St Mary the Virgin, Iffley
Church in Oxfordshire, England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Iffley is a Church of England parish church in the village of Iffley, Oxfordshire, England, now absorbed as a suburb of the city of Oxford.[1][2]
| St Mary the Virgin, Iffley | |
|---|---|
| Church of St Mary the Virgin | |
| |
 St Mary the Virgin, Iffley | |
| OS grid reference | SP 52714 03456 |
| Location | Iffley, Oxfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | iffleychurch |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish Church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Style | Romanesque |
| Years built | c.1160–1230 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 6 |
| Administration | |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
| Diocese | Diocese of Oxford |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Oxford |
| Deanery | Cowley |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar | The Revd Clare Hayns |
| Assistant priest | The Revd Dr Graham Low |
| Laity | |
| Churchwarden(s) | Sarah Beaver and William Alden |
History
The Romanesque church was built c.1160 by the St Remy family, probably financed with funds from the de Clintons of Kenilworth Castle.[3] The Early Gothic east end was extended in c.1230, when a cell was constructed on the south side for the anchoress Annora.[4][5]
The building has not been changed much over the centuries, retaining its round-arched windows and doorways.[6][7] It is Grade I listed.[8]
In the south wall of the nave is as a stained glass window designed by John Piper and made by glassmaker David Wasley in 1982 for an exhibition in Bristol. It was only installed at Iffley in 1995 after being gifted to the church by Piper's widow, Myfanwy.[9] The window depicting Piper’s familiar Tree of Life motif, which here uniquely reworks the message of the Birth of Christ. Five animals are portrayed on the branches of the tree and in front, proclaiming in Latin: Cock – Christus natus est (Christ is born); Goose – Quando? Quando? (When? When?); Crow – In hac nocte (On this night); Owl – Ubi? Ubi? (Where? where?); Lamb – Bethlehem! Bethlehem! In the bottom panel is the quote "Let man and beast appear before Him and magnify His name together…."[10]
Opposite is a window depicting the Flowering Tree designed by Roger Wagner and realised in glass by Patrick Costeloe of Thomas Denny’s studio in 2012. [11]
Gallery
Stained glass window by John Piper
Stained glass window by Roger Wagner
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