St Michael at the North Gate, Oxford
St Michael at The Northgate, Oxford
Bells of the Saxon Tower!
Beating the Bounds in Oxford, England
Every May Day the members of St. Michael at the North Gate in Oxford mark the limits of their parish by Beating the Bounds, hitting special marker stones with willow rods. This is their story.
Oxford University Church of St Mary the Virgin with philharmonic Orchestra, live in the background.
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin(St Mary's or SMV for short) is an Oxford church situated on the north side of the High Street. It is the centre from which the University of Oxford grew and its parish consists almost exclusively of university and college buildings.
St Mary's possesses an eccentric baroque porch, designed by Nicholas Stone, facing High Street, and a spire which is claimed by some church historians to be one of the most beautiful in England. Radcliffe Square lies to the north and to the east is Catte Street. The 13th century tower is open to the public for a fee and provides good views across the heart of the historic university city, especially Radcliffe Square, the Radcliffe Camera, Brasenose College and All Souls College.
A church was established on this site, at the centre of the old walled city, in Anglo-Saxontimes; records of 1086 note the church as previously belonging to an estate held byAubrey de Coucy, likely Iffley, and the parish including part of Littlemore.
In the early days of Oxford University, the church was adopted as the first building of the university, congregation met there from at least 1252, and by the early 13th century it was the seat of university government and was used for lectures and the award of degrees. Around 1320 a two storey building was added to the north side of the chancel — the ground floor (now the Vaults cafe) became the convocation house used by university parliament, and the upper storey housed books bequeathed by Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester, which formed the first university library.
When Adam de Brome became rector in 1320 the church's fortune became linked to what would later become Oriel College. In 1324 Brome founded St Mary Hall and appropriated the church's rectory house, including small tithes, oblations and burial dues for the college, an act confirmed in 1326 by the bishop, Henry Burghersh, after Brome had gotEdward II's patronage to refound the college. Brome diverted the revenues of the church to his college, which thereafter was responsible for appointing the vicar and providing four chaplains to celebrate the daily services in the church. Early provosts of the college were inducted into their stall in the church, and until 1642 fellows were required to attend services on Sundays and holy days.
St Mary's was the site of the 1555 trial of theOxford Martyrs, when the bishops Latimer andRidley and the Archbishop Cranmer, were tried for heresy. The martyrs were imprisoned at the former Bocardo Prison near St Michael at the Northgate in Cornmarket Street and subsequently burnt at the stake just outside the city walls to the north. A cross set into the road marks that location on what is nowBroad Street, the nearby Martyrs' Memorial, at the south end of St Giles', commemorates the events.
A section cut out of Cranmer's Pillar remains from the morning of Cranmer's death on 21 March 1556 when he was brought to the church for a sermon from Henry Cole, Provostof Eton College, who on Mary I's instructions, spelled out the reasons why he must die. Cranmer stood on a stage, the corner of which was supported by a small shelf cut from the pillar opposite the pulpit; withdrawing his recantations of his Reformed beliefs, he swore that when he was burnt, the hand which had signed them would be the first to burn.
Until the 17th century, the church was used not only for prayers but also for increasingly rowdy graduation and degree ceremonies. This phenomenon, The notion that 'sacrifice is made equally to God and Apollo', in the same place where homage was due to God and God alone was repugnant to William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, who in the 1630s initiated the erecting of a separate building for these ceremonies. This project was cut short by the fall of Laud and the outbreak of the English Civil War, but after the Restoration it was revived and carried through by John Fell, Dean of Christ Church, who commissioned Christopher Wren to erect what became the Sheldonian Theatre. Thereafter, the church was reserved for religious worship only.
During his time in Oxford, John Wesley often attended the university sermon, and later, as a fellow of Lincoln College preached sermons in the church, including the university sermon on Salvation by Faith on 18 June 1738 and the Almost Christian sermon on 25 July 1741. Following his denouncement of the spiritual apathy and sloth of the senior members of the University in his sermon Scriptural Christianity on 24 August 1744, he was never asked to preach there again — I preached, I suppose, the last time at St Mary's, he wrote in his journal, Be it so; I have fully delivered my soul.
In 1828 John Henry Newman became vicar and his sermons became popular with undergraduates. From the present pulpit John Keble preached the assize sermon of 14 July 1833, which is considered to have started the Oxford Movement.
Group16, Representation, Oxford Brookes, St Michaels at the Northgate
St. Michaels at the Northgate has over time lost its importance as a gateway into the city of Oxford. Once a powerful access point, the Northgate has been engulfed by the city and somewhat forgotten.
A political activist group has taken private ownership of St. Michaels Northgate and the Cornmarket Street in central Oxford.
The activist groups agendas revolve around the current privatisation of Britain's streets and the capitalist commerce that drives this.
Another of the groups agendas explores censorship, or deliberately unreported global affairs which are never publicised in the UK.
Thirdly they aim to reinstate St. Michaels Northgate as a powerful and influential building within Oxford.
They have taken it upon themselves to make a political statement. By re-introducing the historic city gate in the form of an architectural insertion they are using St. Michaels Northgate as the vehicle for exposing their political agendas.
The Gate is a Kinetic Insertion that consists of a large number of hanging pendents, which create a physical barrier stopping people from passing through.
Whenever a significant global event takes place the St. Michaels Gate will lower in a flurry of smoke engulfing the whole of Cornmarket Street, designed to shock and disorientate the public. Once the smoke starts to clear the gate will be in place and will once again restrict access to the Cornmarket street. The tower of St. Michaels will act as a beacon, sending out hacking signals to all electronic cellular devices and displaying footage and images from the action zone (global issue). The only way for the public to regain access to their phones and raise the gate is to tweet about the event, in turn raising awareness. The tweets will also in turn organically raise sections of the gate gradually reinstating the threshold through the gate.
Images will be projected onto the Tower of St Michaels to add to the power and significance of the event.
The private ownership of Cornmarket St. allows the political activist group to carry out this event as it is private land. This will raise public awareness of the issue of private ownership of perceived 'public spaces'
This will all in turn put St. Michaels back into the public's consciousness as an important and powerful building within the 21st century.
When the gate is not in use it will be a suspended pavilion generating a new 'public' space.
St Michael's Street ... Oxford Union v Oxford Gatehouse
Dunja Fehimovic, a student from the Oxford University contacted Nati Lopez in 2010 to involve her in an idea for a documentary.
When Dunja was visiting the Oxford Union and she saw the homeless people grouped outside the Gatehouse or Northgate Hall in St. Michael's St, she couldn't help to think about the irony of the situation : the same street housing door against door, the most disadvantaged and privileged individuals of our society.
Nati Lopez asked one of the 1st Year,undergraduates, Issa James for collaboration and with the help of Oxford Brookes University equipment this documentary was filmed.
This was the first filming job for Issa, and Dunja and despite the complications and vicissitudes we encountered that prevented us from being a 'perfect' job (as Issa would say now) the project ended being an interesting experience for the three of us, and Issa ended being one of the best students we ever had in our courses.
The Gatehouse, a drop-in centre for homeless people set up by churches, had been there since the early 1990's. In January 2011 ,without knowing it and right after we finished the documentary, the City council issued a statement giving them notice to move out of the building.
This documentary is now a living testament of the almost 21 years of the most peculiar co-existence between both places. Our view was to create a white canvas where we painted different characters from both sides of the spectrum emphasising its similitudes.
Extra Joy was the 2nd Prize winning award we received at the Oxford Cambridge Varsity Film Festival 2011 and being a very popular film from the audience in the competition.
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Acknowledgement:
Video: First published by Nati Lopez De Armentia Najera - May 2013
bit.do/dreaming_spires_uk
St Michael's Street Documentary@Oxford©2010
Dunja Fehimovic, a student from the Oxford University contacted Nati Lopez in 2010 to involve her in an idea for a documentary. When Dunja was visiting the Oxford Union and she saw the homeless people grouped outside the Gatehouse or North gate Hall in St. Michael's St she couldn't help to think about the irony of the situation : the same street housing door against door, the most disadvantaged and privileged individuals of our society.
Nati Lopez asked one of the 1st Year,undergraduates, Issa James for collaboration and with the help of Oxford Brookes University equipment this documentary was filmed. This was the first filming job for Issa, and Dunja and despite the complications and vicissitudes we encountered that prevented us from being a 'perfect' job (as Issa would say now) the project ended being an interesting experience for the three of us, and Issa ended being one of the best students we ever had in our courses.
The Gatehouse, a drop-in centre for homeless people set up by churches had been there since the early 1990's and In January 2011 ,without knowing it and right after we finished the documentary the City council issued a statement giving them notice to move out of the building.
This documentary is now a living testament of the almost 21 years of the most peculiar co-existence between both places.
Our view was to create a white canvas where we painted different characters from both sides of the spectrum emphasising its similitudes.
Extra Joy was the 2nd Prize winning award we received at the Oxford Cambridge Varsity Film Festival 2011 and being a very popular film from the audience in the competition.
Oxford, United Kingdom
A short trip through Oxford. You can see Christ Church where the Hall Staircase and sorrounding ateas were used in Harry Potter films. Year: 2002.
Cornmarket Street - Oxford - UK
Oxford Cornmarket
By the Northgate Anglo-Saxon tower.
iPhone 3G S video clip
St Mary the Virgin Church - Oxford University
St Mary the Virgin Church - Oxford University 25/02/2015
BBC Oxford: British/German family needs certainty over their future
Ursula, a German national, who married a British national and lived in the UK for over 40 years, returned to Germany a few years ago to look after her mother. She then became sick herself in Germany and recently had to have a major operation. Although now rehabilitating and learning to walk again, she is very concerned over her future and whether she'll be able to return to the UK. She's concerned that if she stays in Germany, who will cover her healthcare, especially in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit. Ursula, who paid her UK tax and social security all her working life says: I feel cheated, I feel betrayed that what i thought was a good situation has been taken away from me now. She's worried in the case of a 'no deal' that she may not be able to apply for UK settled status, because she needs to continue her treatment in Germany. Rebekka, Ursula's daughter, who has been back and forth looking after her mother, says candidly: I'm tired and I'm stressed about it ... I know people are feeling depressed and going to see mental health therapists. I have a strong faith in God and that's what's carrying me through at the moment, but otherwise I'm really, really tired of it.
Luridel in England: University Stories
From the Berkeley Carroll Upper School Choir's concert tour in England.
Francis King of St. Michael at the North Gate in Oxford tells us stories about his university days.
Oxford Brookes University, Representation, Group 16
St. Michaels at the Northgate has over time lost its importance as a gateway into the city of Oxford. Once a powerful access point, the Northgate has been engulfed by the city and somewhat forgotten.
A political activist group has taken private ownership of St. Michaels Northgate and the Cornmarket Street in central Oxford.
The activist groups agendas revolve around the current privatisation of Britain's streets and the capitalist commerce that drives this.
Another of the groups agendas explores censorship, or deliberately unreported global affairs which are never publicised in the UK.
Thirdly they aim to reinstate St. Michaels Northgate as a powerful and influential building within Oxford.
They have taken it upon themselves to make a political statement. By re-introducing the historic city gate in the form of an architectural insertion they are using St. Michaels Northgate as the vehicle for exposing their political agendas.
The Gate is a Kinetic Insertion that consists of a large number of hanging pendents, which create a physical barrier stopping people from passing through.
Whenever a significant global event takes place the St. Michaels Gate will lower in a flurry of smoke engulfing the whole of Cornmarket Street, designed to shock and disorientate the public. Once the smoke starts to clear the gate will be in place and will once again restrict access to the Cornmarket street. The tower of St. Michaels will act as a beacon, sending out hacking signals to all electronic cellular devices and displaying footage and images from the action zone (global issue). The only way for the public to regain access to their phones and raise the gate is to tweet about the event, in turn raising awareness. The tweets will also in turn organically raise sections of the gate gradually reinstating the threshold through the gate.
Images will be projected onto the Tower of St Michaels to add to the power and significance of the event.
The private ownership of Cornmarket St. allows the political activist group to carry out this event as it is private land. This will raise public awareness of the issue of private ownership of perceived 'public spaces'
This will all in turn put St. Michaels back into the public's consciousness as an important and powerful building within the 21st century.
When the gate is not in use it will be a suspended pavilion generating a new 'public' space.
Wreath laying at the Martyrs' Memorial, Oxford 21 March 2017
Wreath laying at the Martyrs' Memorial, Oxford after the annual service of the Oxford Diocese Branch of the Prayer Book Society in St Michael at the North Gate to commemorate the 461st Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer on 21 March 1556.
Walking up St Michael's Church, the oldest tower in Oxford
St. Michael's Church is the oldest tower in Oxford (1200s).
In this video, you see the path up the stairs, and the view of Oxford from the tower, in this a very beautiful day.
They also have some historical items on display on the way up. For example, the door through which Cranmer walked on his way to be burned.
(If you get vertigo, warning that I also show the steep view from the top.)
The Bells of Oxford!
Sunday afternoon bells from the top of the Exeter College garden wall.
Joel & Elphie's EuroTrip 2018 Part 1: England
05.03,2018 - Packing & Stein Tries To Tag Along in Chicago
Opening Credits/Titles
05.04.2018 - Commute to Uptown for work then Uptown to O'Hare & Boarding Norwegian Air
05.05.2018 - Flight O'Hare To Gatwick; Megabus to Swindon; Dougle Hangs in Swindon
05.06.2018 - Derry Family Barbecue & Hangs; Barbury Castle; Rave at Boston Brothers Nightclub; Korky's Kebabs
05.07.2018 - Breakfast at Sir Daniels' Arms; The Magic Roundabout of Swindon; Thatch Roofs; Atlas Obscura sites such as The Saxon Tower at St Michael at the North Gate, Ashmolean Museum, Another Time II, The Sheldonian Theatre; University of Oxford; All Souls College; Magdalen College; Addison's Walk where JRR Tolkien & CS Lewis debated God/came to faith; telephone booths; The Eagle & the Child Pub (Inklings hangout); Pusey House; picnic in a park; bus to London then to Stansted; various sights as we passed by in London like Parliament & Tower Bridge.
Soundtrack: “Trans Europe Express” by Kraftwerk, “Anarchy in the UK” by The Sex Pistols, “Release” by Afro-Celt Soundsystem w/ Sinead O’Connor, & “London Calling” by The Clash
Filmed using an iPhone 6 & 8 by Elphie & Joel A. Swanson. Titles & animations created using Motion 4 on a Macbook by Joel A. Swanson. Edited using Final Cut Pro on a Mac Mini by Joel A. Swanson
aTigerRAWkFilm.blogspot.com
Alternate link if the video is blocked for you:
Painting on top of an Oxford tower
Artist Rob Pointon talking through Oil Painting 53 of the Year of the Boat project where he has travelled around the country onboard a narrowboat painting scenes on route. This painting is on top of the saxon tower of St Michael of the Northgate church in Oxford. You can see all the paintings on the blog yearoftheboat.blogspot.co.uk or see more of Rob's work at robpointon.co.uk