Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary, Banbury

A church of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The original building was constructed around 1790 by S.P. Cockerell. The tower and portico were added between 1818 and 1822 by C.R. Cockerell. The interior underwent significant alterations around 1858–59 under the Reverend William Wilson, and again around 1863–81 under the Reverend Henry Back. A second stage of alterations was carried out by the architect Arthur Blomfield. The building is constructed of ironstone ashlar with copper and lead roofs.

The church comprises a nave, chancel, and west tower in the Classical style. The west portico consists of a semi-circular Doric portico with columns and a half-dome, surmounted by a tower of three stages topped with a cupola. The portico features a wide triglyph frieze. The ground floor is of rusticated stone with three entrances: a main entrance and two side entrances. All doorways are fitted with 8-panelled doors and cornices on consoles. Two side windows have semi-circular heads, and a central oculus lights the interior.

The nave features a rusticated ground floor with ashlar above, with five square-headed windows on the ground floor. The first floor has five semi-circular-headed windows with rusticated, keystoned surrounds and a moulded cornice. The chancel has a pedimented central bay flanked by vestries with oculi and panelled doors; the northern oculus is blocked.

The original interior plan comprised a 90-foot square nave with 12 Ionic columns supporting a shallow domed roof, surrounded on all four sides by galleries. A small rectangular chancel lay to the east, with an eastern gallery carrying the organ. The present arrangement results from Blomfield's alterations and remodelling. Blomfield formed an apse within the existing chancel walls, surmounted by a half-dome and linked to the arch supporting the nave dome by a barrel vault. The nave retains its original plan but now has galleries on three sides only; the eastern gallery was removed and the organ relocated to the north side of the chancel. Side chapels flank the chancel to north and south, with a Lady chapel to the north and a Resurrection chapel to the south in memory of those killed in the Second World War. Vestries occupy either side of the chancel. A staircase with wreathed handrail and balcony provides access to a meeting room above, while side entrances in the west end also contain staircases to the upper floor.

The chancel fittings were provided by Blomfield and include low stone walls with inlaid marble patterns surrounding the choir, choir stalls, altar rails, and a chancel pavement by Godwin of Lugwardine. The organ case was carved in 1874 by Rattee and Kett, and the pulpit was carved in 1885 by the same firm. A square white font inlaid with marble was created by Alfred Claridge. Wrought-iron gates to the choir date from 1902 and were made by Starkie Gardner. Oak pews in the nave follow the original plan, though they were probably cut down or renewed in the late 19th century.

Stained glass by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, executed between 1864 and 1881 to Blomfield's design, originally created a rich colour scheme. An imitation mosaic in the chancel, depicting Christ in majesty, was created in 1876. This unified colour scheme was largely lost following redecoration in 1960.

Memorials include a marble monument to Ann Dolly, daughter of Paynton Piggott, who died in 1824 aged 21, situated in the east wall of the nave to the left of the chancel arch. A marble memorial to Francis Piggott, who died in 1790, is located on the east wall of the nave to the right of the chancel arch. Wall memorials in the porch to the right of the main entrance include a stone tablet to John Knight and Joan his wife (he died 22 November 1587, she died 26 December 1590), a marble tablet to Margareta Knight, and a marble tablet to William Knight (died 20 September 1631).