St Barnabas' Church, Jericho

The 'Oxford Basilica', otherwise known as St Barnabas' Church in the Oxford district of Jericho, has a peculiar, Italianate style. It is surely appropriate that the city which lent its name to the campaign to re-catholicise the Church of England should have its own, purpose-built Anglo-Catholic parish church dating back to 1869. Although the externals reminded me of happy to trips to the Mediterranean, the insides were darker and mysterious, perhaps on account of the ceiling or the excessive contrast with the sunshine outside, though I note my camera seems to have compensated for the deficit of photons.

Some building work was also taking place with the chancel hosting a number of scaffolding poles. A kind of confessional had been set up, which consisted of a single chair with a small, wooden screen. I have seen large confessionals in Rome, but this, in contrast, looks like it had been done on the cheap, a smaller, easier, Anglo-Catholic alternative.  Although I have developed a respect, if not an affection, for Anglo-Catholic Christianity, which often stands firm against the unbelief and shallowness of ‘progressive theology’, it does still strike me as a Rome lite. If I want smells, bells, candles and confessionals, why not go all the way to Rome?

This has been an issue affecting a great many in the Church of England, not least John Newman, the early Oxford Tractarian and vicar who became a Roman cardinal. Even today, there seems to be a steady exodus of those who leap out of Canterbury's frying pan to feel more comfortable in Rome's fire. 

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