The Chapel of The Holy Trinity

Steeped in family history, the original Chapel of the Holy Trinity was built in the late 13^th Century on the site of a prehistoric Stone Circle.

Look closely at the southeast corner and you will see that it rests upon one of these mystical stones – a symbol of Christianity adopting the ancient site as its own.

Once inside, sunlight floods through the superb stained glass, lighting the chapel and allowing visitors to see Graham Greene’s great gift, a series of artworks called ‘Stations of the Cross’ by Jozef Janas, a Polish prisoner of war in World War II.

Only two other British chapels have always been catholic and we’re proud to say that mass and weddings continue to be celebrated here to this day.

Mass is held every Sunday at 10.30 am – Everyone is welcome

An additional Family Mass is held at 9.30am on most third Sundays of each month

Mass is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month by one of the Jesuit Priests at Campion Hall, Oxford

Mass on all other Sundays is celebrated by Father Andrew Foster, Parish Priest of Watlington Roman Catholic Parish

The Family Mass is celebrated by Father Dermot Power

Holy Week Services 2024

Palm Sunday -Sunday 24th March

Mass 10.30 and distribution of palms

Celebrant Father Andrew Foster

Maundy Thursday – Thursday 28th March

Mass of the Last Supper – 7pm

Celebrant from Campion Hall – Oxford

Good Friday – Friday 29th March

Solemn Liturgy 3pm

Celebrant from Campion Hall – Oxford

Holy Saturday – Saturday 30th March – 7.30pm

Please contact the Parish of St Edmunds Campion, Watlington (01491) 612431

Easter Sunday – Sunday 31st March

Mass 10.30am

Celebrant Father Andrew Foster

Confessions are heard half an hour after each Mass by arrangement

“Here in this chapel we are confronted by an awesome continuity of human experience…on this rock of one family’s enduring faith in good times and bad has indeed been built a church…”

Rt Revd Lord Runcie, late Archbishop of Canterbury

“Stonors have lived at the spot for eight and a half centuries defying Reformation and revolution. Mass has always been celebrated in the place.”

Simon Jenkins, England’s Thousand Best Houses.

St Edmund Campion

Stonor is closely associated with St. Edmund Campion, martyred in 1581. He was a Londoner, and a leading Oxford academic of the day, ordained a Catholic Priest and Jesuit on the Continent who had answered the call of the Pope to volunteer to work on ‘The English Mission’.

Already known to the Stonor family, he was given refuge here in 1581 to print in the greatest secrecy a pamphlet describing ‘Ten Reasons’ why the historical Catholic faith should be preferred over the teachings of the newly Established Church. The rooms used to print this work can be seen, along with an exhibition describing St. Edmund Campion’s life and death.

Click here for more information on St Edmund Campion

Renovation

In 2014 the Chapel received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to re-tile the Chapel and Clock Tower roofs, and improve the building’s rain water system.

The Chapel Restoration Fund has also gratefully received grants from The J Paul Getty Jnr Trust, The Country Houses Foundation, The Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, The Garfield Weston Trust, The All Churches Trust and donations from regular worshippers.

Work, carried out by traditional craftsmen, included weather proofing the Chapel, faithfully reusing or replicating existing material.