Welcome to the website of St Edmund Campion Roman Catholich Church.
St Edmund's is a small church, located in the tiny market town of Watlington, South Oxfordshire and is part of the Catholic Arch-Diocese of Birmingham.
The Catholic church has a vibrant history in the area and the church is dedicated to St Edmund Campion - the Jesuit priest who was sheltered at nearby Stonor Park - where the private chapel has served the Stonor family as a place of worship since the 13th century.
You can use this website to learn more about our church, to find mass times, or to contact us and we look forward to welcoming you to our community.
St Edmund's is a small church, located in the tiny market town of Watlington, South Oxfordshire and is part of the Catholic Arch-Diocese of Birmingham.
The Catholic church has a vibrant history in the area and the church is dedicated to St Edmund Campion - the Jesuit priest who was sheltered at nearby Stonor Park - where the private chapel has served the Stonor family as a place of worship since the 13th century.
You can use this website to learn more about our church, to find mass times, or to contact us and we look forward to welcoming you to our community.
About our church...The original Catholic church on this site in Watlington (pictured below) was founded in 1929 by the chaplain of the Chapel of the Sacred Heart at nearby Stonor Park, and the new church and presbytery were built in 1990.
The church is dedicated to St Edmund Campion (1540-1581), the Jesuit priest and martyr who was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn in London after he was arrested by priest-hunters and charged with high treason for his pamphlet - Decem Rationes (Ten Reasons) - which rejected the Anglican church. St Edmund was sheltered, and the pamphlet was printed, at the nearby Stonor Park manor house, one of few houses in the country to have remained Catholic through all of England's religious wars, and an original printing hangs on the wall there to this day. Hanging on the walls at St Edmund Campion church itself, you will find a number of fine artworks contributed by our parishioners including a beautiful wooden crucifix carved by Peter Foster, and a carving by Faith Faulconbridge, wife of Christopher Tolkein. 
The original church on this site. Note the buttresses holding up the walls!
About Father Michael...
Father Michael Miners ODCS moved to Watlington in the summer of 2018, having previously been parish priest at St George & St Martin Catholic Church in Stoke on Trent.
Fr. Michael (pictured right, somewhat younger than he is today!) is a member of the Order of Discalced Carmelite Friars, an ancient order dedicated to cotemplative prayer, founded in 1593. He has a passionate interest in The Great War, is an avid collector of books, has a large collection of unusual gins, and loves all things Italian... |
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Weddings, baptisms & new (or returning) parishionersWe would be delighted to welcome you and your family to our community.
If you have any questions at all about how to arrange these sacraments please don't hesitate to get in touch. |