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St Matthew

Langford

Oxfordshire

Mid-to late C11 on earlier site

Architectural Features

chancel rebuilt mid-C13 and south porch added early C14

stone slate roofs with C19 ornamental tile cresting and C19 floriated stone crosses to gables

south porch and C13 staircase projection against north-east corner of tower

Mid-to late C11 in 3 stages with parapet and carved corbel table of c.1200

Forming part of central pilaster strip immediately above lower string course on south side is a relief of 2 figures in tunics with arms pointing upwards: possbly formerly supporting a sundial

Chamfered C13 lancet immediately to right of pilaster strip on bottom stage

2 late C12 pilaster buttresses to former angles given chimney-like pinnacles in C16

Chamfered rectangular opening (possibly C17) to far left and early C14 two-light window with mouchettes and quatrefoil to head and hoodmould immediately to left of eastern flying buttress

Square-headed late C15 window with label to right of buttress has 3 cinquefoil-headed lights with contemporary iron bars

Chamfered C13 lancet to east wall

South aisle has late C15 window to west like that in north aisle with date "1867" on railwater head to right

Re-set over outer doorway is late-Saxon Road, large sculpture depicting Christ's crucifixion

The attendant figures of the Virgin and St

On east wall is re-set late-Saxon sculpture of Christ triumphant

The now headless figure is shown with arms outstretched clad in a long corded tunic, weathered smooth on the outer face but arranged in narrow fluted folds to sides

Early C14 three-light window with reticulated tracery and weathered head-stops to right is followed by narrow round-headed chamfered window (c.1200) with rainwater head dated "1867" between

Late C15 square-headed window with 2 cinquefoil-headed lights and label in east wall

Mid-C15 and apparently shortened by at least one bay to east before C19 restorations by Pace and Christian

Moulded eaves cornice terminating in carved head to south-east corner, cill band and continuous hood mould

Stepped diagonal buttress to south corner and C13 gabled buttress (probably not in situ) with floriated finial to north corner

Trussed rafter roof (c.1867) to nave and low-pitched roofs to aisles, C15 to north, C19 to south

Corbels of C15 flat-pitched roof and outline of earlier roof pitch visible against east face of tower

Tunnel vault to tower probably C13 but round-headed east and west arches are C11, former tall with a rolled outer order, an inner soffit roll, both continued on the responds, and a plain arch and respond on the east side

Elaborately cusped rere arch with short shafts terminating in head-corbels to C14 window in south aisle

Reset C13 trefoil-headed piscina in infilled priest's doorway and plainer piscina to west

C13 aumbry in north wall comprises 2 rows of 3 compartments, gabled to top

Polygonal panelled pulpit (1673) on Perpendicular traceried stone base (1867). C15 octagonal panelled font with quatrefoils and blank shields

Portions of C15 oak screen with open Perpendicular tracery patterns in one-light divisions reused in screens to organ chamber and vestry at east end of north and south aisles respectively

Langford clock mechanism (c.1680, overhauled 1883 and 1978) formerly in tower now in north aisle by font

Stained glass: c.1868 in C14 window in south aisle and early C20 in west window of nave

Monuments

North aisle: late C17 and C18 engraved floor slabs

rustic memorial (1691) to the House family surmounted by a bewigged head with the punning inscription "Within this little house three houses lye". Brass plates in raised sanctuary to John Copley ld.1634) and his wife, Mary (d.1665) and under communion table figurative brasses to Walter and Mary Prunes (d.1594 and 160q respectively). C19 armorial brsss in infilled doorway to west face of tower

When Christian restored the church he removed the C15 nave clerestory and re-instituted the higher of the 2 chancel roof pitches shown by J.C. Buckler in a drawing of 1821 (now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford). The parish of Langford is included amongst the royal estates in Domesday and this may account for the high quality of the work, which may have been carried out immediately after the Norman Conquest

The late Saxon features are considered to be the most important in the county

H.M. Taylor: Anglo-Saxon Architecture, 3 vols. (1965 and 1978, Vols. 1 and 2 with John Taylor), passim but see especially pp.367-72

Nigel and Mary Kerr, A Guide to Anglo-Saxon Sites. (1982), pp170-1

Photo coming soon