ABINGDON BELLS: Church & Tower2 THE CHURCH AND TOWER (history)
2.1 Prettily situated at the end of a lane leading from the town towards the river Thames, St.Helen's church (grid reference SU497967) stands on the west side of St.Helens Street. There has been a church on this site since Anglo-Saxon times and the oldest parts of the present building date from eleventh century. The body of the church is unusual as it has five compartments or aisles and it is wider than it is long. The present nave dates from the fifteenth century and the aisles are of the sixteenth century, the outer south aisle having been built in 1539. The church has a number of memorable features. These include the painted and panelled roof of the inner north aisle or Lady Chapel, dating from 1391, and various eighteenth century fittings including the Mayor's seat and sword rest, the organ case and the chandeliers.
2.2 The church was extensively restored and remodelled under Henry Woodyer in 1869-73 at a cost of £7,021. The work included the rebuilding of the chancel, reconstruction of the nave clerestory and roof, and other work on the walls, windows and roof structures. Woodyer was also responsible for refitting the chancel, for re-seating the nave and for the Victorian embellishment of the interior. Later in the century, in 1897, G.F. Bodley designed the reredos and Lady Chapel Altar. There are stained glass windows of 1889-1914 by C.E. Kempe.
2.3 Funds are currently being raised for a major reordering of the church to make the building more suitable for the needs of modern worship and to facilitate the use of the space for community events and activities. Although separately funded, the work on the bells is part of this renewal project for the building as a whole. The phased programme of work on the church is already in progress.
© Copyright 2006, Chris Pickford