Bartlemas Chapel

Image: © Tiger Taken: 22 Sep 2012

The chapel of the leper hospital of St Bartholomew, originally founded in 1126 by King Henry I. Like the similar Image in Cambridge, the hospital was placed over a mile outside the city to protect the townsfolk from infection. It passed through Adam de Brome, Vicar of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin, to his foundation of Oriel College in 1328 and the college rebuilt the chapel during the 14th century. During the Civil War, Parliamentary forces stabled horses in the chapel and melted down lead from the roof to make shot. When Oriel restored the building a more steeply-pitched roof of Cotswold slate was substituted, the original roofline still being visible in the masonry of the west gable. The chapel is of local rubble and measures approximately 35' by 16' (11m x 5m). The west gable has an opening for a bell, but this was removed by Cromwellian forces and never replaced. After long disuse the chapel was brought back into use in the early 20th century and since 1913 both Anglican and Orthodox congregations have worshipped there.

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