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St Mary

Lower Heyford

Oxfordshire

C13, C14 and C15, restored 1848 by H.J. Underwood, and 1867 by C. Buckeridge

Architectural Features

Stone-slate-roofed chancel, in marlstone with some limestone banding, retains a single C13 lancet to north, but the 3-light east window and the other side windows, all of lights, are C14 with flowing and reticulated tracery

The nave and aisles are of limestone with shallow-pitched roofs: the south aisle with Decorated windows of 3 and 2 lights to east and west, plus a large square-headed 3-light C15 window to south

the north aisle with a similar C15 window to north, plus a 3-light window with intersecting tracery to east, and a small square-headed C15 window to west

North and south doors are both C14, the latter sheltered by a C15 porch with a moulded outer arch and tiny 2-light side windows

The C15 nave clerestory has square-headed 2-light windows below an ashlar parapet

The plain-parapetted C15 tower, in squared limestone with ashlar diagonal buttresses and moulded plinth, has an arched west doorway within a rectangular casement moulding, and has a 3-light west window with Perpendicular tracery

Interior: Chancel has a C13 trefoil-headed piscina with a restored projecting bowl, and has a C19 braced collar-truss roof

C13/C14 chancel arch of 2 chamfered orders dying into responds

tall continuously-moulded C14 tower arch of 2 chamfered orders

2-bay C14 nave arcades of 2 chamfered orders on octagonal columns, the south arcade probably later with richer mouldings to the capitals

Both arcades have image niches in the eastern responds, and both have masonry sections to east and west, the south arcade with traces of an earlier arcade to west, and to east a C15 rood stair projecting into the south aisle with a further niche

South aisle has similar niches with traceried heads flanking east window, a small restored C14 piscina, and an ogee-headed holy-water stoup

North aisle has a C14 column piscina with a stone shelf

Fittings include a restored C15 screen with traceried panels, and a medieval chest

C19 corona lucis above the octagonal C14 font

Fragments of medieval stained glass in south aisle west window

glass of 1916 in south aisle east window

C19 glass in chancel

Monument to Gabriel and Alice Myrry (died 1684 and 1681) has a rectangular panel flanked by inverted cornucopiae, below a cartouche of arms.

Photo coming soon