Church Of St Peter-le-bailey
Oxford, OX1 2DL, GB
Rating: 5.0 ★ (2 ratings)
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The Victorian Gothic Revival church you see today on New Inn Hall Street is the third iteration of St Peter-le-Bailey, designed by Basil Champneys and opened in 1874. Its predecessors stood closer to Oxford Castle, hence the "le-Bailey" in its name, referring to the castle's outer defensive wall. The very first church on this site dates back to the 12th century, granted to St Frideswide's Priory in 1122. The second church, built in 1740 after the medieval tower of the first collapsed in 1726, was eventually demolished in 1873 to make way for road widening. Some materials from the old church were even incorporated into the current structure, which showcases Champneys' adept yet restrained Gothic style.
Since 1961, the Church of St Peter-le-Bailey has served as the chapel for St Peter's College, an Oxford University college founded in 1929. Bishop Francis Chavasse, a former rector of St Peter-le-Bailey from 1878-1889 and a key figure in the founding of St Peter's College, is commemorated within the chapel, as is his son, Noel Chavasse, a decorated war hero. The chapel is not only a place for worship, hosting regular services like Choral Evensong, but also a vibrant space for musical concerts, lectures, and other cultural and social events, welcoming people of all faiths and none. Relics from its earlier incarnations, including memorial brasses (the oldest from 1419) and a 16th-century parish chest, can still be viewed.
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