Notes on the Church

 

 

The Holy Rood is a very simple church, consisting of nave, chancel, porch and tower. The main fabric of the nave and chancel was probably built in the 13^th Century between 1250 and 1275. The chief additions to this basic structure were the two-storied tower, constructed during the 15^th Century, and the south porch, which dates from the 18^th Century.

 

The church has no magnificent features, but it does contain many unusual ones, including a mediaeval wall painting, a minstrel’s gallery, a manorial pew and a rood beam.

 

 

This is unusual as it is built inside the church using the original west front as one of its walls (the Early English lancet windows on the outside are one of the earliest visible architectural features of the church) and with the other three sides resting on the 15^th Century arches protruding into the nave. It has been suggested that this plan was adopted because if the tower had been built on to the outside of the church it would have blocked the path of processions round the church.

 

This contains six bells given by a Lord of the Manor, John Nourse, in 1680. The Sanctus Bell is dated 1674.

 

This has been fairly recently restored. It may have been made by Edward Hemins of Bicester, a clock-maker towards the end of the 17^th Century, although parts of the mechanism suggest the work of earlier craftsmen.

 

This was probably constructed in the early 18^th Century.

 

This is early 14^th Century and is possibly one of the oldest examples of this subject still surviving. It depicts St. Christopher with the Christ child upon his shoulder striding through a stream whilst fishes an octopus cluster at His feet.

The Norman-French inscription (an indication to the layman of the early origin of this painting) reads:

Ki CEST IMAGE VERRA LE JUR MAL MORT NE MURRA (Look upon this image and verily on this day you shall not die an evil death)

This mural was uncovered and restored by Professor Tristram in 1930.

 

Painting is also visible on the south and west walls, and a broad band of floral design can be seen over the south door.

 

The inscription reads:

 

This caused experts to think that it may have been the base of a door. However, the architect, Mr J.M. Surman, who was responsible for its discovery when directing repair work in the 1950’s, was fairly certain that it was simply a rood beam.

 

This seems to be early English

 

The ancient oak pews are worthy of note and some even bear traces of saw marks. The 15^th Century wooden benches in the chancel have carved heads and sides. A pelican, the sacrifice of Isaac and the symbols of the Passion can be recognised.

 

These bear the arms of the Weyland family who owned the Manor of Woodeaton from the mid-18^th Century until 1912. Their vault is in the churchyard.

 

There are also memorials to the Nourse family, lords of the Manor in the 17^th and 18^th century, in the chancel.

 

This is large in proportion to the nave. It contains a 13^th Century trefoiled piscina (a basin for the ceremonial cleansing of the priest’s hands) and a stone sedilia. There is a priest’s door in the north and south wall which is best seen from the outside. The early English chancel arch still bears slight traces of mediaeval painting.