North Aston - Parish Church

Parish Church

The Church of England parish church of Saint Mary the Virgin existed by 1151, when William of Aston gave it to the Augustinian Bradenstoke Priory in Wiltshire. The present building is mostly Decorated Gothic, with early 14th century windows and north and south arcades. However, the south aisle ends in a chapel that has a 15th-century Perpendicular Gothic east window and the nave has a 15th or 16th century clerestory.

The baptismal font is in an unusual style and it is not known in what era it was carved. Sherwood and Pevsner suggested it might be 14th century; English Heritage says it is probably 17th century but might be earlier. One of its panels has been carved into a shield but the others are blank and the carving seems incomplete.

In 1867 the building was restored and enlarged to designs by George Gilbert Scott, who had the north aisle extended to be as long as the south aisle. The church is a Grade II* listed building.

The tower has a ring of six bells. Henry III Bagley, who had bell-foundries at Chacombe and Witney, cast the tenor bell in 1741. John Warner and Sons of London cast two more bells in 1866. John Taylor & Co of Loughborough cast the remaining three bells including the treble in 1979.

Since 1976 St. Mary's has been part of a united Church of England Benefice with the neighbouring parishes of Steeple Aston and Tackley.