Oxford Timeline

Here we present a brief outline of the history of the Church and the City, intertwined as they are. For more detail about the Church please see our History page here.

900	A river crossing for oxen began around this time: ‘Oxnaford’.
1000	Earliest parts of the current Church building originates around this time.
1040	Saxon Tower completed as a defence structure.
1086	Domesday Book mentions St Michael’s and two priests’ houses.
1096	University of Oxford – first evidence of teaching in this town.
1191	Charter granted by Henry II gave freedoms to the City equivalent to those enjoyed in London. Various religious houses were founded subsequent to this and these are still in evidence today.
1258	Provisions of Oxford – constitutional reforms (a baronial council) building on Magna Carta to limit Henry III’s authority – Simon de Montfort leading the barons.
1290	Edict of Expulsion. Edward I decrees that all Jews are to leave the country. Oxford’s Jewish population had already diminished earlier in that century and the last Jewish families now departed. Great Jewry Street became St Aldate’s, the land passing to Balliol College and then later to Christ Church.
1348	Plague reaches Oxford in November, raging until June 1349.
1404	Churchwardens accounts kept from this year (some still on display in our treasury).
1555	Martyrdom of Bishops Latimer and Ridley in Broad Street.
1556	Martyrdom of Archbishop Cranmer in Broad Street.
1642	Oxford becomes the country’s capital under Charles I.
1656	Cromwell permits Jews to return to England. A small community develops around St Clement’s.
1665	Plague in London and Charles II flees to Oxford. Parliament sits at Oxford in October.
1726	John Wesley preaches the Michaelmas Day sermon in the Church.
1771	Demolition of the North Gate and Bocardo prison.
1859	Wedding of William Morris and Jane Burden at St Michael’s.
1865	Oxford School of Art founded.
1953	Fire destroys much of the Church.
1954	Church reconstruction and renovation completed.
1971	St Michael’s becomes the City Church of Oxford. This honour was previously held by St Martin’s, Carfax (1122-1896), and then All Saints’, High Street (1896-1971). St Martin’s has been demolished and All Saints is now Lincoln College Library. All three churches formed one benefice over the centuries; only St Michael’s survives as a functioning church.
1986	Restoration of the Saxon Tower completed and opened to visitors.
1992	Oxford Brookes University given its charter; began as OSA in 1865.
1994	Visitor Centre opened to the public.
2019	Our new vicar, The Revd Anthony Buckley was inducted.
2020-2021	Pandemic.
2040	We are excited about the upcoming 1000 year anniversary of the Tower. Plans are already underway!