St Michael at the Northgate
Encyclopedia
St Michael at the North Gate is a church in Cornmarket Street
, at the junction with Ship Street
, in central Oxford
, England
. The church is so-called because this is the location of the original north gate of Oxford when it was surrounded by a city wall.
. The architect John Plowman
rebuilt the north aisle and transept in 1833.
The Oxford Martyrs
were imprisoned in the Bocardo Prison
by the church before they were burnt at the stake in what is now Broad Street
nearby, then immediately outside the city walls, in 1555 and 1556. Their cell door can be seen on display in the church's tower.
St Michael at the North Gate is the current City Church
of Oxford. That title was originally held by St Martin's Church at Carfax
, and then by All Saints Church
in the High Street
when St Martin's Church was demolished in 1896. City Church status passed to St Michael's when All Saints Church was declared redundant in 1971 (it was subsequently converted into the library of Lincoln College, Oxford
). The City Church is where the Mayor and Corporation of Oxford are expected to worship. The parishes of St Martin's and All Saints are now amalgamated with St Michael's.
and Jane Burden
(who lived off Holywell Street
nearby) were married here on 25 April 1859. The marriage certificate is on view in the Saxon tower. John Wesley
's pulpit is also on view here.
Cornmarket Street
Cornmarket Street is a major shopping street and pedestrian precinct in Oxford, England that runs north-south between Carfax Tower and Magdalen Street.Retailers in Cornmarket include:* Austin Reed...
, at the junction with Ship Street
Ship Street, Oxford
Ship Street is a historic street that runs east–west in central Oxford, England.- Location :The street lies north of Jesus College and west of Exeter College, two of Oxford University's historic colleges. To the south, at the western end is the Junior Common Room and to the eastern end is the...
, in central 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...
. The church is so-called because this is the location of the original north gate of Oxford when it was surrounded by a city wall.
History
Originally built around 1000–1050, with the tower of 1040 still in existence, the church is Oxford's oldest building. The church tower is SaxonAnglo-Saxon architecture
Anglo-Saxon architecture was a period in the history of architecture in England, and parts of Wales, from the mid-5th century until the Norman Conquest of 1066. Anglo-Saxon secular buildings in Britain were generally simple, constructed mainly using timber with thatch for roofing...
. The architect John Plowman
John Plowman
John Plowman was an architect based in Oxford, England.From 1812 until 1837 Plowman worked in partnership with the builder, civil engineer and architect Daniel Harris.-Work:...
rebuilt the north aisle and transept in 1833.
The Oxford Martyrs
Oxford Martyrs
The Oxford Martyrs were tried for heresy in 1555 and subsequently burnt at the stake in Oxford, England, for their religious beliefs and teachings....
were imprisoned in the Bocardo Prison
Bocardo Prison
The Bocardo Prison in Oxford, England existed until 1771. Its origins were medieval, and the most celebrated prisoners were the Protestant martyrs Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley in 1555.-History:...
by the church before they were burnt at the stake in what is now Broad Street
Broad Street, Oxford
Broad Street is a wide street in central Oxford, England, located just north of the old city wall.The street is known for its bookshops, including the original Blackwell's bookshop at number 50, located here due to the University...
nearby, then immediately outside the city walls, in 1555 and 1556. Their cell door can be seen on display in the church's tower.
St Michael at the North Gate is the current City Church
City Church, Oxford
The City Church in Oxford, England, is where the mayor and corporation are expected to worship. There have been three churches designated the City Church in Oxford, first established around 1122:...
of Oxford. That title was originally held by St Martin's Church at Carfax
Carfax, Oxford
Carfax is located at the conjunction of St Aldate's , Cornmarket Street , Queen Street and the High Street in Oxford, England. It is considered to be the centre of the city, and is at...
, and then by All Saints Church
All Saints Church, Oxford
All Saints Church is on the north side of the High Street in central Oxford, England, on the corner of Turl Street. It is now the library of Lincoln College. This former church is Grade I listed.-History:...
in the High Street
High Street, Oxford
The High Street in Oxford, England runs between Carfax, generally recognized as the centre of the city, and Magdalen Bridge to the east. Locally the street is often known as The High. It forms a gentle curve and is the subject of many prints, paintings, photographs, etc...
when St Martin's Church was demolished in 1896. City Church status passed to St Michael's when All Saints Church was declared redundant in 1971 (it was subsequently converted into the library of Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
). The City Church is where the Mayor and Corporation of Oxford are expected to worship. The parishes of St Martin's and All Saints are now amalgamated with St Michael's.
People
William MorrisWilliam Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
and Jane Burden
Jane Burden
Jane Morris was an English artists' model who embodied the Pre-Raphaelite ideal of beauty. She was a model and muse to the artists William Morris, whom she married, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.-Life:...
(who lived off Holywell Street
Holywell Street
Holywell Street is a street in central Oxford, England. It runs east-west with Broad Street to the west and Longwall Street to the east. About half way along, Mansfield Road adjoins to the north.New College dominates the south side of the street...
nearby) were married here on 25 April 1859. The marriage certificate is on view in the Saxon tower. John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
's pulpit is also on view here.