Seven Churches in South Oxfordshire
Exterior of Ipsden Church

St Mary’s Church, Ipsden

St Mary’s Church, Ipsden – Early History

Tradition has it that the first church in Ipsden was a small chapel on Berins Hill, about 2 miles east of the present church, built by St Birinus when he came from Rome in AD 634 to convert the Saxon peoples of South Oxfordshire.  He became the first Bishop of Dorchester (Oxfordshire). The Abbey Church at Dorchester continues to flourish.

St Mary the Virgin, Ipsden
St Mary the Virgin, Ipsden

The second Ipsden church was in a field south of ‘The Street’ opposite the Old Vicarage, about 1/2 mile south of the present church. It fell into disrepair in the 12th century and was eventually demolished: the materials were used to repair and enlarge the present church, which was much smaller and an upland chapel for the adjoining parish of North Stoke. This church, on the present site, eventually became Ipsden Parish Church.

The oldest part of the present building is probably the North Chapel, almost certainly that upland chapel.  There is a powerful small modern stained glass window in the west wall of the chapel.

Ipsden Church Interior, South End
Ipsden Church Interior, looking west

The window opposite, at the east end of the chapel, is of the late 14th or 15th century – it would originally have had stained or painted glass. The wall painting round this window is of about 1400 and was cleaned and restored in 1990 – the whole wall was probably covered with a simple floral decoration and a surviving example of this can be seen near the lower south ledge of the window.  (For an extensive series of wall paintings see our sister church at North Stoke).

The present Chancel is said by Pevsner to be late 12th century and has an interesting range of stonework – including small carved stone capitals.  There is memorial brass in the Sanctuary dedicated to Sir Thomas Englysche and his wife, local big landowners, dated 1525.  The priest’s door has been blocked up but its location can be seen on the outside of the building.  The Nave is a mixture of 13th and 14th century work and at one time there was a South Aisle, traces of which are still clearly visible on the exterior of the building. There remain a number of monuments to important local families – including the Reade family (whose descendants still own and live in Ipsden House) of whom Charles Reade the author of ‘The Cloister and the Hearth’ was a member.

The gallery at the west end of the Nave, probably replacing a wooden structure, was built about 1860 as a memorial to John and Anna-Marie Reade of Ipsden House. The organ was installed at the end of the 19th century and is a remarkably fine instrument for a small country church, (although unfortunately it blocks all the light from the west windows).

Ipsden Church Interior, North End, Ipsden Church Photo Gallery
Church Interior, chancel

The small exterior bell turret has two interesting bells – one of 1592 and one of 1801.

This ancient church has been a place of worship for over eight hundred years and has links with the beginning of Christianity in this part of Oxfordshire.  We hope you enjoy your visit: we who are fortunate to live here are the trustees for our generation.  Do spend a while here in quiet prayer and contemplation – we are always open.

If you would like to help us in maintaining this ancient building and its service to the local community we would be glad of your contribution – you can place any contributions in the Gift-Aid envelopes in the pews and place them either in the donations box by the entrance door or in the ‘Vicar’s Box’ at the rear of the church – alternatively you can contact the Vicar directly.

Parish Records are stored at the Oxfordshire Record Office, St Luke’s Church, Temple Road, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2HT Tel 01865 398200.

 

English Heritage Building ID: 247334   Date Listed: 9 February 1959

Church Contact Details:

Revd John Blair

Contact:  Revd John Blair
Church Address: St Mary the Virgin Church, Ipsden, Oxon OX10 6AE
The Rectory Address: The Vicarage, Crabtree Corner, Ipsden, Oxon  OX10 6BN
Tel: 01491 681100

Village Website: www.ipsdenvillage.co.uk

 

A full gallery of images for this church can be found at this link

The 7 Churches in the Langtree Team Ministry

You will find the individual contacts for the churches at this link.