St Helen's, Great Oxendon
St Helen's at Great Oxendon stands some distance to the north of the present village on high ground overlooking the main road, surrounded by greenery. It is a neat, attractive 13th-14th century building with chancel and a nave flanked by aisles culminating in a tall tower at the west end whose stages become noticeably narrower as it rises.
The interior has a feeling of antiquity with its walls mostly stripped back to the stonework by Victorian restorers. There are some interesting head carvings and capitals on the north side of the nave adorned with ballflower decoration. The font is the most ancient thing here, its rough-hewn bowl with zig-zag decoration of the Norman period. There is Victorian glass in two windows and a slightly later piece in the south aisle.
St Helen's won't delay the visitor for long but is a very pleasing place with some interesting features. I'm not sure what normal opening arrangements are but it may be open more regularly these days.
St Helen's, Great Oxendon
St Helen's at Great Oxendon stands some distance to the north of the present village on high ground overlooking the main road, surrounded by greenery. It is a neat, attractive 13th-14th century building with chancel and a nave flanked by aisles culminating in a tall tower at the west end whose stages become noticeably narrower as it rises.
The interior has a feeling of antiquity with its walls mostly stripped back to the stonework by Victorian restorers. There are some interesting head carvings and capitals on the north side of the nave adorned with ballflower decoration. The font is the most ancient thing here, its rough-hewn bowl with zig-zag decoration of the Norman period. There is Victorian glass in two windows and a slightly later piece in the south aisle.
St Helen's won't delay the visitor for long but is a very pleasing place with some interesting features. I'm not sure what normal opening arrangements are but it may be open more regularly these days.