St George’s Chapel

St George’s Chapel is a quiet space set aside for stillness, prayer, and reflection. Tucked into the north transept of St Mary’s, it offers a moment of calm and a sense of shelter, whether you come for a service, to light a candle, or simply to pause in silence.

The chapel has a long and layered history. It began in the 13th century as a private chapel raised above an underground chamber known as a crypt. A crypt is a stone-built space beneath a chapel or church, often used for burials or to hold the remains of earlier generations. At that time, this chapel would have been used for daily prayers on behalf of the dead, a common practice in the medieval church. Though the crypt was filled in by the 17th century, the shape and design of the chapel still reflect its original purpose.

The east wall once held the medieval altar. Today you can still see the original stonework, three arched recesses set into the wall. Above them stands a statue of St George, added in 1956 during post war restoration work. He is shown mid stride, sword raised and shield lifted, standing over the dragon, an image of courage and the triumph of good over evil.

Beneath the statue is a small curtained recess called an aumbry. In the Anglo Catholic tradition this is where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. That term refers to consecrated bread and wine, which are believed to carry the presence of Christ after being used in Holy Communion. The aumbry is a focus for prayer and quiet adoration, and the red lamp hanging above it signals that the sacrament is present, marking this as a particularly sacred part of the church.

The large window on the north wall dates from the 14th century and is filled with 19th century stained glass showing the Christian story of resurrection, an image of hope and new life.

Set into the west wall is an inscribed Purbeck marble slab commemorating Henry Box, the 17th-century founder of Witney Grammar School. The slab was moved here following 19th-century restoration work. The more elaborate wall memorial originally stood at the east end of the north aisle but was dismantled during that restoration.

A narrow doorway beside the memorial leads to a small room above the porch, once used by a priest or possibly as a schoolroom. Beneath this part of the church, there may also once have been a charnel house, a place for storing human bones.

The chapel was rededicated to St George in the late 20th century. A wooden screen now marks out the space, and a painted crucifix helps focus the gaze toward the great north window. The two icons that now flank the statue, depicting St Luke and St Frideswide, deepen the atmosphere of prayer and reflection.

Visitors to St Mary’s Witney are encouraged to spend time in St George’s Chapel, where the icons serve as a focus for prayer and reflection.