‘The Hope Within Us’ events took place last week – organised by the churches of the Parish of Abingdon-on-Thames.
On Saturday there were two tours of St Helen’s Church.
Many Abingdon people, from generation to generation, have made their first visit to the church on being baptised at the font.
The present building began as a one aisle church, with tower, in the early thirteenth century. Four more aisles were then added to the south – the fifth and final aisle in 1539. The central aisle was subsequently made higher in Victorian times to let in more light.
The west door though the central aisle is used for other important life events. It is through this door that couples enter to be married, and from this door people are carried on their final goodbye.
Over that door St Helen is seen carrying a model of the St Helen’s Church in one hand, and a cross in the other. The Fraternity of the Holy Cross was based at St Helen’s church until being dissolved by royal decree in 1547.
It’s a bit worrying that they have to organise tours around what is probably the town’s most famous church!You don’t necessarily have to be religious to appreciate this iconic landmark by the good old Thames!
Iain correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t /wasn’t the fraternity something to do with the founding of Christ hospital ?
The Fraternity of the Holy Cross was indeed the ancestor of Christ’s Hospital. Religious Guilds like the Fraternity were a way for influential townspeople to have a part in the running of the town (bearing in mind that the landlord was the abbey). It founded the almshouses and had all kinds of functions such as the building and maintenance of the bridges.
Under Edward VI the Fraternity and all such organisations like it were closed down (we also had a Guild of Our Lady) Christ’s Hospital was effectively the acceptable Protestant solution to the loss.
Thanks Rachel