OXFORD DIOCESE PILGRIM PROJECT
St MICHAEL, STANTON COURT
St Michael, Stanton Harcourt, mentioned in the Domesday Book, lies in a bend of the River Thames. St Michael’s church is thought to have been built in 1130 by Queen Adeliza, the second wife of Henry I, who owned the Manor. The church is famous for the shrine of the AngloSaxon female saint St Edburg, rescued in 1537 from Bicester Priory during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In the late 12th century Queen Adeliza granted
On the extreme right of the screen are two
the manor of Stantone to her kinswoman
panels which escaped the attentions of the
Millicent, wife of Richard de Camville. Their
Puritans and retain their original paintings.
daughter Isabel married Robert de Harcourt bringing the manor as her dowry. The Harcourt
You may like to reflect on all those hundreds
family have been associated with the village
of people who have prayed in this place over
ever since. The Manor House has its own chapel
the years. Pray for the continued witness of the
and the only conical roofed kitchen in England.
church within the community today.
These are no longer open to the public. The Harcourt Chapel (which is kept locked) St Michael’s church is cruciform in shape,
was added to the church c. 1470, probably
Norman, Early English and Perpendicular in
commissioned from William Orchard, master-
architecture. The church was extensively altered
mason by Sir Robert Harcourt, High Steward
in the 13th century. The chancel is divided from
of the University from 1446. It houses many
the nave by an Early English Rood Screen which
impressive Harcourt monuments including
is unique, for it is the oldest surviving wooden
Margaret who, unusually for a woman, wears
screen in England and dates from the 13th
the Garter, above her left elbow. On the outside
century. The hinges, bolt and lock are original.
south wall of the church is an epitaph written by
Alexander Pope who was sitting in the tower of the Harcourt Manor Chapel and witnessed two lovers struck dead by lightening. Give thanks for the craftsmanship that has gone into this building and its furnishings. Thank God for the gift of creativity which enriches our churches. is in the south transept). On top of it will have The Shrine of St Edburg
originally stood a chest containing the relics of
St Edburg was an Anglo-Saxon saint from the
the saint. The canopy has been identified from
7th century. A daughter of King Penda of Mercia,
the heraldry displayed, dated to 1294-1317. The
Edburg was a nun for most of her life. The upper
lower section visible is not the original base but
part of the monument is the exceptionally
part of a later medieval tomb.
fine Purbeck marble canopy of the shrine of St Edburg, which was rescued in 1537 from Bicester
Give thanks for those who have inspired your
Priory during the Dissolution of the Monasteries,
own faith. Pray that you may be a ‘light in the
probably by Sir Simon Harcourt (whose tomb
world’ by the way you live your life.
OXFORD DIOCESE PILGRIM PROJECT
You might also like to visit other nearby churches in the Pilgrim Project:
Oxford Diocese Pilgrim Project: St Michael, Stanton Harcourt OX29 5RJ
Dorchester Abbey Ancient Abbey Church
Website: www.achurchnearyou.com/
St Peter Ad Vincula, South Newington Exceptional medieval wall paintings
stanton-harcourt-st-michael
St Margaret of Antioch, Binsey Alice in Wonderland’s treacle well
PILGRIMAGE PRAYER Pilgrim God, You are our origin and our destination. Travel with us, we pray, in every pilgrimage of faith, and every journey of the heart. Give us the courage to set off, the nourishment we need to travel well, and the welcome we long for at our journey’s end. So may we grow in grace and love for you and in the service of others. through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen
John Pritchard, Bishop of Oxford
Illustrations by Brian Hall © Diocese of Oxford