Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

 

A visit to Christ Church Cathedral has been a long time coming, I've wanted to visit for years but never seem to have the time. After visiting may other churches in Oxford I thought it was time I went along and did a visit. This was my first visit of the year to a church which unlike others I have been to so I will show them as I walked around the place. Get a coffee and cake for this one

 The cathedral from the walk through the grounds 

 From St Aldates 

I nearly walked past the entrance but stopped to look at these plaques which were the Roll of Honour for WWII

On the other side another for WWI

It was then I saw the entrance to the Cathedral

 My first look inside, the lady in front is one of the guides who will take you round if you book

You follow the sign which turns left where you are faced with this stained glass window the fist of many you will see

If you look left the wall is covered in memorials and a stained glass window

It looks quite dark

Memorials that are on the wall

As you walk along the aisle you cannot help see the windows 

They are well worth looking at

Memorial below the window

Next one along

And the next with memorials

The glass I have to say looks quite modern

Two more memorials which look like are covered in gold leaf

 

Into the chapel to see the shrine

 

How many people look up to see the Quadriparitite vaulting 

Brass on the floor making prominent people buried there 

Should have checked who this was

The shrine of St Frideswide 

You could say she was a local saint, there is a church named after her in Osney and she died at Binsey not far away

The stained glass window at the end of the chapel 

Nearby is a statue which may represent St Frideswide 

Nearby is this magnificent tomb

Further along another with an effigy on top

It depicts a Lady in repose

The tomb effigy of the lady

The side which I find quite incredible the color has lasted 

This one is in another chaplel

The gent looks to have a well worn face

There is a stunning stained glass window to see in the chapel 

Along with another effigy of a knight

On a nearby pillar a couple of memorials of people who did not want to be forgotten about

The guy looks very serious

In one of the chapels three women were making a kneeler, a huge one

And in another chapel more stained glass of I'm quite sure William Morris 

The chapel is beside the tomb we saw earlier 

Where you find more floor tombs

Another chapel next door

Along with another window to view

Into the chancel and the altar 

With a stunning reredos behind

You need to look up at the ceiling it is stunning

Covering the whole chancel

Choir stalls

With chairs on each side

The carvings on the choir stalls are amazing

Eagle lectern

The pulpit with it's tester

Now this I found out was made for Charles I when he made Oxford his HQ in the civil war, it is reserved for only the Monarch 

The organ really stands out, you can see the entrance through the doorway and is where I took this first photo of the cathedral from

Nice memorial showing the bust of the person it in remembering

Another more elaborate one with coat of arms

Collage showing some older memorials

Stained glass lancet

The huge rose window of the chancel

Its stunning is all I can say

Below it two single windows

Going next door to another chapel you see campaign flags hanging there 

From what I'm told they are from the Peninsular War as show the battle honours, th eodd one is top left which is Banner of Prince Paul, Regent of Yugoslavia

I should have noticed the head in the photo but I was trying to show the windows above

Nearby is this chapel

 

Which has another stunning Morris window in it

 

It's a regimental chapel for the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

More beautiful stained glass

 Commemoration of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

There are lots of memorials to look at

Memorials of people I have never heard of

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry memorials

Closer view of the memorial

The stunning Morris window

Below which is this altar and  Reredos 

The beautiful reredos

Priests chairs

Banner of St Frideswide

Another tomb

Memorial

Lots of memorials

Skull on another 

Stunning stained glass window

Large memorial

I'm guessing this is the font

Memorial with a couple sharing a skull

The aisle here is the way out

But its the Morris window at the end I liked

Memorial with a bust

Another dated 1688

South Africa war memorial

Second one nearby

Memorial to Maurice Fredrick Lathy MA

Samuel Wilberforce Bishop of Oxford

Stained glass 

From the tomb of Ela countess of Warwick, she was buried in Osney Priory

 

I would read it but it's in Latin though I can see the y died in 1620

The pulpit, have to wonder if Samuel Wilberforce stood in it to preach

 

Tester above

 

Last look through the asile

And out of this stunning doorway. It was only a short visit and the accompanying recorder and headphones were not used so I fear it will be a return for me at some stage for another look

Till next time have a peaceful week