Wrist Bone from St. Peter's of the East

Wrist-Bone, (Radius) collected, 19th century. From the monastery of the Cathedral of St. Peter’s of the East, Oxford.

Like so much that is worth seeing in Oxford, St. Peter's-in-the-East is hidden away. It is in a peaceful walled enclosure down a little lane which is like what Oxford used to be before the petrol age. Its ancient churchyard is overhung by the trees of New college garden. Its old tombstones, many of them well carved with Georgian lettering and devices, are mercifully spared much intrusion of white Victorian marble. And it preserves a village quiet. It is even older than the old buildings which surround it...The church is not merely a museum for the research of antiquarians. It is a parish church, which is, for all its remoteness, very much alive.” —Sir John Benjamin, in his foreword to the last church guide.

St Peter's is traditionally held to be named after the 5th century church of S. Pierre in Vincoli in Rome. When the church of St Peter-le-Bailey was built in the castle precincts, it was renamed St Peter in the East being located near the east gate of the city. Those Norman parts of the present church were built around 1140 by Robert D'Oilly, the then Governor of Oxford. However, there was a church of St Peter's in Oxford before this one, mentioned in the Domesday Book (ca. 1085): The 12th century church was made up of the crypt, the chancel and the nave, ending just beyond the South Door. To mark the connection to S. Pietro in Vincoli the Chancel vaulting depicts St. Peter's chains.

re;018.1515;st