St Andrew

In 2010, workmen removing the Victorian cement render covering the flint work of most of the external walls of the church, made an exciting discovery of a small Saxon window with a wooden shutter intact, high up on the north chancel wall. Archaeologists were delighted to see the outline of basket work shuttering which framed the opening. Geologists confirmed the long and short quoins used to build the corners of the chancel, were Saxon and from Taynton quarry – a quarry used by Abingdon Abbey for its churches. Revealing this exciting information meant that the history of the church had to be re-written. Having removed the cement render from the walls it was possible to see various construction phases. 

It seems that the chancel was the original church listed in the Domesday Book; the nave was constructed in the late 12th or early 13th century and it’s likely that the roof to the chancel was raised at the same time. A round tower was built at an unknown date but we know that by 1551 St Andrew’s Church had “three greate belles and one sawnce bell” (Walter Money). 

However, in 1667 the round tower collapsed into the adjoining garden of a quaker Oliver Sansome, whose cottage still bears his name. He refused to return the building materials and such was the acrimony between the Rector and the quaker, that the square tower we see today was built after both men had died! There are now 6 bells in the tower the earliest being the original 1601. In 1841 the north aisle and vestry were added and around the beginning of the 20th century a new east window designed by Mary Lowndes, replaced the Elizabethan three light window. 

A major restoration of the church was undertaken in 1908. Further improvements in 2010 included a kitchen and disabled toilet and the removal of the cement render as mentioned before, which has been vital in unravelling the true history of our church. There is much more to see, so we hope that you will take the opportunity to visit.