Swanbourne - Churches

Churches

St Swithun's Church (Anglican), a Grade II* listed historic building, stands at the east end of the village, opposite Swanbourne House. The nave, chancel and tower date from the first half of the 13th century. The north aisle was added in the second half of the 15th century and the tower rebuilt half a century later. The church is in remarkably good repair, and contains some charming stained glass and a fine wooden ceiling, both probably dating from the 19th century. There are also some medieval carvings and the remains of three remarkable medieval murals in the north aisle. The tower contains six bells and a sanctus. There are monumental brasses on the south and north sides of the chancel. The latter, showing Thomas Adams (died 1626) and his family, bears the baneful inscription, “Who in prime of youth by bloudy theves was slain, / In Liscombe ground his bloud ye grass did staine.”

Swanbourne Baptist Church, in Mursley Road, was built in 1809, rebuilt in 1863 and closed in 1972, when it was converted into a dwelling.

Swanbourne Methodist Church is in Nearton End. The first Chapel was built for the Primitive Methodists in 1858 and a new one was built in 1907. Formerly in the Stewkley Circuit, then the Leighton Buzzard Circuit, the church is now in the Vale of Aylesbury Circuit. Sunday services are at 5pm with a lively Sunday School each week at 10.30am.