Uffington: St Mary

Woolstone: All Saints

All Saints is a delightful small church built of local clunch on a sarsen base. It was originally built for St. Swithun's Priory in Winchester in the early thirteenth century. The exterior retains a Norman door on the north side. Inside there is an unusual fourteenth-century lead font, a lovely chancel arch complete with a Green Man carving and a sculpture depicting the Stations of the Cross by Woolstone sculptor, Heidi Lloyd. In Spring, the graveyard is a mass of primroses. One wonders how many walkers from the Ridgeway have, over the centuries, stopped by this church to appreciate its peace.

The church is open in daylight hours. There is limited off-road parking off the lane approaching the church gate. If you are fit and able, please use The White Horse pub car park at the bottom of the hill. The landlord has kindly given permission to churchgoers. The church is accessed by a sloping path. The entrance and the nave of the church are all on one level. There are steps up to the chancel. For communion services, we are happy to bring the bread and wine to those in the pews. All Saints is a special place, nestling as it does at the foot of White Horse Hill. Whether worshipping with us, enjoying the church’s peace and quiet, or coming to enjoy one of our concerts, we welcome all visitors.

Baulking: St Nicholas

St Nicholas is a beguilingly simple church sitting at one end of the village green. It dates from the mid-thirteenth century, though naturally with a few later additions. Inside are remains of a series of fourteenth-century wall paintings thought to depict St George Slaying the Dragon and the Seven Corporal Acts of Mercy. The church is divided by an unusual stone chancel screen with stairs originally for access to the rood loft. In the eighteenth-century the roof was renovated, initials and the date of 1708 on one of the rafters being testament to this, and a recent addition of a servery and toilet, installed by local craftsmen, is the twenty-first century‘s contribution to the continuing life of the church building.

The church is open in daylight hours. There is off-road parking outside the church gate. Access to a toilet is available during services and events. The church is accessed by tarmac path. The entrance and the body of the church are all on one level. St Nicholas is a hospitable place and we welcome all visitors whether worshipping with us, attending one of our Folk music events or appreciating the church’s calm and history.

Should you wish to help maintain St Nicholas with a donation, please follow the article in the Notices section; thank you.

Shellingford: St Faiths

St Faith’s light and quiet interior lends it a sense of calm. ‘A very satisfying church’ in Pevsner’s view. The church is twelfth century in origin, with Norman exterior doors and a Normal chancel arch still visible. As commemorated in the date above the porch door, the spire and porch were added in 1625. Inside there are two impressive eighteenth-century memorials to Mary Packer and Edward Hannes, Queen Anne’s physician. In addition, there is an early nineteenth-century memorial to the third Viscount Ashbrook by John Flaxman. The interior was renovated, with the addition of box pews, by Frederick Etchells in the mid-twentieth century and in 1968 a fine organ by Peter Collins was installed.

The church is open in daylight hours. There is on-street parking outside the church gate, though we ask you to respect the needs of local residents. For those joining us for services, there is a sound loop system. The church is accessed by a sloping gravel drive and there is limited off-road parking near the church porch for the disabled. There are steps down into the nave from the porch. A ramp is available on request. St Faith’s is a welcoming and serene place to visit or worship in and we hope that you will enjoy your time here.