The Church Of St Oswald

The Church of St Oswald is a parish church dating to circa 1892, built in polygonal rubble with a tiled roof. It is cruciform in plan, comprising a two-bay nave, transepts, and a slightly narrower two-bay chancel and choir. The architecture is in the lancet style. A south nave entrance door, made of pine and featuring ornamental strap hinges, is located within a porch with a gothic arch and steeply pitched roof. Weathered sill bands are present on the stone-dressed windows, which are mainly lancet, but incorporate bull's eyes above those grouped under single arches. Trefoil sinkings are visible below the transept windows. A hexagonal bell turret rises from the crossing, featuring short carved timber posts framing the bell chamber opening, and a steeply pitched roof clad in cedar shingles, topped with a metal cross finial. Similar metal cross finials adorn the gables of the chancel, nave, and transepts.

Inside, the risers of the three steps leading to the altar are inscribed with "I will wash my hands in innocency," "And so will I go to thine altar O Lord," and "Holy Holy Holy." The sanctuary has a mosaic floor and is flanked to the south by a two-trefoil arched sedilia, and is fronted by carved oak choir stalls with poppyheads. The organ chamber is located on the north wall behind the choir stalls. A low stone wall, topped with a brass ornamental rail of scrolls, leaves, and brattishing, separates the choir from the nave. A pair of matching brass gates mark two steps rising from the nave, with risers inscribed "Go your way into his gates with Thanksgiving.” The pulpit is a circular, pulvinated stone rail with a foliage motif, supported by seven shafts with rings and foliage caps rising from a solid, overhanging base. The baptismal font, situated at the west end of the nave, is a stone chalice resting on a cruciform base, inscribed with "A well of water springing up into everlasting life.” A memorial window in the north transept commemorates Baron William Henry Schroder of Rookery Hall, Worleston; the south transept window depicts four biblical characters. There are also two small brass memorials and a slate wall memorial. Features include high collar arch braced trusses with horseshoe braces above the collar. Diagonally crossed trusses support the bell turret. Angel corbels support the chancel arch. Exposed rafters and ashlar pieces are present with plaster infilling between.