Church Of St Mary The Virgin

Church of St Mary the Virgin

This is a medieval parish church at Cropredy, comprising a chancel, nave, north and south aisles, north vestry, south porch, west tower, and north and south chapels. The building spans several centuries, with 13th-century work surviving in the south aisle and south doorway. The majority of the structure dates to the 14th century, including the porch and west tower. The north aisle and chapels were added in the 15th century. The church underwent substantial restoration in 1877 by architect E. W. Christian.

The exterior is built of squared, coursed ironstone and ashlar ironstone. The chancel contains a four-light reticulated east window. The south elevation features a priest's door with moulded stone surround and a two-light geometrical window. The south aisle is lit by two- and three-light Perpendicular or geometrical windows. A gabled south porch with stone parapet and pointed arched doorway provides entry, fitted with a plank and nail door. The south aisle is topped with a stone parapet and late Decorated cornice carved with heads and ballflower ornament. Five two-light Perpendicular clerestory windows pierce the north and south walls.

The west tower rises in three stages, crenellated with a staircase turret slightly higher than the battlements. Diagonal buttresses support the structure, with string courses marking the first and second stages. A panelled double-leaf door on the west face is surmounted by a pointed arched hood mould, with a renewed three-light Perpendicular window above and two-light Perpendicular windows to the bell stage. The north aisle contains Perpendicular windows, some renewed, and a doorway with plank door, pointed arched hood mould and label stops. A 14th-century vestry on the north has a priest's room above lit by two small windows, one now opening onto the north aisle. A sundial adorns the south aisle. Diagonal and angle buttresses reinforce the south aisle and chancel.

The interior reveals a nave with a five-bay tie-beam roof on corbels, with ridge and side purlins and arched braces. The chancel has a similar roof, partly restored. A Decorated and Early English piscina is located in the chancel, which also contains a doorway into the vestry fitted with a plank and nail door with wrought-iron hinges. The priest's room, accessed by ladder stair, features wood panelling. A screen on the north side of the chancel contains 14th-century fragments with flowing tracery. Another screen around the south chapel bears the initials of Ann Danvers and the date 1539. A 17th-century communion rail runs across the chancel.

The nave features tall four-bay Decorated arcades with piers without capitals. A Perpendicular piscina in the north aisle lacks a drain. The south aisle contains two arched tomb recesses. Two fonts are present: one octagonal and 14th-century, the other dated 1853. A late 15th-century style polygonal pulpit is reported to date from 1619 according to Kell's Directory. A rare pre-Reformation 15th-century brass eagle lectern stands in the church. Fragments of a painted Last Judgement survive over the chancel arch. A 13th-century chest with fine decorative ironwork is also retained.

The chancel contains memorials to Francis Stainer, vicar, died 1735, and William and Abigail Taylor of Williamscot House, died 1733. A wall plaque commemorates Richard H. S. Crossman of Prescote, Member of Parliament, 1906–1974. The south aisle and chapel hold memorials to the Danvers and Gostelow families of Prescote and the Caulcott, Taylor and Loveday families of Williamscot. A freestone monument in the south aisle commemorates Walter Calcott, died 1582, and Alice Calcott. The south wall of the south aisle retains the remains of a stone figure of a knight in armour. A brass in the nave commemorates Priscilla Plant, died 1837. The north aisle contains a classical style marble wall memorial to John Danvers of Prescot, dated 1721. Fragments of 15th-century glass survive in the north aisle.

The stained glass includes an east window by Lavers, Barrant and Westlake from 1877 and memorial windows by Heaton, Butler and Bayne.