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St Mary

Waterstock

Oxfordshire

Saxon, early C13 and early C14, restored 1840

Architectural Features

C13 chancel has 3 original lancets in each of the side walls, plus a fourth to south dated from the C19 rebuilding of the east wall with its 3-light window of Reticulated tracery

The south aisle has an early C14 east window of 3 lights with a large sexfoil in the tracery, and, to south, a low C15 window of 2 ogee lights and a 3-light C15/early C16 window of 3 cinqefoil lights

C14 south doorway has a keeled roll dying into wave-moulded jambs

The north wall of the nave has 2 more identical windows with sexfoils in the tracery and a blocked C14 doorway

to right is a C14 doorway and the central gable is taken up to form the base of the weatherboarded tower which has a shallow pyramid roof

C14 chancel arch springing from corbel heads is set beneath a high Saxon arch with plain imposts

King-post roof to nave, probably C16

Fittings include C18 panelled pine box pews, reading desk dated 1632, elaborately-canopied pulpit inscribed "GM/1677", C17 barley-twist communion rails, late C18 Gothic screen forming entrance lobby (removed from former chapel in Waterperry House (q.v.)), and a painted Royal Arms dated 1757

Stained glass in windows include C13, C14, C15 and C16 figures, shields and quarries, plus some C19 and C20 glass, Monuments include C14 full-length effigy under elaborate double-cusped and crocketted canopy

C17 alabaster wall monuments to Sir Francis Curson, with kneeling figures, and to Magdalen Curson with framed inscription

a series of brasses including one palimpsest, plus many C17, C18 and C19 ledgers to Cursons and others. (V.C.H.: Oxfordshire, Vol.V, pp,306-8

Photo coming soon