The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Iffley is a
Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britai ...
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activitie ...
in the village of
Iffley
Iffley is a village in a designated Conservation Area in Oxfordshire, England. It lies within the boundaries of the city of Oxford, between Cowley and the estates of Rose Hill and Donnington, and in proximity to the River Thames (Isis). A nota ...
,
Oxfordshire,
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
, now absorbed as a suburb of the city of
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the Un ...
.
History

The
Romanesque church was built c.1160 by the St Remy family, probably financed with funds from the de Clintons of
Kenilworth Castle.
The Early Gothic east end was extended in c.1230, when a cell was constructed on the south side for the
anchoress
In Christianity, an anchorite or anchoret (female: anchoress) is someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, or Eucharist-focused life. While anchorites are ...
Annora.
The building has not been changed much over the centuries, retaining its round-arched windows and doorways. It is
Grade I listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Ire ...
.
The church includes a stained glass window by the 20th-century artist
John Piper and another by
Roger Wagner
Roger Wagner, KCSG (January 16, 1914 – September 17, 1992) was an American choral musician, administrator and educator. He founded the Roger Wagner Chorale, which became one of America's premier vocal ensembles.
Early life
Wagner was born in L ...
.
See also
*
List of churches in Oxford
References
Further reading
*
External links
St Mary's Iffley website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iffley, Mary the Virgin
12th-century church buildings in England
12th-century establishments in England
Church of England church buildings in Oxford
Grade I listed buildings in Oxford
Grade I listed churches in Oxfordshire
English churches with Norman architecture