The history of the parish.

By the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries this parcel of land was in the possession of Osney Abbey and Godstow Nunnery. Thus it passed to King Henry VIII and to his physician George Owen. Then it came into the hands of Sir Thomas White, founder of St John's College, and the long association began between the college and North Oxford.

In the 19th century, further north than Norham Manor and Walton Manor, a new suburb developed at Summertown. By 1832 there were over one hundred
houses there. North Oxford proper, however, could not begin to grow until St John's College obtained an Act of Parliament in 1855, enabling it to
make 99-year leases.

Almost immediately there was a need for another parish church. The ancient church of St Giles was insufficient and, it was believed then, too far away. The foundation-stone of the new building was laid on 8th May 1860 by the famous Bishop of Oxford 'soapy' Sam Wilberforce. Exactly two years
later he returned to the parish for the consecration ceremony. The story goes that there was a dispute about which saint should be chosen for the
consecration ceremony. The issue could not be resolved even on the day itself, and so, during the ceremony the Bishop used the title 'St Philip and St James' because it took place within the octave of their feast-day.
 

With all this housing, the work of the church grew. By 1882 the need for yet another church was being actively canvassed. An old skin shed had been
converted into a mission room and used for worship since St Andrew's Day 1875 in what was called the 'Heyfield Hut district'. At the Easter Vestry of 1882 the question of building a more permanaent Mission room or Church was seriously discussed. It was a year later, on 8th May 1883 that the foundation stone of St Margaret's was laid.  Dr Gray, the Vicar of Crick in Northamptonshire and the first Vicar of the parish, returned for what he called 'the christening of little Margaret' and as the ceremony was taking place on the 21st birthday of the mother church, he said he hoped 'mother and daughter would do well'.

For the next sixty years the two churches flourished. In August 1896 two separate parishes were created and St Margaret's became a parish church in its own right. Then the congregations lived through two World Wars, the Britain of austerity and the easier years of 'never had it so good'. But the climate of opinion changed rapidly in the 'swinging sixties'. Now the Christian Faith was questioned ruthlessly both by those who believed and those who did not. 

Conventional church attendance fell away dramatically leaving 'a lean and hungry look' in place of the confidence and grandeur of earlier periods. At the same time, Christians in this country found themselves keeping company with people of other religions and cultures as folk from across the World came to live in Britain.
 

In the midst of the Centenary celebrations in 1983, the Vicar Paul Iles announced that he was leaving to become Canon Precentor of Hereford Cathedral. Bishop Patrick, under pressure to reduce clergy numbers in the Oxford Deanery, promptly suspended presentation to the benefice of St Philip and St James and St Margaret, and announced the formation of a
united benefice with St Giles'. The first Vicar of the united benefice was to be John Gawne-Cain, already part-time Priest-in-charge of St Giles'.
John and his family moved out of the St Giles' Vicarage in Norham Gardens (subsequently sold to Wycliffe Hall) and into the purpose-built St Philip
and St James Vicarage in Church Walk, equidistant between St Margaret's and St Giles'. The St Margaret's Vicarage, attached to the church, had long
ceased to be used as a vicarage, and having served a variety of purposes was in 1992 converted by the Diocese into two flats, let out by them on short leases, with an understanding that one flat is available if needed for clergy of the benefice at low rent.

St Margaret's and St Giles' share a clergy team but have chosen to lead friendly but more or less separate lives. Members of the two congregations
have from time to time worked together on community projects in the St Margaret's Institute and the St Giles' Parish Rooms. Shared services, study
groups, and social events have been a regular feature, and each Holy Week begins with a Palm Sunday procession from one church to the other followed
by a joint Eucharist and other joint services and meditations during the week. The paid clergy establishment allowed by the Diocese for the united
benefice is one incumbent plus a half-time assistant priest. John Gawne-Cain was succeeded by John Morrison-Wells in 1992, and by Andrew Bunch in 1997. Assistant Priests Serge Middleton-Dansky, Kevin Horswell, Alan Green, and Georgie Simpson (the first woman priest to serve as part of
the ministerial team) have been supplemented by full-time Deaconess Freda Beveridge (an exceptional and one-off appointment in the early years of the
benefice) and non-stipendiary ministers Michael Carmichael, David Holmes, Pete Wilcox, Herbert Clegg, Anthony Aston Smith, Michael Screech, and
Stuart Brand. Lay leadership has for long been seen as crucial at St Margaret's, and as well as Lay Readers Margaret Hollis and Pam Smith, many members of the congregation have over the years taken responsibility for areas of the church's ministry.

As well as the annual round of festivals and social gatherings, there have been a number of large-scale special projects during these years. A fund-raising appeal in 1987-88 to root out dry rot and renew the church floor featured many events including a parish pantomime. A parish mission in 1993 was led jointly by the parish and by members of the Franciscan
Order. A Millennium Drama, written, produced, directed, and acted by members of the parish and united benefice, was staged in 2001.

The choir, re-started by Paul Iles in 1980 with a new injection of children many of whom became long-term members, has subsequently been led by Martin Holmes (1982-1984 and 1986-1997), Bob Judd (1984-86), and Oliver Ranner (1998 onwards). Mixed and open to all, the choir encompasses a wide range of age and singing experience, and achieves high standards at the main Sunday Eucharist and various special services. St Margaret's is in the
unusual position of having two working pipe organs in regular use, the original instrument supplemented since 1985 by a smaller organ in the nave. Younger children, very much a feature of the congregation throughout this time, have since 1998 participated in a Friday Parent-and-toddler group, adding to the Sunday school classes and crèche which have always taken place alongside the Sunday morning service.
 

When the Building Committee had to select an architect for the new church in North Oxford, they chose a local man whose buildings were well-known in the district. H. G. W. Drinkwater produced a great variety - The Horse and Jockey pub, the School in Leckford Road, the Vicarage in Woodstock Road and
many private houses in the vicinity. What style would he use for the church? The answer was a version of the decorated style c.1300 -1330. It works well.

Drinkwater was asked to provide a church that would seat 500 people. His building is light and airy, with spaces large enough to be useful without being overpowering or dogmatic. In addition to a wide Chancel and nave, there are broad aisles, North and South, and an ample Lady Chapel which has
the advantage that it can be used as part of the Nave or not, according to need. The East End provides a fine climax to the church with its High Altar, large Triptych and colourful Jesse Window.

Tuesday 8th May 1883 fell during the week following Ascension Day. The Oxford Times reports that the weather was 'unpropitious'. Miss Bonner in her manuscript collection of historical paragraphs called it 'a miserable, wet day'. Nevertheless a large gathering assembled in the afternoon for the laying of the foundation-stone. Happily the date was the 21st anniversary of the consecration of the parish church, St Philip and St James.

The Vicar, the Revd. E. C. Dermer, had invited a former parishioner to travel from his home in Hampshire to perform the ceremony. Mr J. A.
Shaw-Stewart had been Bursar of Keble College and lived and worshipped in the parish for four years or more.

The foundation-stone weighed nearly two tons and was inscribed 'Una pretiosa margarita 1883' (One pearl of great price). In the cavity beneath the stone was placed a bottle containing a copy of the hospeller, the Morning Post, the Order of Service and some silver coins of the year.

The choir led the singing, which included Psalm 122, the hymn Christ is made the sure foundation, an Act of Dedication, Collects and the Benediction. The Vicar said, 'Here let true faith, the fear of God and brotherly love ever remain; let this place be set apart for prayer and for praise of the most holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ever liveth with the Father and the Holy Spirit, world without end.'

Afterwards all went to the School for tea and speeches. Finally there was evensong at St Philip and St James Church. The first lesson was read by the
Vicar of St Giles, the second lesson by the former vicar of the parish, the Revd. Dr J. B. Gray, and the sermon was preached by the vicar of All Saints
Church, Clifton, Bristol, the Revd. R. Randall on the text 'All power is given unto me in heaven and earth'. The collection was £17.14s which went straight into the Building Fund for the new church.

After that beginning, the building took nearly ten years to complete. The service of consecration was conducted by Bishop Stubbs on 22nd November
1893. Then in 1899 a new tower, which has never been finished (probably because the ground was unable to take the weight proposed) and which was
designed by G. F. Bodley, was started. On an occasion which can just be remembered by one or two, the foundations of the tower were laid by
Princess Louise. In 1908 a fine parsonage house was provided next to the church, also designed by Drinkwater, bringing the building programme to an
end.
 

There is good stained glass in the church. Among the earliest is 'The Good Shepherd' window in the north wall of the sanctuary. It is nicknamed the
Children's Window because it is a memorial to the man who worked so hard, before the church was opened, to build up the congregation, the Revd. C. A.
Janson. The window is by Bell and Beckenham. The five figures in the clerestory came from the workshop of Burlison and Grylls.

The most interesting glass, however, was designed by F. C. Eden. At the East End, his Jesse Window replaced a larger window in 1911, in order to
accommodate the great reredos triptych below. The earlier glass from the East Window was at one time in the West Window, but sadly most of it has disappeared. Well worth a close look is the series of three windows Eden designed for the south wall of the Lady Chapel. They are based on an
iconographic theme 'The Plan of Salvation' and picture the Nativity (Incarnation), the Crucifixion (Atonement) and Pentecost (the gift of the
Spirit to the Church).

The organ was first used on Easter Day 1892. Electric lighting was installed in 1901. Some later additions to the furnishings, after 1918, were made by F. C. Howard.

Three major fabric projects were carried out during the period following the centenary celebrations. Dry rot in the roof was dealt with and hazardous wood-block flooring replaced in 1987-88. In 1996 the font was moved from the Baptistry at the West end to a position near the main entrance and thus within the nave for the frequent Baptisms at the Sunday
morning Eucharist, and the Baptistry room roofed over and sound-proofed to provide a crèche area and meeting room. In 1998-99 the heating system, long
unequal to its task, was comprehensively overhauled and reinforced.

During the speeches at the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone, a century ago, Mr Shaw-Stewart praised St Margaret's because it was to be 'free and open'. He added that 'he trusted those living about it would use the advantage of their proximity, and not leave it to others from a distance to fill the church'. At this all the company said 'hear, hear!' In modern jargon, St Margaret's was to be a neighbourhood church. This remains its strength.