Some Notes and Observations of Marston made Early 20th Century (Author/date unknown)

 

Area of Parish, 1160 acres.    Population, 668.

The CHURCH.     Dedication—S. NICHOLAS.    The Nave arcades and Chancel arch date from the  I3th century and a  transition Norman.

The Church was rebuilt in the Perpendicular style in the I5th century. It was thoroughly restored in 1882-3 • the work being carried out by Mr. John Honour, of Marston, under the superintendance of Mr. H. Drinkwater, the architect, and was re-opened for Divine Service after the restoration, on Thursday, December 6th, 1883, by the Bishop of Oxford. The then Vicar was the Rev. J. P. Smith.

A new open timber oak roof was built to the Chancel, the principals having carved braces as nearly as possible on the lines of the old roof and the spandrils being filled with tracery.

The roofs of the nave and aisles were stripped  and renewed where necessary : the interior cleaned of many coats of whitewash arid the plastering repaired : while the exterior was re-leaded and slated. Some remains  of texts  with  borders  of the time of Elizabeth or James  I. were  discovered, and an aumbrey at the east end of the north aisle.

The old seats were thoroughly restored, and in the chancel the old return stall desks have been retained with new stalls and a screen across the chancel arch.

The Jacobean pulpit was repaired, a new base was added to it and the canopy supported by a piece of wrought iron.

The East window was put in in the year  1903 by Miss  Rippington, to the memory of Mrs. M. A. Cannon and other relatives.     It was designed by Mr. F. C. Eden, of 3 Staple Inn, Holborn. The centre light has the Crucifixion for its subject ; the right-hand light, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of the Church ; and the left-hand  light, St. John the Baptist.    Some  fragments of old glass have been skilfully inserted.

The side windows are of two lights, late Perpendicular. There are some good quarrels of painted glass in the heads of these windows. The recess of the first window on the south side is carried down to a stone bench which served as a seat for the priest, and eastward of this is a small square piscina with the basin and drain perfect.

There is a " hagioscope " or " squint"' in the south aisle, enabling worshippers to see the Holy Table. The font is modern imitation Gothic. The Church possesses a chalice of early I4th century workmanship.

The MANOR HOUSE shown in the engraving was the seat of Unton Croke, Esq., a supporter of the Parliament in the Civil War, Who acquired it by his marriage with Anne, daughter and heiress of Richard Hore, Esq., of Marston. Here Oliver Cromwell received the surrender of Oxford in May, 1646. The right half has been rebuilt and forms a separate dwelling.

The CROSS was taken down and used to mend the roads. A similar Cross stood jn the Churchyard and was taken down in 1830 to mend the wall.

The LIVING is in the gift of Mrs. Evans of Eton, widow of the late Master of Pembroke College, Oxford