Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin

Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin. The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is a medieval Church of England parish church located in the village of Great Milton, Oxfordshire. It is a Grade I listed building noted for its significant architectural evolution from the Norman to the Perpendicular periods. The church is part of the Diocese of Oxford and serves the Parish of Great Milton within the Deanery of Aston and Cuddesdon.

History

The church's origins lie in the Norman era, with fabric from the 12th century incorporated into the present structure. The manor of Great Milton was held by Odo, Earl of Kent and later passed to the Basset family and the Duke of Suffolk. Significant expansion occurred in the 13th and 14th centuries under the patronage of local lords, including members of the Quatremains family. During the English Reformation, the church transitioned to Protestantism, and later restoration work was undertaken in the 19th century by the architect George Edmund Street. The building was designated a Grade I listed building on 9 February 1959 for its exceptional architectural and historical interest.

Architecture and description

The church is constructed from local oolitic limestone and rag-stone with Cotswold stone tile roofs. Its plan comprises a nave with a north aisle and south aisle, a chancel, a western tower, and a south porch. The oldest surviving feature is the Norman chancel arch, dating to circa 1170. The tower, a fine example of late Perpendicular Gothic work from the 15th century, features diagonal buttresses and a stair turret. The north aisle, rebuilt in the Early English Gothic style in the 13th century, contrasts with the Decorated Gothic south aisle from the 14th century. The interior is noted for its tall, slender arcade piers and a hammerbeam roof in the nave.

Monuments and fittings

The church contains an important collection of monuments and furnishings spanning several centuries. The most significant is the elaborate alabaster and marble tomb chest and canopy for Sir John and Lady Elizabeth Cottesmore, dating from the 1430s, which is considered one of the finest examples of its kind in England. Other notable monuments include brasses to members of the Quatremains family and a 17th-century wall monument to Sir William Glynne. The font is 15th-century, and the pulpit dates from the Victorian era. Stained glass includes fragments of medieval glass and 19th-century windows by the firm of Clayton and Bell.

Churchyard

The churchyard surrounds the church on three sides and contains a variety of headstones and chest tombs from the 18th and 19th centuries. It is the burial ground for the parish and includes the graves of local notable families. A lychgate provides access from the village, and the grounds are maintained as a Conservation Area. The churchyard is also a designated Local wildlife site supporting a range of flora and fauna.

Parish and worship

The ecclesiastical parish is Parish of Great Milton, within the Diocese of Oxford and under the care of the Archdeaconry of Oxford. The church is part of the Milton and Dorchester Benefice, which includes the churches of St Peter's Church, Little Milton and All Saints' Church, Tiddington. Regular services follow the Book of Common Prayer and Common Worship traditions of the Church of England. The parish is also linked with Great Milton Church of England Primary School. The church remains an active centre for Christian worship, community events, and musical concerts.

Category:Church of England church buildings in Oxfordshire Category:Grade I listed churches in Oxfordshire Category:Grade I listed buildings in Oxfordshire