This is the view on entering the roof. The body of the church is square and originally had galleries on all four sides. The ceiling is domed so that the problem facing the carpenters was to provide supports for a central lantern above the dome.
Images
The solution to this was to begin with a frames above and supported by the gallery columns that extended up into the roof. You can just see a column here supporting the cross braced frame. Also visible are struts from the columns to support intermediate posts of the frame. .
This is the framing above all that. The top chord of the square frame round the base of the dome supports these long beams that carry the square framing of the central lantern. But they are assisted in this by the long raking struts below the principal rafters..
This detail of the head of a post gives some idea of the sizes of the timbers used.
This is my very crude drawing that attempts to show the framing. I hope to return to make measurements for a detailed drawing
Info & location
Description & details
Banbury Church was built by the elder Cockerell between 1792 and 1797. His son modified it in 1818-22. This roof uses large timbers with a great deal of metal strapping and the use of bolts.
The church was originally a simple preaching box and so had galleries on four sides. When a chancel was added it was necessary to remove the gallery at the (liturgical) east end. Nevertheless, it was also necessary to retain the columns to support the roof structure above. For this reason the church has an impressive baldachin in front of the chancel that incorporates these columns.
Country
England
County
Oxfordshire
Visiting details
The church is in regular use so that the interior is easy to see.