There has been a parish church at Ibstone for over a thousand years. The church of St Nicholas stands in lonely isolation. It was once an integral part of the village, which was once centered at the top of the lane leading down to the church. There is evidence of habitations along the lane but due to the Black Death, they fell into decay and are now razed. The focal point of Ibstone moved along the main road a mile further north and the common.
It is very probable that there was a church on this site in Saxon times. However, the present building is a Norman structure, built in about 1125, during the reign of King Henry I. Ibstone was held by Hervey the Legate (possibly an interpreter) from the king in 1086. It was assessed at two hides with woodlands for one hundred pigs. By 1270, King Henry III granted the manor of Ibstone to Walter Merton, Bishop of Rochester, for the endowment of Merton College, Oxford.
“Legend has it that an attempt was made to build a Church in a new spot near to the village common. But the devil objected to the site and removed the structure, thereby giving the name of Hell Corner to the spot.”
The doorway, nave and font are from the 12th century and the Chancel is 13th Century.
The Font
The baptismal font is a circular stone tub font which dates from the 12th century and has a wooden and metalwork cover that is Victorian.
The Bell Tower, Roof and Bells
There are two undated bells within the bell turret or tower: one treble and one tenor. The bells are probably 18th century. Both are referred to in Bells of the Parish Churches in The Hundred of Desborough in 1885. The bells were repaired and rehung by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1986.
The Yew Tree
Perhaps a candidate for the oldest tree in the Chiltern Hills, the yew (Taxus baccata) is well in excess of 700 years old and is reputed to date before the 12th century. This is a male tree. The soil is shallow chalky, over a chalk bedrock which is subject to drought in the summer, thus growth of the yew will be slow.
In 1958, Swanton published a book on the yews of England. He writes:
"The church is in a very secluded spot high up on the hills; Mr Giltrow and I measured it on October 15th, 1954. The trunk is not hollow and there is much spray on it. Girth about 18ft 6ins. The crown of 9 branches has an umbrage 61ft. in diameter."