St Thomas the Martyr Oxford

St Thomas the Martyr Oxford The 12th century mother church of west Oxford, under the patronage of St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1100s.

A fascinating history, standing at the gateway to a busy city The 12th century mother church of west Oxford, under the patronage of St Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, martyred in 1170. St Thomas the Martyr was in the forefront of the Tractarian and Ritualist Movements. Today the parish is served by clergy from the parish of St Barnabas with St Paul, which was itself created out of the anc

ient parish of St Thomas the Martyr in the mid-19th century. Mass is said on Wednesday and Friday at 12.30, and on Saturday at 5:30 there is a quiet candle-lit vigil service of reflection and sacramental devotion in preparation for Sunday. Details of services throughout the two parishes can be found in the weekly bulletin at www.achurchnearyou.com/oxford-st-barnabas-jericho

02/08/2026
During the remainder of July through until mid September we will have some extra services at St Thomas the Martyr. Morni...
19/07/2026

During the remainder of July through until mid September we will have some extra services at St Thomas the Martyr. Morning Prayer on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9.30am and an extra weekday Mass - Tuesday at 10am. Wednesday Mass at 12.30pm continues as usual. All are welcome

13/07/2026

Tucked beside Oxford railway station, this Church of England parish church, St Thomas the Martyr, has roots stretching back to the 12th century, when it began as a chapel at the gate of Osney Abbey. The oldest surviving part is the Norman chancel, with its three Norman windows and a priest’s door dating from 1250, while the nave and tower date from the mid-15th century. The church is dedicated to Thomas Becket, and local tradition holds that Becket himself once travelled through the parish on journeys between Beaumont Palace and Osney Abbey.

Beyond its architecture, the churchyard is a quiet retreat right in the city, with graves including Victorian prison reformer Felicia Skene and former Oxford Lord Mayor Olive Gibbs.

🗓️ Saturday 12 September | 10:00-18:00 | Drop-in
🗓️ Sunday 13 September | 13:00-16:00 | Drop-in
♿ Partial disabled access (flat surface entrance)

https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/st-thomas-the-martyr-1.html

The full programme of Oxford Open Doors events will be available on the OPT website from Monday 20 July.

Our Lady’s Lace in the Churchyard.
07/05/2026

Our Lady’s Lace in the Churchyard.

Happy New Year. The light in the sanctuary from the south chancel window
01/01/2026

Happy New Year. The light in the sanctuary from the south chancel window

A blessed Feast to all.
29/12/2025

A blessed Feast to all.

Address

Becket Street
Oxford
OX11JL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 7pm

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