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« Three short guides to the surviving churches - Anglican, Baptist , Catholic - and some joint activities: GATEHOUSE and EYNSHAM NOISE.
See also CONTACTS & SERVICES (Churches); MEETING ROOMS; ROUNDABOUT

St LEONARD'S CHURCH - The Square

See also BELLS ; FLOWER FESTIVAL ; KNEELERS ; RENOVATION
Our church with its graceful tall pillars and clear light is a powerful reminder of the talents of our ancestors and of the joyful faith which inspired their craft. From the 15^th century nave, look over the entrance arch for remnants of a stone arch from the ruined Benedictine abbey of St.Mary. The abbey buildings lay to the south, in the area now covered by the graveyards of St.Leonard's and St.Peter's churches.
The font near the entrance is thought to have been a 'capital' from the abbey. Beneath the rim is the face of a 'green man', spouting animals from his mouth – an image that probably goes back to pagan times. The stone angels above it demonstrate that paganism has been overcome. Behind the font is the west window, which may once have been a processional door.
Walking east down the north aisle, look up and note the cuts which severed the stone heads, perhaps during the Civil War. The memorial brasses on the north wall are to two members of the Martyn family who lived in Eynsham in the 16^th century and to a long-serving Elizabethan vicar, William Emmott; more vicars HERE. The wall memorial above the pulpit is to members of the Knight family, closely connected to Jane Austen: MORE HERE. The wooden pulpit is Jacobean; its stone base replaces a slim wooden pillar which unfortunately collapsed. The prayer desk nearby has a carved 15^th century 'poppyhead' decoration.
The chancel was built in the 14^th century and originally ornamented with coloured murals. One area remains (left of the communion table, on the north wall) but is in need of cleaning. The niche to the left of the altar, which would once have housed a figure of the Virgin Mary, holds a representation of St.Leonard, patron saint of prisoners, carved from a block of limewood by Gwynneth Gordon (née Holt) in 1982.
To the right of the Communion table is the tomb of Sir Edward Stanley. The Stanleys were granted the abbey at the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. Sir Edward, a grandson of the Earl of Derby, was thought by some to be the true Shakespeare. The parish church at Tong in Staffordshire also has tombs of Sir Edward and there is lively speculation as to what lies where.

The lovely east window was designed by John Wilkins in the early 20^th century as a memorial to Dr.Smallhorn, the village physician: more HERE. It replaced an Early English one and shows the influence of the Pre- Raphaelite school. The saints at the top represent (L-R) SS Leonard, Stephen, Alban and Augustine.
In the south wall of the chancel is a graceful piscina and a priest's door. The attractive small archway to the south aisle once led to stairs behind the rood screen. The 12^th century south aisle is probably the original 'chapel of St.Leonard' mentioned in the abbey cartulary: more here. It has ancient communion niches (piscina and aumbry); mediaeval stone heads at higher level; and two Early English windows in the south wall. Near the organ stands one (reconstructed) mediaeval pew. It bears a piece of the old rood screen, as does the wooden communion table, once the main altar, which is thought to be of 17^th century origin (the legs are a 19^th century addition). On the south wall are three memorials to the Rogers family; the central medallion to Anne Bedwell is mentioned in Pevsner's 'Building s of England'. MORE LISTED BUILDINGS HERE.
The lovely Perpendicular doorway leads to the churchyard, where the outer wall buttresses of the south aisle bear 'scratch' dials, an early type of sundial.
OUTSIDE: From the end of the churchyard there is a pleasant view of the Thames valley. This area has been a sacred site since before the Conquest and archaeological investigation has shown that it was once a Bronze Age enclosure.

CHURCH HALL (former Methodist Chapel) Thames Street: 'Quick Fix' 2007 HERE

Web: Official website

BAPTIST CHURCH - Lombard Street

The church was officially formed in 1812, though not on this site. The original chapel was a converted barn in Mill Street at the back of The White House. When that became too small the original idea was to demolish the barn and build a chapel on the land. However, that never happened and the land on the present site became available. It was bought by the church (quite literally - people gave money as loans or gifts) and work began on the current building in 1817.
A plaque above the door shows the date of completion: 1818. The lamp over the door is a replica of one that was there during the 1800's. It was placed there in 2004 in memory of Mr. Cyril Ashton - organist of the church during the middle of the 20^th century. His sister is currently one of the life deacons of the church and our longest serving member. The step under the right hand door has been worn down by the number of people who have stood on it over the past 187 years. The stonework was repaired in 2001/2002 except for the stonework around the doors - that was done in 2004.

INTERIOR : Originally there was a gallery at the rear of the church over the main doors, the windows had stone mullions and there were pews. At the front was a large central pulpit in front of which was the baptismal pool. Although the pews and pulpit were removed in the latter part of the 20^th century, the pool remains and is still used. The mullions in the windows and the gallery were removed in 1884 when the building became derelict.
The organ is a chamber organ built for use in a country home. It was electrified during the 20^th century but there are those who remember having to pump the bellows.

At first the church thrived but the rules were very strict and anyone found to have broken them had their membership rights taken away. This led to many disagreements and numbers dwindled. Then Methodism came to the village: more people left and went to the Methodist church (which is now St. Leonard's Church Hall). REVIVAL 1884/5 HERE

CHURCH HALL: click here. If you leave the church by the green door beside the organ and look immediately to the right of the door, you will see a photograph of Mr RR Alden. Mr Alden and his family worked hard to ensure the future of the church. Apart from regularly preaching here, he would send any left over meat from his shop in Oxford to the poor folk in Eynsham. The hard work paid off and the church had a large Sunday School. To accommodate the large number of children, the two halls were built and opened in 1910.
The large hall is through the door at the top of two steps. It is still used by children - parent and toddler groups, dancing classes and Brownies all meet here as well as Junior Church. It is also hired for children's birthday parties. Adults use the premises too, for chiropodist sessions and exercise classes.
Look for the roll of honour of those who had connections with the Baptist church and who fought in the first World War. The original of the line drawing of the church also hangs in this hall. It was drawn by a minister's wife in 1836.

Web: Official website

St PETER'S CHURCH - Abbey Street

See also NEW ROOF
T he back wall of the church – facing east – is the oldest part of the church and original site of the altar. A stone at the bottom left corner records the foundation: 1 August 1940. The grand Romanesque style was a fitting response to the site of Eynsham Abbey but war made further building impossible. So for almost 30 years the altar stood here, whilst the rest of the church was a large wooden hut. A portrait over the entrance shows Father John Lopes, the priest behind the project. The more modest building you see now was begun after his death and consecrated in 1968. Fr. Lopes is buried in the graveyard but still remembered in the name of a local road. The new church was turned round with an altar at the west end. The east end now has the font and a bowl of Holy Water just inside the door for use as a reminder of baptism.

Web: Parish History

ALTAR AND LECTERN Walking up the church to the sanctuary step, you will see the main altar where the priest takes bread and wine at Mass and calls upon God to make it for us the Body and Blood of Jesus. The candles are a sign that this is a holy place where God becomes present. The crucifix on the wall behind the altar is a reminder that Jesus died on the cross to bring his followers to life with God. Below the crucifix are the crossed keys, symbol of our patron saint Peter. The reading desk, or lectern, is where passages from the Bible are read out.
TABERNACLE AND SACRAMENT In the right hand corner is another altar, often used for Mass on weekdays. Behind it is a decorated cupboard, called the tabernacle, in which is kept some of the blessed Bread or Sacrament – the Body of Christ – which is taken regularly to members of the church who are sick or housebound. The tabernacle is decorated with a pelican feeding her young with her own blood: a symbol of how Christ feeds and supports us. Above it is a wooden figure of Christ in Majesty.

Web: Official Guide

STATIONS of the CROSS On the right wall is the first of 14 carvings depicting the last walk of Jesus. Here he receives his sentence from Pontius Pilate. Following the story round the church, you will see him take up his Cross, fall with it three times, meet various people, including his mother Mary, then be stripped, nailed to the cross and left to die, before being taken down into his mother's arms and put in a tomb.
STATUES Walking round you will see a statue of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus and so the Mother of God. Following the words of Jesus from the cross, we honour her as our Mother and ask her to pray for us. We light a candle as a sign that she never stops praying, even when we do. The statue of Jesus in a red robe, showing his heart, is a reminder that he is eternally pouring out his love for those who are prepared to receive him.
ST PETER, THE CONFESSIONAL Above the door to the left of the organ is a picture of St Peter, holding his keys - a reminder that Jesus gave him the keys of the kingdom and task of leading the church. A further door leads into the Confessional, where people kneel or sit to share their lives in prayer and in complete confidence with the priest.

Web: Official website

The Tolkien Room