276

This is the page for 276 Cowley Road.

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2017: The newly refurbished church hall

This site incorporates the church hall (visible from the road) and vicarage behind.

2000s - 2011

No 276a was the address of Asylum Welcome charity

The Church Hall

2015-present

The Church hall, formerly known as the SS Mary & John Church Hall, reopened in 2015 following a two-year refurbishment . It was renamed Richard Benson Hall, after Father Richard Meux Benson, founder of the parish and of the Cowley Fathers who was also responsible for a number of socially-minded projects in OX4 .

The hall features a striking neo-Gothic window facing the street. It also has low, sweeping roofs and a prominent chimney, in the Arts and Crafts style (see also 95 Cowley Road for a brilliant, slightly later example in a similar vein).

Before then

Comedy legend Ronnie Barker, who died in 2005, made his debut performance here in the church hall.

The Vicarage

1901-present

2017: The 1901 Vicarage, viewed from the churchyard, still looks good as new.

2017: Arts and Crafts features - red roofs, white render and stone details.

Behind the hall, not fully visible from the road is the vicarage. It was designed by Ninian Comper and built in 1901, displaying striking Arts & Crafts influences with its white rendered walls and stone detailing. It is best viewed from the graveyard behind, when on sunny days its bold shapes make a dazzling show against the blue sky.

 

Before then?

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