Holy Rood Church

Introduction

The architect Lawrence Dale initially submitted a design for the church in 1958 in the Renaissance style.

History

Holy Rood Church was endowed by a benefactor who entrusted a priest to find a site for Oxford Roman Catholics living south of the river. In 1959 a site was acquired off the Abingdon Road, between Grandpont House and Brasenose College playing fields. In 1959 Gilbert Flavel was chosen to design the church due to his appreciation of the changing liturgical tradition and his previous work for the London College of Divinity at Norwood. In 1963 the contents of Eric Gill's chapel at Piggotts, Buckinghamshire, were given by Gill's daughter.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is steel framed with yellow stock brick walls externally, rendered internally, and a glass, steel and copper helm roof lantern. The church is broadly rectangular in plan within which is set an octagonal worship space. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel is set off to the right of the main worship space, outside of the main rectangular plan. A large circular granite font in the narthex, incised with 'FONS VITAE AETERNAE', was carved by Kevin Cribb, the son of Laurie Cribb, an assistant to Eric Gill.

A bronze statue of the Christ of the Cosmos (pantokrator) by Michael Murray hangs on the eastern wall behind the altar. The altar is made of granite and inscribed with lettering by Kevin Cribb: 'DUX VITAE MORTUUS REGNAT VIVUS'. Above the sanctuary is the corona, also by Michael Murray, symbolising the twelve gates of Jerusalem with lights symbolising the twelve apostles. To the right, between the sanctuary and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel hangs the theotokos, a bronze replica of the Romanesque Relief of Our Lady and the Christ child in York Minster, created by Michael Murray.

The bronze Stations of the Cross hang on the walls of the nave, lit by conical lights. The exterior is formed of yellow brick, laid in Sussex bond. The western (front) elevation has a central double height section with two single storey ancillary areas, broadly triangular in form on either side. A large blue and white metal cross divides the glazing and the set of two double doors of the main entrance.

The east (rear) elevation is entirely brickwork with a raised Greek cross. The south elevation comprises a projecting, rectangular, single storey element which forms The Blessed Sacrament Chapel, illuminated by two stained glass windows. The sanctuary is placed directly opposite the main entrance with a series of three wooden steps leading up to it. To the right of the entrance is a spiral staircase to a choir gallery fitted with further pews for the choir and an organ. An organ is located to the left of the sanctuary within the nave.

Music and liturgy

Singers may join a rota to sing the Psalm for Sunday Mass or a small choir for special events. The church hosts a Mass on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons for the Portuguese speaking community in Oxford.

Parish life

A children's choir meets regularly at Holy Rood to learn music for special performances and to practise hymns, directed by the church's organist Julia Craig-McFeely. The Hinksey Parish Pastoral Council meets four times each year with representation from all parish churches. The Finance and Buildings Committee is an advisory body to the Parish Priest and meets quarterly.

The congregation reflects the variety of nationalities found in Oxford and the surrounding areas. Holy Rood has close links with two sister churches across Oxford: Our Lady of the Rosary, Botley, and St Thomas More Chapel, Boars Hill. The plaque honouring Our Lady of Poland beside the gallery stairs is a reminder of the contribution made to this church by the local Polish community.