, with robed clergy and a small choir) and 18:00 (more contemporary, lively service, with a worship band). As well as giving church members Bible teaching and Christian fellowship St Andrew's has ministries outside its walls, with outreach and charitable work locally in the parish and in estates
Cutteslowe
Cutteslowe is a suburb of north Oxford, England, between Sunnymead and Water Eaton.-Manor:By AD 1004 St. Frideswide's Minster in Oxford held two hides of land at Cutteslowe. St. Frideswide's became an Augustinian Priory that continued to hold Cutteslowe until it was suppressed in 1525. It then...
elsewhere in Oxford as well as internationally, with support for missionaries around the World. The church also works closely with other churches, both in North Oxford and in the rest of the city, especially through the annual 'Love Oxford' event and the regular 'Vertigo' events, for young people county-wide.
On the first Sunday of the month, in conjunction with Causeway Prospects
Prospects (charity)
Prospects is a Christian charity in the United Kingdom whose aim is to support learning disabled adults, and to enable them to reach their full potential...
, St Andrews has a service for adults with learning disabilities, the JOY Place.
St Andrew's makes extensive use of modern technology and media services - two of the main services (at 9:30am and at 6:00pm) use projection software
Church software
Church software is any type of computer software specifically designed for use by a church. There are administrative packages tailored to handle membership databases and finances, and also worship presentation programs to generate images for video projectors....
and have a worship band
Contemporary worship
Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the twentieth century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found to varying extents in a wide range of churches, including many that do not subscribe to a...
, full use is made of the church website, including using it for scheduling volunteers and sending out regular emails for prayer meetings.
At all main services, prayer ministry is offered at the end of the services (all services except the 8:00am). The church also has an active pastoral care team, and offers activities for retired and senior members of the church, such as a monthly lunch club.
St Andrew's also runs regular Alpha courses
Alpha course
The Alpha course is a course which seeks to explore the basics of the Christian faith, described as "an opportunity to explore the meaning of life" . Alpha courses are currently being run in churches, homes, workplaces, prisons, universities and a wide variety of other locations...
, as well as after-Alpha courses and ministries to international students in the local area. St Andrew's is also active in schools work in partnership with other churches in the Oxford area - indeed, people from the church have been instrumental in founding an independent charity, the Oxford Schools Chaplaincy, to carry on this work.
At full complement there are usually three or four ordained clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
(the Vicar, a stipendiary
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
(currently Rev. Peter Scamman), a non-stipendiary curate (currently Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mobey) and an Associate Vicar (Rev. Paul White)), who together with a large lay staff team and PCC
Parochial Church Council
The parochial church council , is the executive body of a Church of England parish.-Powers and duties:Two Acts of Parliament define the powers and duties of PCCs...
lead, care for, and manage the church. Many clergy have gone on from St Andrew's to leading positions in the wider Church of England, including the present Bishop of Dorchester and Bishop of Kensington
Bishop of Kensington
The Bishop of Kensington is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of London, in the Province of Canterbury, England...
.