bookings: We are currently taking booking requests
- about the spaces
- notes for hirers
- how to book
- about equipment
- our green credentials
- are you new to us? read this
about the spaces
the church: nave, chancel, balcony
Fire regulations capacity: 150 (nave/chancel), plus 40 (with balcony)
Briefly: The space is modelled on the structure (but not necessarily the scale) of medieval banquet halls - like the one at Winchester housing King Arthur's Round Table. These details, and the quality of the craftsmanship, make this an excellent venue for weddings and blessings, celebrations, group work, and live entertainment.
More:The space comprises the main nave and chancel areas with double doors opening onto a foyer/vestibule. It is situated in the original part of the building, dating from 1914, and represents an excellent example of the Gothic style as reimagined in the Art Nouveau/Arts and Crafts era. The Nouveau stained-glass window above the chancel is exceptional. The balcony and vestibule space was added in the early 1960's (designed in the 1950's).
the hall
Fire regulations capacity: 50
Briefly: The space comprises the hall, and includes use of the kitchen with free FairTrade tea, coffee, and sugar. This functional space is ideal for group work, meetings, and receptions. With black-out, it also makes an ideal venue for presentations and video. The hall predates the 1960's vestible extension.
the bill thomson room
Fire regulations capacity: 15
Description: A modern committee room, brightly decorated, with comfortable seating, flip-charts and pens, and halogen lighting.
notes for hirers
All hirers, upon confirmation of booking, must download the relevant Notes for Hirers as these form part of the hire contract. Links to these will be sent to you with the confirmation. If you prefer, you can request to read the notes prior to entering into an agreement. They include guidelines about your own legal obligations, including important information about fire safety, which you may want to look at now.
how to book
- decide which space you are interested in hiring
- check rough availability for the dates you have in mind
- get in touch either through the correct booking request form, or the enquiry email address.
- Registered charity, non-profit-making organisation, educational institution (or affiliated to), church group, NGO, or charity-rates entitled, go to charity rate booking process. Give as much information as you can to help us determine your charity eligibility.
- All other organisations should use the business rate process.
- If your enquiry is more general, email buildings AT saintcolumbas.org (replace the AT with @).
about equipment
pa system
An on-site PA system can be made available, which saves going to other parties to hire equipment, and risk of damage while moving hired equipment from the place of hire to our venue and back again. However, our hire rates for use of such equipment are not competetive. Please send a general enquiry to find out more.
pa system technical specifications
Nothing of value is kept on-site.
- 2x EVPX12 speakers
- 1x EMX212S Yamaha mixer
- 2x Stagg Speaker Stands
- 1x Stagg + 1x standard mic boom
- 2x mics (one Wharfedale DM)
- cables
digital projector
We have access to a digital projector, for use by groups reporting to our church meeting. This is not currently available to users of the building from outside the church.
our green credentials
what we do
- our carefully selected electricity supplier is moving towards 100% renewable energy. In the mean time it is investing profits in the construction of wind farms.
- our website is solar powered
- we use energy-saving lights throughout our building wherever we can currently do so (not everywhere)
- the buildings administration is aiming to be paperless
- we display practical literature in our vestibule/foyer about living a more environmentally sensitive life
what we encourage you to do
- leave small unbroken glass or plastic items at the recycling point in the kitchen
- take all recyclable waste away with you, and recycle it
- switch off all lights and appliances used when leaving
new to us?
Hire of our spaces is an extension of the St Columba's URC mission to Oxford city area. What is on offer is a share in our mission (see about us, and vision). For this reason we accept bookings (especially recurrent bookings) based on how closely the aims of the hirer meet with the aims of our missioning to the city. Since we receive more requests than we have space to accommodate, this also helps us to prioritise requests.
St Columba's URC is a prime venue in the heart of Oxford city offering three different venue spaces, on-location PA system at cost, and FairTrade tea and coffee for users of the hall.
