St Andrews Church

A lovely small church in a superb location in Oddington with views across Otmoor. Well worth a visit, if you can find it!
Nov 4th, 2019

Apr 4th, 2019

Historic church partly rebuilt in 1886. Lots of character remains from its days as prominent Anglo Catholic church in first part of twentieth century
Feb 19th, 2019

A mention of Oddington in aPapal bullwritten in AD 1146 suggests that the village had aparish churchby the middle of the 12th century. The presentChurch of England parish churchofSaint Andrewwas built at the end of the 13th century and beginning of the 14th century. Thebuttressesof thenaveare late 13th century, and thefontis probably also from that century. Some features of thechancelare early 14th century, but in 1821 the chancel was demolished and rebuilt. Between 1884 and 1886, the church washeavily restoredunder the direction of the architectE.G. Bruton. Thebell towerand the north wall of the chancel were rebuilt, thevestryand northaislewere added and several windows inserted. Inside the church are two unusual monuments. The first is an early 16th-centurymonumental brassin memory of Ralph Hamsterley, who had been parish priest and died in 1518. It is a cadaver monument, showing his corpse in its burial shroud, which is a style unusual for monumental brasses in England. Elsewhere there is an example from the late 14th century, also in memory of a parish priest, in theparish church at Lytchett Matraversin Dorset. The second unusual monument is a largepietat the west end of the nave. It is decorated withMoritotems in memory of Mori servicemen killed in theFirst World War. The tower has three bells. The treble was cast in 1609, but thebellfounderhas not been identified.James Keene ofWoodstockcast the tenor in 1626.Thomas I Mears of theWhitechapel Bell Foundrycast the youngest of the three bells in 1804. The ring was converted for chiming in 2012.There is also aSanctus bell, cast by an unknown founder in about 1614,but it is cracked.
Jul 29th, 2020