Old Parish Church Of St Cuthbert, Oborne

The Old Parish Church of St Cuthbert at Oborne is the surviving chancel of a former parish church, dated 1533 as indicated by an inscription above the east window. The building is constructed of coursed rubble-stone walls with dressed stone quoins, and has a stone slate roof with stone gable copings. A 19th-century cross sits atop the east gable, and a gabled sanctus bell-cote is located at the west gable.

The chancel was rebuilt in the early 16th century. The east window features four centred lights within a square head, bearing the inscription "Orate pro bono statu do(n)pni Johis. M. abbatis de Schirbom ano. Domini MCCCCCXXXIII" on the lintel. The window has lozenge-leaded lights, with stone shields flanking it; on the left is a crozier between the initials I.M., and on the right, the arms of the abbey. Above the window is a shield displaying the royal Tudor arms with a crown. A similar window is set into the north wall but is now blocked, bearing the inscription "Orate pro bono statu dompni Johis. Dunster sacriste de Schirbom qui hoc opus fieri fecit ano. Domini”, flanked by shields displaying a device, possibly the initials I.D., and the arms of Horsey. A south wall window is similar to the east window, but without inscription or shields. The doorway has chamfered jambs and a four-centred head. The west wall displays the wave-moulded responds of the former chancel arch, supporting an early 16th-century moulded beam with mortices for a rood-loft and a 20th-century gable wall above. A reset 15th-century doorway, with chamfered jambs and a two-centred head, is set within the blocking. Reset within the gable are two 15th-century window heads, each with two trefoiled lights and tracery in a two-centred head.

The foundations of the nave are visible as portions extending 11 metres to the west of the chancel. The interior chancel roof is a compartmented barrel ceiling, plastered with some 16th-century moulded ribs and wall-plates.

The church contains a 16th-century font with an octagonal stone bowl and stem, a 1639 pulpit with moulded styles, rails, and three ranges of panels incorporating lozenge enrichments, fleur-de-lis designs and scrolled brackets supporting a bookshelf. There is also a 17th-century communion rail with turned balusters and a moulded rail, and a 17th-century communion table with turned legs and enriched top rails. Ornamental step tiles are set in 20th-century panels, displaying shields of arms. The church is now vested in The Churches Conservation Trust.