St Ebbs © David

ST EBBE'S

This Parish, to the south of the City Centre, was united with
that of St Budoc in about 1265. It extended beyond the town wall
as far as the north bank of the Thames. St Ebbe, to whom the
Church was dedicated in about 1005, was a 7th - century Saint,
daughter of the King of Northumbria, By 1279 property built in St
Ebbe's was inhabited by the poorer townsfolk. From the 13th
century the area was occupied by the BLACKFRIARS and GREYFRIARS, who built two large Churches and Priories. Greyfriars Abbey was erected next to the Present St EBBE'S Church. Perrings' furniture shop in LITTLEGATE STREET was built over some of the Foundations of the abbey. At the time this shop was built, bases of the abbey pillars and some walls 9 feet thick were discovered.

It was because of the association of the friars with St Ebbe's that the modern inhabitants and the district itself came to be known as the Friars, and until recently there was an annual party at which former residents of the Friars came together for a reunion.

ST EBBE'S CHURCH Pennyfarthing place.
The Present Church Stands on the site of one dedicated in about 1005 to Ebbe, a 7th century Saint, the daughter of Aethelfrith, King of Northumbria, and sister of the Northumbria kings Oswald and Oswy. Becoming a nun, she founded a nunnery at Ebchester, on the Derwent, and was later Abbess of a 'double' Monastery, containing both Monks and nuns, at Coldingham (St Abb's Head) on the coast of Berwickshire.

In 1864 the advowson was sold to the Earl of Shaftesbury, passing later to the Oxford Churches Trust to ensure the continuance of an evangelical Ministy, which continues at the present time. Part of the tower fell down in 1648 and the whole church was repaired in 1696. Despite further repairs, by 1813 its condition had become dangerous and it was demolished. Rebuilt and enlarged in Early English Style to the designs of William Fisher, it was reopened in 1816 and further enlarged and further enlarged in 1862 and 1868 by G.E. Street, the diocesan
architect, who added a south aisle, created a north aisle by arcading, and rebuilt the top stage of the tower.

The original rectory-house recorded in 1324 and 1352 was ruinous by about 1520 and demolished in 1790. In 1854-5 a house was built in PARADISE SQUARE to the designs of G.E. Street, enlarged in 1869. It was replaced in 1971 by a new rectory - house built in Roger Bacon Lane, PENNYFARTHING PLACE, to the design of K.C.White and Partners. The adjoining Parish Centre was completed in 1974.

to be continued . . .