[63.]
Legend that St. Thomas's church was built be|tween Sept. and Dec. 1142.
Duryng [The heading in the Latin is, 'De Capella sancti Thome.' In the English MS. there is a (later) marginal note here: 'Saint Nicholas Churche.'] þe sege of þe castell of oxonforde of Kyng sthephyn, þe which moolde themperice in þe saide castell longe segid, was beeldid þe chapell of Seynte thomas (for þe parisshons of Seynte George in-to þe castell myȝht not come ne entre): and hit is to be knowe þat hit was i-beeldid vppon þe ffee of Seynte Walerye vppon þe halfe of þe x. and vij. acris þe which to vs ȝafe bernarde of Seynte Walerye, as hit is i-schewed by þe charter folowyng.
[[NOTE.—This is not the place to discuss a very interesting, but most obscure, point in Oxford topography, as to which Anthony Wood himself is more than usually hesitating (City of Oxford, ii. 112-7). Still, since it is distinctly brought up in these documents, the facts may be briefly set down. (A) Between Oxford Castle and the site of Oseney stands St. Thomas' parish church, now, and for long back, the mother church of the west suburbs of Oxford: see Map at beginning of Wood's City of Oxford, ii. (B) No. 66 describes the founding of a chapel near the gate of Oseney. Were (A) and (B) separate or the same? What were the date and occasion of their foundation and refoundation, or dates and occasions of their foundations? Oseney tradition, set out in no. 63, may at once be dismissed. Could a church have been built, on the sudden inroad of war into Oxford west suburb, between Sept. and Dec. 20, 1142? Could a church have even been begun, almost within bow-shot of a hotly-besieged castle? The most probable solution of the difficulty is to take nos. 64 and 66 together, and no. 65 as referring to a distinct building. In no. 65 we have the grant by the diocesan of a semi|domestic chapel, apparently within Oseney island, probably destroyed at the dis|solution. After Oseney, in 1152, obtained possession of St. George's in the Castle (no. 23), the abbey may reasonably be supposed to have provided a more convenient church for its large parish in the west suburb of Oxford. This would account for the Church of St. Thomas the Martyr, which seems to be implied in no. 66.]]