Saint Barnabas Church, Oxford

You shouldn’t miss visiting the charming Anglo-Catholic Saint Barnabas Church which stands in the Jericho area of Oxford.

The church was founded by Thomas and Martha Combe, ardent followers of the Oxford movement. The building was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield in the Romanesque Basilica style, closely modelled on San Clemente in Rome. The site, a low lying meadow on the banks of Oxford Canal, was donated by a city ironmonger, George Ward. The church was consecrated in 1869 by the Bishop of Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce.

The church’s Italianate campanile-style tower was built in two stages; the lower section was completed at the same time as the church, while the campanile was finished in 1872. Its original roof was a steep pyramidal spire with windows on each side, which was replaced in 1965 by the copper roof you will see today.

Inside, the church is very beautiful with wall panels in the eastern apse depicting Christ in Majesty above the 12 Apostles. On the other walls, panels feature the animals mentioned in the Book of Revelation, chapter 4.

The High Altar is higher than the nave and is reached by nine steps and has a delicately ornate gilded ciborium over it. The murals on the north wall of the nave represent Te Deum and are made of cut glass using the “opus sectile” technique.

The choir stalls are made of New Zealand pine, installed in 1870, while the intricately decorated Walnut pulpit was donated in 1887. On the stone capitals near the Baptistery you will notice the carved portraits of Sir Arthur, Bishop Wilberforce, the Reverend Alfred Hackman and Father Montague Noel, who were also connected with the church.

Small carved portraits of Thomas Combe and his dog Jessie can be seen on the opposing corners at the base of the pillar in the Lady Chapel.