Oxford
Italian Romanesque architecture

Visiting St Barnabas Church, Jericho

A guide to the striking Italian Romanesque landmark in Oxford.

ArchitectureHistoryMusicLocal heritage

Discover this remarkable Victorian church in Oxford's Jericho neighborhood, known for its spacious Byzantine architecture, majestic sanctuary, and distinctive Venetian campanile. Visitors can explore its rich history, admire the architectural detail, and enjoy its vibrant choral music tradition.

An architecturally unique church in Oxford featuring a towering bell tower, landmark high altar, and a celebrated musical heritage.

St Barnabas Church, Jericho
About St Barnabas Church, Jericho

Located in the Jericho neighborhood of Oxford, St Barnabas Church is an architecturally striking 19th-century place of worship. This unique Byzantine-Italianate building features a grand sanctuary, soaring arches, and a landmark Venetian bell tower. Visitors can explore a peaceful interior that has long served as a celebrated center for choral music, local heritage, and quiet contemplation.

Exterior view of St Barnabas Church showing the main building with a large circular window and a tall bell tower against a clear blue sky.
St Barnabas Church, Jericho opening hours in Oxford

Check today’s opening status, weekly schedule, and special date changes for St Barnabas Church, Jericho. Use these opening hours to plan your arrival and avoid closed times in Oxford.

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
09:00-18:00
07:30-19:00
Family visits at St Barnabas Church, Jericho

St Barnabas Church, Jericho, supports families during their traditional Sunday morning High Mass with dedicated facilities. Visitors can utilize an on-site crèche, a Sunday school, and a designated children's corner throughout the service. More details regarding these provisions and hospitality after the service are available to help families plan their visit.

St Barnabas Church welcomes families to their Sunday morning High Mass, providing specific facilities to support children during the service.

Why families will enjoy it

  • Dedicated children's corner available during the Sunday service
  • Sunday school and crèche provided for attending families
  • Welcoming, relaxed atmosphere during traditional High Mass
  • Hospitality offered to families after the morning service

Activities and resources for children

Family program

Sunday 10:30 High Mass family provisions

A weekly worship service featuring a Sunday school, crèche, and children's corner.

Location of St Barnabas Church in Jericho, Oxford

St Barnabas Church, Jericho is situated on Cardigan Street in the historic Jericho neighborhood of Oxford. This striking Byzantine-Italianate landmark, known for its towering Venetian bell tower, serves as a prominent architectural focal point in the area. Visitors exploring this vibrant part of the city can easily locate the church, which stands as a peaceful sanctuary for music and history lovers alike.

Exploring the Architecture and Heritage of St Barnabas Church

St Barnabas Church, Jericho is a unique architectural landmark in the Jericho neighborhood of Oxford. Built in the late nineteenth century, this grand place of worship is celebrated for its Byzantine-Italianate style and towering Venetian campanile. Inside, visitors encounter a vast, quiet sanctuary defined by lofty arches and a high altar adorned with mosaics. The historic venue serves as a key center for liturgical heritage and choral music, offering exceptional acoustics for regular concerts. A visit provides an engaging look at Victorian craftsmanship and local history.

St Barnabas Church exterior showing the Italian Romanesque facade with large circular window and tall campanile bell tower against a clear blue sky

The History of St Barnabas Church, Jericho

Established in 1869 to serve the laboring classes, St Barnabas Church in the Jericho area of Oxford is a **Grade I listed building** of exceptional significance. The church was consecrated in 1869, followed by the completion of its distinctive Italianate campanile in 1872. A new pulpit was added in 1887, and the parish later united with St Thomas the Martyr in 2015. In 2023, the congregation celebrated a historic milestone when the first woman priest presided over the Parish Mass.

  • Establishment of the parish school

    1857Founding

    An associated girls' and infant school for the church was established on a site in Cardigan Street in 1857.

  • Formation of the parish

    1869Founding

    The parish of St Barnabas was formally separated from the parish of St Paul, Oxford, in 1869 to serve the local poor and labouring classes.

  • Consecration of the church

    1869Opening

    The church building was officially consecrated on 19 October 1869 by Samuel Wilberforce, the Bishop of Oxford.

  • Completion of the campanile

    1872Construction

    The distinctive square tower, designed in the Italianate style as a campanile, was completed in 1872.

  • Addition of a new pulpit

    1887Milestone

    A new pulpit, designed by Heaton, Butler, and Bayne with painted panels by Charles Floyce, was added to the church in 1887, replacing a previous timber structure.

  • Unification of the parish

    2015Ownership

    In September 2015, the parish of St Barnabas was united with the neighbouring parish of St Thomas the Martyr to form a new combined parish.

  • First woman priest to preside

    2023Milestone

    The Revd Dr Melanie Marshall became the first woman to preside at the Parish Mass on 14 May 2023, following a PCC vote earlier that year to welcome the ministry of women priests.

  • Grade I listed designation

    Heritage status

    The church is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building, denoting its exceptional architectural and historical significance.

Latest museum updates from St Barnabas Church, Jericho
Recent announcements, stories, and institutional updates in Oxford
Read the newest updates from St Barnabas Church, Jericho, including exhibition announcements, program changes, and cultural stories that add context before your visit in Oxford.
Progress Update: New Pipe Organ Installation at St Barnabas Jericho

Progress Update: New Pipe Organ Installation at St Barnabas Jericho

St Barnabas Jericho has officially begun the intricate process of installing a new pipe organ. This multi-week project involves expert organ builders managing large-scale components, including pipes up to sixteen feet long, within the historic church's organ chamber.

RestorationMusicChurch NewsBehind the Scenes
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Open Chorister Rehearsal for Youth at St Barnabas Church, Jericho

Open Chorister Rehearsal for Youth at St Barnabas Church, Jericho

St Barnabas Church invites young people aged 7 to 15 to discover the joy of choral singing during an open rehearsal session. This casual event allows interested youth to experience chorister training, enjoy some music, and meet the team in a supportive environment. Parents and carers are welcome to attend this unique opportunity to explore the church's musical life.

MusicYouth EventsOpen RehearsalCommunity
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Community meeting regarding local infrastructure impacts

Community meeting regarding local infrastructure impacts

St Barnabas Church, Jericho, is hosting a community meeting to address local concerns surrounding the ongoing Botley Road and Oxford Railway Station upgrades. Residents of affected streets are invited to join the discussion to share their perspectives and explore collective actions for the coming year.

CommunityEventLocal News
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Progress Update: The Organ Restoration at St Barnabas Church

Progress Update: The Organ Restoration at St Barnabas Church

St Barnabas Church in Jericho has reached a significant milestone in its organ restoration project. The console and pipework have been moved for professional rebuilding, and the team is now preparing to assemble the final instrument. While the core build is funded, the community continues to seek support for installation costs and future maintenance.

RestorationChurch NewsMusicHeritage
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St Barnabas Jericho Commissions Historic New Organ

St Barnabas Jericho Commissions Historic New Organ

St Barnabas Church in Jericho has officially contracted Henry Willis & Sons to build and install a new custom organ. This project, five years in the making, will incorporate rare Victorian-era pipes into a beautifully restored instrument, marking a significant milestone in the church's musical heritage.

MusicOrganRestorationAnnouncement
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St Barnabas Jericho welcomes new Organist and Director of Music

St Barnabas Jericho welcomes new Organist and Director of Music

St Barnabas Church in Jericho is pleased to announce the appointment of Esther Bersweden as its new Organist and Director of Music. Starting at the end of September, she will lead the Schola Cantorum and oversee the musical life of this historic Oxford church. Her arrival marks a new chapter for the parish's liturgical and choral mission.

Church NewsMusicOxford Culture
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Reflections on Remembrance Sunday 2023 at St Barnabas Church

Reflections on Remembrance Sunday 2023 at St Barnabas Church

The sermon delivered by the Revd Canon Professor Sue Gillingham on Remembrance Sunday 2023 at St Barnabas Church, Jericho, explores themes of peace, conflict, and faith. This reflective piece examines the significance of the day through the lens of biblical wisdom and our shared responsibility to build a more peaceful world.

SermonRemembrance SundayChurch Service
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Special Mass and Walsingham Cell group meeting at St Barnabas Church

Special Mass and Walsingham Cell group meeting at St Barnabas Church

Join St Barnabas Church in Jericho for the Mass of Our Lady of Walsingham on September 30th at 10am. This gathering marks the start of a new parish initiative to establish a 'Walsingham Cell' group, offering a space for spiritual devotion, community discussion, and potential future pilgrimages to Norfolk.

WorshipCommunityEventsSpirituality
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Visitor FAQs: Demystifying St Barnabas Church, Jericho

Wondering how to dial up St Barnabas Church, Jericho, or looking for its missing street number? While this stunning landmark in Oxford's Jericho neighborhood doesn't have a direct phone line or a house number, finding your way to Cardigan Street and reaching out via their online form is wonderfully simple.

What is the phone number for St Barnabas Church, Jericho?

A direct phone number for St Barnabas Church, Jericho is not provided. Visitors should use the online contact form to get in touch.

Is there an email address for St Barnabas Church, Jericho?

A direct email address is not listed for St Barnabas Church, Jericho. Please use the contact form on their website for any visitor inquiries.

How do I contact St Barnabas Church, Jericho?

You can reach St Barnabas Church, Jericho by submitting an inquiry through their online contact form. Specific phone numbers or email addresses are not currently listed.

What are the opening hours of St Barnabas Church, Jericho?

St Barnabas Church, Jericho is open from 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday, and from 07:30 to 19:00 on Sunday.

Visual Gallery of St Barnabas Church, Jericho

Visual highlights of St Barnabas Church, Jericho showcase its unique Italian Romanesque design in Oxford. Photographs capture the towering Venetian campanile bell tower rising above the local canal, often framed alongside passing narrowboats. Visitors can expect a preview of the striking striped brickwork and circular rose window, illustrating the distinct architectural charm of this peaceful landmark.

St Barnabas Church exterior showing the Italian Romanesque facade with large circular window and tall campanile bell tower against a clear blue sky
Exterior view of St Barnabas Church showing the main building with a large circular window and a tall bell tower against a clear blue sky.
A canal scene with green narrowboats and white swans, with the stone tower of St Barnabas Church visible in the background among bare trees.
Street view showing the tall campanile tower of St Barnabas Church rising above terraced brick buildings and a garage with green doors
Exterior view of St Barnabas Church featuring a tall stone campanile with arched windows, a long nave with arched windows, bare trees, and a bicycle parked by a low fence along the street.
St Barnabas Church with its tall campanile tower and round rose window, seen across a canal with narrowboats moored in the foreground at dusk.
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