Church of St Lawrence
CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE, FARINGDON ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1048397
- Date first listed:
- 09-Feb-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Church of St Lawrence
- Statutory Address:
- CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE, FARINGDON ROAD
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1048397
- Date first listed:
- 09-Feb-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Church of St Lawrence
- Statutory Address 1:
- CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE, FARINGDON ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE, FARINGDON ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Oxfordshire
- District:
- Vale of White Horse (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Besselsleigh
- National Grid Reference:
- SP 45631 01073
Details
BESSELSLEIGH FARINGDON ROAD SP4501 (North side) 10/40 Church of St. Lawrence 19/02/66
GV II
Church. Early C12, with early C14 and C15 alterations. c.1632 for William Lenthall, Speaker of House of Commons, and 1788 for William John Lenthall. Uncoursed limestone rubble; gabled stone slate roof. Nave and chancel. Late C13 three-light trefoil-headed window. 4-bay south wall: three C15 cinquefoil-headed 2-light windows and 3 restored offset buttresses; narrow C13 pointed chamfered priest's door in second bay from right; gabled early C17 porch has wide cusp-chamfered arch, and C19 timber-framed side walls on brick and limestone plinths; early C12 plain round-headed doorway frames ancient plank door which has two C12 strap hinges and crescent at top. North wall has 3 restored offset buttresses: similar C15 two-light window and an early C14 two-light Decorated window flank rood-stairs projection with slit-light. West gable has late C13 three-light trefoil-headed window, and twin bellcote of 1632 (V.C.H.). Interior: cinquefoiled rere-arch to east window. Late C19 reredos. Late C13 trefoil-headed piscina: early C12 pillar piscina has decorated stem and scalloped capital: early C17 parish chest has panelled door, hinged lid and is set on wooden wheels. Chancel floor has marble floor tablet to John Lenthall (d.1681), and a set of early C17 floor tiles with quatrefoils. C15 brattished cornice to plastered chancel roof. Tympanum of 1632, with carved oak pendants, has painting of angels holding Lenthall arms over inscription which reads: "THIS CHURCH WAS RESTORED IN THE YEARE 1632/AND ALSO REPAIRED BY THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM LENTHALL ESQR:/MASTER OF THE ROLLS IN THE YEARE 1657". Nave has unusual mid C17 font, with small garlanded bowl "set on round stem with bands of rocky rustication" (Pevsner). Mid/late C19 roof has C17 moulded cornice with angels holding shields of arms at intervals. Fittings: late C18 communion rail, pulpit with tester, box pews, and steps to gallery with hat-pegs and splat balusters at west end. Memorials: C18 and C19 wall tablets. Chancel has small white marble inscription set in black marble draped surround to Winnifred Thompson, d.1708/9, and memorial to Susanna Brome, d.1717: heraldic achievement over draped and garlanded surround to inscription with palm sprays at base. (Buildings of England: Berkshire, p.86; V.C.H.: Berkshire, Vol.IV, pp.396-7; National Monuments Record).
Listing NGR: SP4563101073
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 249538
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Berkshire, (1966), 86
Ditchfield, P H, Page, W, The Victoria History of the County of Berkshire, (1924), 396-7
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 11-Jun-2026 at 18:12:13.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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