The Doomsday book records a Priest as resident in Fairford so it's not an unreasonable guess that somewhere, perhaps deep under the foundations of St Mary's, lies a Saxon Church. But it is not its early foundation that has brought this church to national prominence, St Mary's church in Fairford is famed for the completeness of its Perpendicular style and the fact it has maintained a complete late medieval glazing pattern. This site was set up to record the village and small town church, it eschews the grand and monumental, rather it seeks humbler meat to serve its viewers. However... Continue reading

The Church of St Mary in the Gloucestershire Cotswold village of Bibury is located to one side of the village on higher ground than the river and the bridge. Here we have a church of Saxon origin, probably founded in the mid 8'th century, though the surviving earliest feature owe more to the 11'th century. The Saxons were fond of box like structures with high simple walls combined with narrow arches and openings. So the Saxon church probably consisted of a single short nave with a comparatively high roofline leading to a small, almost cell like chancel accessed through a... Continue reading

The church of St Bartholomew at Winstone in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds is a simple picturesque structure. Located at some distance from the current main site of the village and on lower ground it is perhaps another signifier of the disruption caused by the plague. The church is overshadowed by mature fir trees which must represent at least a passing threat to its foundations. Of essential simple form it is likely that the church was built sometime between the middle and end of the 11'th century. It thus represents the transition between Saxon architecture and that of the Normans. The simple... Continue reading

The church of Colebourne St James is reached via a small winding lane from the south end of this Gloucestershire village. Located adjacent to Colesbourne Park this church can be dated back to the the 12'th century, though the appearance and structure is far more influenced by a 15'th century rebuilding and a major renovation in the 19'th century. Of cruciform shape with a single aisle nave, the comparatively narrow 15'th century Chancel arch sits on 12'th century stone piers. The South transept is 14'th of 15'th century and features a squint into the 15'th century chancel. The North transept... Continue reading

Blessed with an ideal location, at least from the visitors point of view, the small Gloucestershire Cotswold church of St Margaret's in Bagendon dates from the early 12'th Century. Alas, a valley bottom site in a small scattered village has its own hazards, and St Margaret's has been prone to flooding throughout its history. Whilst the church can be generally regarded as early12'th century there are some features which might suggest a Saxon origin, the relatively thin walls of the simple nave and the small windows in the lower stage of the tower are both characteristic of that period.. Internally... Continue reading

St Peter's church in the Gloucestershire Cotswold village of Rendcomb was first built in the 12'th century. However what we can see is mainly 16'th century, dating from an almost total rebuilding around 1517.Thus we have a comparatively low squared structure with battlement style parapets concealing the modestly sloped roofs. Of the earlier church little remains except in parts of the North wall of the nave where traces of earlier pillars remain in the stone rubble construction. The interior consists of a Nave and South aisle, at one time there was also a North aisle. At the head of the... Continue reading

The church of St Peter sits in the small Gloucestershire village of Farmington, just a few miles to the east of Northleach. Located on a flat site towards the southern end of the village this church retains good evidence of its 12'th century origins. The nave is the earliest part of the church, probably built around the middle of the 12'th century, the chancel and the north aisle being added towards the end of the century. The Chancel arch is a fine example of this period of church architecture, consisting of engaged columns with capitals supporting a round headed arch... Continue reading

The intriguing church of St Nicholas at Lower Oddington in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds is well worth a visit. Though the outside lacks architectural coherence the interiors holds some of the most extensive areas of medieval wall painting surviving in this country as well as some other fine features. Entrance into the church is via the porch which leads into the South Aisle. Even a casual glance at this aisle reveals it is the earliest part of the church with high plain walls leading to an east chapel under the base of the tower. This aisle is in fact the original... Continue reading

Sited on the slopes of the Churn valley sits the pretty Gloucestershire Cotswold church of All Saints at North Cerney. Many regard this modest church as having one of the finest interiors of any English church, a point of view I will not argue against – but there is a caveat, is this in fact perfection or is it actually pastiche? Originally built in the 12'th century All Saints' church was gutted by fire in the 15'th century, as a result the nave was partly rebuilt with a characteristic lightly ridged roofline and detailing to the walls. The saddleback tower... Continue reading

Picturesquely sited in the small Gloucestershire Cotswold town of Northleach the church of St Peter and St Paul lays claim to 12'th century origins. Hard will the visitor have to look to find any traces of that older church, because here we have a 'wool church' in all its ornate splendour, a statement of the wealth that the 14'th and 15'th centuries brought to this town. It's well to remember the Wool trade was no localised industry but a major international undertaking with exports across Europe, very much a keystone to England's economic growth and reflected as such in the... Continue reading

The Church of St Andrew sits in the Gloucestershire village of Cold Aston (also known as Aston Blank), set back from the main village street on a small cul-de-sac adjacent to the local school. A picturesque setting for a country church, the churchyard has many mature trees including a magnificent Yew believed to be over 600 years old. It's possible that a church was sited here in late Saxon times and the current church includes some Saxon stonework in its structure. St Andrew's church largely dates from 12'th century with the addition of a 15'th century tower and decoration to... Continue reading

The church of Holy Rood stands in Ampney Crucis, the largest of the Gloucestershire villages taking its name from the river Ampney. It's clear that a church has stood on this site since the Saxon period, as witnessed by the partly obscured Saxon doorway in the North wall of the nave and the recording of the village as Omenie Holy Rood in the Doomsday Book. The extant structure of the church is later, though it's unclear as to when the nave was built it is either contemporary with or slightly earlier that the North and South transepts which are 13'th... Continue reading

With Hampnett St George in it's small Gloucestershire Cotswold settlement we have something of a treat. Though unremarkable perhaps from the outside the interior reflects the diverse enthusiasm which characterised the English Clergy. So traveller, having admired the majesty of Northleach church, take a few moments and turn aside to appreciate this little gem. Records show that a priest was amongst the tenants of the local manor in 1086 and the church at Hampnett was built in the 12'th century, and the internal form remains true to it's late 12'th century origins, consisting of a single bay nave with chancel... Continue reading

The church of St Peter in the eponymously named Gloucestershire Cotswold village of Ampney St Peter is a very picturesque structure set to one side of a small road amidst mature trees. Its outline when viewed from the South clearly says Saxon church, and so it proves to be. The high walled narrow structure of the nave speaks of late Saxon architecture as does the round headed tower arch. The chancel arch is Transitional and it is likely that it and the chancel date from the late 12'th or 13'th century. Both the Nave and the Chancel are pierced with... Continue reading

The Gloucestershire village of Meysey Hampton is recorded as supporting a priest in the Doomsday book, though there is now no trace of that church. St Mary's at Meysey Hampton was completed by 1269 when it was dedicated by Godfrey Giffard the then Bishop of Worcester. It's unclear whether the church was part financed by the Knights Templar who held the local manor or by other prominent local families (such as the 'de Meyseys' whose name is taken by the village). Who ever stood behind the building of the church they gifted the generations with a fine structure whose basic... Continue reading

Saved from renovation by the decision of the Victorians to build a new church, the parish church of St Lawrence at Didmarton in Gloucestershire is a gem, the interior contains many features characteristic of the Georgian (18'th century) church. Dedicated to St Laurence of Canterbury (the 2'nd Archbishop, in the 7'th century, who reconverted the Saxon King to Christianity), it is likely the structure dates back to the 13'th century. In the South wall adjacent to the altar there is a 13'th century piscina. But it's not the earlier features which mark this church out, next to the compact altar... Continue reading

The parish church of St John the Baptist at Coln Aldwyn in Gloucestershire dates back to the 12'th century, though it has been extensively restored and modified over the years. Unusual in configuration the tower is offset to the south of the crossing. The lower stages of the tower have characteristic Norman buttressing and can be dated to the around the end of the 13'th century, the upper stage and decoration are Perpendicular. In the South wall of the nave is a 12'th century doorway with 3 layered arch decoration, this has been extensively restored over the years. The Chancel... Continue reading

Little Barrington St Peter's church situated in Gloucestershire is one of those churches that illustrate the uncertainty in understanding exactly a buildings history. First established in the late 12'th century the nave arches and tower base are survivors of the original church. The odd placement of the tower at the west end of the North arcade has led to speculation that the arcade was originally the nave, this would be supported by the presence of piscina in the East wall of the arcade suggesting it was originally the home of the main altar, this theory is not without it's detractors.... Continue reading

Concubines, heresy and the sale of ale from church grounds. The Gloucestershire Cotswold church of St Peter at Windrush is another that has added to the history of human weakness amongst the clergy. A 12'th century church, the interior has perhaps been over restored so it has in part lost the character of the surviving features. It still has much of interest to the antiquarian. A quick external inspection shows a church which has been much altered through the years. The basic structure of the nave is 12'th century, with well retained details in the supporting pillars to the chancel... Continue reading

St John the Evangelist church at Elkstone in Gloucestershire is situated at over 1000ft above sea level, making it the highest church in the Cotswolds. In an area rich in old churches St John's possesses many features and a charm which secures a place amongst England's best. Elkstone, from the Saxon 'the stone (or stone building) of Ealac' is mentioned in the Doomsday book and the church of St John the Evangelist dates from around 1160. Like most churches it has changed somewhat over the years, but has retained many features throughout its long life. Originally with the characteristic central... Continue reading

Libel, Slander and Green Energy, it would seem that the church of St Michael and All Angels in the pretty Gloucestershire Cotswold village of Withington could tick the boxes for many headline writers. But that's not all, for back in the 1820's William Cobbett described the village thus Withington is very prettily situated; it was, and not so long ago a gay and happy place; but now presents a picture of delapidation and shabbiness scarcely to be equalled................ or some still more base and wicked loan-mongering robber is now the owner of the land: aye, and all these people are... Continue reading

Chedworth St Andrew's church, a Gloucestershire church situated in the Cotswold hills, this is in appearance a wool church, but one with a difference. Wool churches proliferated in the late middle ages, changes in trade policy had brought Britain wealth and areas such as the Cotswold's celebrated with substantial architecture. But like the high street in many town's, the modern façade hides an older structure. So standing on the hillside gazing down on St Andrew's what can we see. That substantial tower with its characteristic flat buttressing shouts out it's early Norman origins, this then is a 12'th century church.... Continue reading

In St Andrew's church at Coln Rogers in Gloucestershire we have a survivor from the end of the Saxon period, still serving the community and surprising unscathed by the passing years. Completed by the mid 11'th century both the nave and the chancel retain most of their original construction, although pierced by later windows. What then can the visitor expect? The church sits at the North end of the small village of Coln Rogers in a flat churchyard mostly surrounded by mature trees, the porch was partly restored in the 19'th century, though it was probably originally contemporary with the... Continue reading

Yarnworth St Michael's is a small Gloucestershire Church, now largely separated from the community it serves. Visually it is very much a church in miniature, dwarfed as it is by quite modest trees. It's location, adjacent to Church Farm talks of the migration of the village, perhaps due to the familiar pressures of the Black Death. Externally it's appearance owes much to the 15'th century, with the tower and the capping to the remodelled nave walls dating from this period. The battlements at the top of the tower and the south facing nave window are 18'th century. Internally the chancel... Continue reading