IT was good to read in the Bicester Advertiser of February 1 that the old St Edburg’s School building is being brought back into use, albeit temporary.

It is an important part of the history of the town and of the church.

It is well documented that the need for a school for all was recognised by Rev John William Watts (vicar of Bicester from 1843 to 1881) and that, along with Charles Fowler, of Whitelands Farm, Kings End, he led the fund-raising efforts to make this become a reality.

It is perhaps less well known that the land on which it was built was generously donated by Sir Edward Page-Turner.

At the laying of the foundation stone for the school, which took place on July 6, 1858, (the actual date of 14th on the stone is incorrect), Watts ‘gladly seized the opportunity of publicly thanking Sir Edward for his kindness in freely granting the land for the site of the building.’ (Jackson’s Oxford Journal July 10, 1858).

The National Schools for boys and girls, as it was then called, opened on June 1 the following year, with 300 pupils.

It was enlarged and altered several times, becoming known as the Elementary School, then the Church of England Primary School and finally re-named St Edburg’s School by the Bishop of Oxford in 1962.

The Turner (later Page-Turner), family have been very generous to Bicester over the years, donating land for other purposes too, including the cemetery.

They have been, and remain, patrons of St. Edburg’s Church, so it is appropriate that several of them are buried there, the family vault being underneath the chancel floor.

There is a large and impressive monument to Sir Edward and Lady Cassandra Turner near the vestry, which originally stood in the chancel.

Other members of the family are commemorated in some of the stained glass windows. The large and colourful East window, representing the Ascension of Christ, was given in memory of Sir Gregory and Lady Helen Page-Turner.

In August 1878 two new windows were added to the chancel, dedicated to members of the family. One, a three light window with tracery, shows scenes relating to the resurrection of Christ: ‘Journey to Emmaus’, ‘Angels at the tomb’, and ‘Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene.’

This was erected in memory of Sir Edward Henry Page-Turner by his three sisters.

The other was a two-light representing two stages in the Passion of Christ: ‘Agony in the Garden’ and ‘Christ bearing his Cross.’

This was to remember Sir Edward George Thomas Page-Turner and his wife Sophia. But this second window is no longer in the church.

In 1947 the Vicar, Rev Charles Paul Cowland-Cooper, decided more light was needed in the sanctuary, and he proposed that this window be removed and replaced with one of plain glass.

The plan was that the coloured glass be moved elsewhere, but did this actually happen? The window was taken out early in 1948, but there is no record of where the old glass went or how it was re-used.

We unfortunately have no photograph either of this window before it was dismantled.

We can assume it was similar in colour and style to the resurrection window, put in at the same time and both made by Meyer and Co. of Munich and London. If anyone can help to solve the mystery we would love to hear from you.