Oxfordshire Churches - St Mary, Banbury

The current St Mary was built in the last decade of the 18th century, being consecrated in 1797. It’s predecessor - the engraving on the left shows the west end, as far as I can tell - was said to be the largest parish church in the county.

At the time of it’s demise in 1790, a large part of it was in a bad state of repair. Accounts vary as to how much of it fell down & how much was pulled down, but what is certain is that gunpowder had to be used to demolish the more recalcitrant parts of the building.