St John the Evangelist Church, Oxford, Gothic church building in Iffley Road, Oxford, England.
St John the Evangelist Church is a Gothic Revival church on Iffley Road in Oxford, built between 1894 and 1896. It has side aisles, a chancel with flying buttresses, and a castellated west tower that was added in 1902.
The church was designed by architect G. F. Bodley for the Society of St. John the Evangelist, a religious community that needed its own place of worship. Since 1980, the building has served as the chapel of St. Stephen's House, an Anglican theological college in Oxford.
The stained glass windows inside were made by C. E. Kempe, a designer known for detailed figurative work in the late 19th century. On the walls, the Stations of the Cross by Edward Arthur Fellowes Prynne, created in the 1920s, are still visible today.
The building hosts both religious services and music events through SJE Arts Oxford, so opening times can vary depending on what is scheduled. Checking ahead before visiting is a good idea, as access may depend on ongoing activities.
On the day Roger Bannister attempted to run the first sub-four-minute mile in 1954 on the nearby track, the church tower flag was used to check the wind conditions. The conditions were judged good enough, and Bannister broke the record that evening.
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