Through out the year Oxford celebrates all kinds of eccentric traditions
that are centuries old, strange, and delightful. Today was Ascension Day -- one of those unique and wonderful days that makes one shake one's head and say, "Only in Oxford!"
Since medieval times, on Ascension day small parishes around
England enact the annual “beating of the bounds” and mark their parish’s
boundaries and jurisdiction. Only two Oxford churches now keep up the
century-old custom, the City Church of St Michael-at-the-Northgate, and the University Church of
St Mary the Virgin.
I
met up with a small group of women from the Oxford Newcomers group at St.
Michael at North Gate for a lovely Ascension Day service and to "beat the bounds".
After the service, we were given a long willow rods with which to beat the
bounds. We followed the wonderful Reverend Bob Wilkes throughout
Oxford as told us a bit about the history of the marker and area and he marked each surviving parish boundary stones and
parish marker with chalk. We in turn beat the marker and shouted "Mark,
Mark, Mark!"
When
we passed through Brasenose College,
we were served hot tea an coffee with brownies and cake in the great hall. At that
point we were all rather damp from the pouring rain and it was a delightful
break. After marking 29 boundary markers in about 2 hours, we ended up at Lincoln College and we were served a
delicious lunch in their great Hall.
After lunch there were two more century-old tradition to
watch:
1: The door between Brasenose and
Lincoln College was opened for 10 minutes -- the only time in the year when the
door is open. Students from Brasenose were
welcomed at Lincoln and offered ivy beer.
2. The Hot Penny Toss. Since the middle ages, the
heads of the colleges would invite the children of Oxford to come to the
Lincoln Quad. They would then toss scalding hot pennies from the
Lincoln College Tower and if the children scampered to pick up the pennies,
their fingers would get burned. This was supposed to teach them that greed was
not good and would burn you.
Today, pennies are still tossed from the tower but they are
no longer heated. Young students from Combe School
scampered to gather as many as they could all-the-while squealing as they were being
pelted with pennies from the height of the tower. It was
a sight to behold and a memorable ending to a delightfully eccentric day in
Oxford.
Through out the year Oxford celebrates all kinds of eccentric traditions
that are centuries old, strange, and delightful. Today was Ascension Day -- one of those unique and wonderful days that makes one shake one's head and say, "Only in Oxford!"
Since medieval times, on Ascension day small parishes around
England enact the annual “beating of the bounds” and mark their parish’s
boundaries and jurisdiction. Only two Oxford churches now keep up the
century-old custom, the City Church of St Michael-at-the-Northgate, and the University Church of
St Mary the Virgin.
I
met up with a small group of women from the Oxford Newcomers group at St.
Michael at North Gate for a lovely Ascension Day service and to "beat the bounds".
After the service, we were given a long willow rods with which to beat the
bounds. We followed the wonderful Reverend Bob Wilkes throughout
Oxford as told us a bit about the history of the marker and area and he marked each surviving parish boundary stones and
parish marker with chalk. We in turn beat the marker and shouted "Mark,
Mark, Mark!"
When
we passed through Brasenose College,
we were served hot tea an coffee with brownies and cake in the great hall. At that
point we were all rather damp from the pouring rain and it was a delightful
break. After marking 29 boundary markers in about 2 hours, we ended up at Lincoln College and we were served a
delicious lunch in their great Hall.
After lunch there were two more century-old tradition to
watch:
1: The door between Brasenose and
Lincoln College was opened for 10 minutes -- the only time in the year when the
door is open. Students from Brasenose were
welcomed at Lincoln and offered ivy beer.
2. The Hot Penny Toss. Since the middle ages, the
heads of the colleges would invite the children of Oxford to come to the
Lincoln Quad. They would then toss scalding hot pennies from the
Lincoln College Tower and if the children scampered to pick up the pennies,
their fingers would get burned. This was supposed to teach them that greed was
not good and would burn you.
Today, pennies are still tossed from the tower but they are
no longer heated. Young students from Combe School
scampered to gather as many as they could all-the-while squealing as they were being
pelted with pennies from the height of the tower. It was
a sight to behold and a memorable ending to a delightfully eccentric day in
Oxford.
Women from the Newcomers Club with their willow sticks
Walking down Cornmarket Street with Vicar Wilkes
The first boundary marker was on the wall by Boots. You can see the marking from last year, "SMNG 2014" which means St. Michael North Gate 2014.
One of the most meaningful parts of the tradition were the short prayers offered at the various markings, giving thanks for and asking for blessing upon Oxford and the people who live and work here.
One of the stone markings
Bonn Square
St. Peter's College
One of the markers in on the side of the Clarendon building
Brasenose College
Lunch at Lincoln College
Lincoln Great Hall with students from Combe School
The Hot Penny toss
Students from Brasenose at Lincoln Quad watching the penny toss and drinking ivy beer
The Route we followed:
- From St Michael’s Church down the west side of Cornmarket to the boundary stone on the wall of Boots
- Across Cornmarket to the Clarendon Centre, through Zara to St Peter’s College
- Along the city wall behind the Old Boys’ High School, then beside O’Neill’s side passageway in New Inn Hall Street to George Street
- Along George Street and Broad Street, and then down Catte Street to Brasenose College
- Across the High and down King Edward Street and along Blue Boar Lane and into the back of the Town Hall
- Across St Aldate’s and along Pembroke Street and into Marks & Spencer via the back door to reach the above boundary stone
- Through Monsoon at 35 Queen Street and back into the Clarendon Centre, across Cornmarket, the City Tavern, and the covered market to lunch in Lincoln College.
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