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Help save St Thomas the Martyr Church!
Donate today!

3% Cover the Fee

Urgent repairs needed

St Thomas the Martyr Church is a 12th century jewel in Oxford’s crown with a wonderful history, set near to Oxford Railway Station and the Said Business School. However, time has taken its toll, and this wonderful building is at risk with major work required to save its nave roof, and clock tower from further decline. Much modernisation work is also required internally, while externally restoration is required to the churchyard, including its graves, gates, walls and fencing.

 We have launched a £250,000 appeal and hope that you can support us. Information about donating can be found below. If you would like to hear more about the appeal or get involved in helping us to fundraise, please don’t hesitate to contact us on info@sbarnabas.org.uk

Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.

What’s on

  • 'We need to be heard' : Community meeting at St Frideswide Church

    Tuesday 9 September 7.30-9pm

    at St Frideswide’s Church, Botley Road

    More details

  • Sung Compline by Candelight

    Saturday 11 October at 5pm

    A simple, beautiful sung service by candlelight.

  • Candlelit Mass for All Saints' Day

    Saturday 1 November at 5pm

    Celebrate the company of all the faithful people at a special Candlelit Mass

Services at St Thomas the Martyr

Mass every Wednesday at 12.30pm
Other services announced on the ‘what’s on’ page above

Visiting the Church

  • The Churchyard is open every day all year round. There are graves of interesting local people, for example Fr Thomas Chamberain, sometime Vicar; Felicia Skene (Victorian prison reformer, philanthropist and author); and Olive Gibbs, former Lord Mayor of Oxford

  • Regrettably the Church building is only open at times of worship, usually from 12noon - 1.15pm on Wednedays and Fridays.

Baptisms & Weddings

St Thomas Becket window

St Thomas the Martyr Church in Oxford dates from 1190. It is one of the oldest Churches in Oxford

The Church is named after St Thomas Becket who was murdered whilst praying in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170.

Throughout its 830 year history, St Thomas’s has seen an array of colourful, controversial and captivating characters both as Vicars of the parish and as worshippers in the Church. Most notable amongst them is Robert Burton, author of The Anatomy of Melancholy who was Vicar from 1618 until his death in 1640. You can read more about the history of the Church by clicking here

Worship continues each week, and St Thomas’s now the Chapel-of-Ease of St Barnabas Jericho, which is the Parish Church a short walk away.

The Bells

You will often hear the beautiful ring of bells coming from the bell-tower at St Thomas the Martyr.

There is a short video to the right where you can hear a bell-ringing practice in February 2022