Church of St Swithun
CHURCH OF ST SWITHUN
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1198176
- Date first listed:
- 21-Nov-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Church of St Swithun
- Statutory Address:
- CHURCH OF ST SWITHUN
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-09-12
- Reference:
- IOE01/01893/04
- Rights:
- © Mrs Maureen Albright. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1198176
- Date first listed:
- 21-Nov-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Church of St Swithun
- Statutory Address 1:
- CHURCH OF ST SWITHUN
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 SWITHUN
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:
- Compton Beauchamp
- National Grid Reference:
- SU 27923 86919
Details
COMPTON BEAUCHAMP SU28NE 5/72 Church of St. Swithun. 21/11/66
GV II*
Church. Late C13, probably incorporating earlier structure. Chalk ashlar, except chalk and sarsen rubble to tower and sarsen base to nave, limestone quoins and dressings; all walling except quoins and part of tower whitewashed. Cruciform plan with porch and west tower. Early C14 reticulated style east window, one two-light late C13 window and one pointed lancet to each side wall of chancel. North transept has late C13 Y-tracery window and one window of intersecting tracery. South transept was rebuilt in c.1911, using much of the original stonework;two C20 windows and C20 door with 4-centered arch and moulded architrave, two-light early C16 windows with arched head. Each wall of nave has two-light late C13 windows, north wall has blocked late C13 door with 2-centered arch and section of walling between porch and tower has earlier masonry beneath the windows. Chancel and nave have gabled roofs. Tower built of sarsen rubble with decorative chalk bands, string course, and 2 two-light late C13 windows. Interior: Altar frontal, reredos and alter rail in chancel designed by Martin Travers c.1950; east window has some C14 glass depicting the Annunciation with also our Lady and Child by Travers; C13 piscina and simple stone bench sedilia; on either side of altar are memorial tablets to two infants, Margaret and Christian White (d.1627 and 1618) also a small C15 brass floor tablet to William Frampton, rector and memorials to Thomas Langley, rector, d.1703-31, and Benjamin Langley, d.1731-77. The vine murial around the chancel walls was painted c.1900 by Lydia Lawrence of the Kyrle Society; the birds, owl bat and insects were added in c.1967 and painted by Anthony Baynes and T.L.B. Huskinson. Screens for both transepts by Travers c.1947. East window of north transept has some C14 stained glass depicting the Crucificion. The south transept (rebuilt in c.1911) has a grille depicting Edward the Confessor by Travers, who also made the oak vesting chests and cupboards c.1950. Rood above chancel arch by Travers c.1933.Nave has C15 font with canopy by Travers, c.1933. Elaborate wall monuments to Rachel Richards (d.1737) and her daughter Ann (d.1771), who both lived at the Manor House, and also their housekeeper Mary Cooper (d.1762). 4-bay late-C19 arch-braced roof. Lady Chapel at west end by Travers, c.1934. (Buildings of England, Berkshire, p.121.)
Listing NGR: SU2792386919
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 250699
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Berkshire, (1966), 121
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 05-Jun-2026 at 14:17:12.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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