St Mary the Virgin
Thame, Oxfordshire
With its origins as a Saxon chapel, the church we see today with its 12th century cancel, is constructed of one building inside another, joined only at the windows.
Towersey, Oxfordshire
The church is Gothic in style and created from honey-coloured limestone, with a handmade tiled roof and three stage embattled tower. The original 14th century oak doors with forged strap hinges and ancient locks are still in place and the sanctuary lancet windows are rare examples that date back to 1220.
In 2017 the National Churches Trust awarded grant towards a repair project toreplace stones in the nave, chancel, tower, and buttresses, which are crumbling and falling. The west window and stones around it were also repaired. The tower roof made watertight and a hard render material on the inside of the walls removed, to allow the building to breathe and reduce damp.
Top tips from completed project feedback:
- Establish a healthy contingency as part of the budget and be prepared to be flexible about what is drawn from it
Thame, Oxfordshire
Chinnor, Oxfordshire
The land on which the church is built is said to have been a holy site since Saxon times, the earliest evidence of a church building on the site is from the 13th century.
Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire
St Mary’s is both an historic and active church that plays a major role in the life of the Long Crendon community.