Church Of St Laurence

Church of St Laurence, Wick Rissington

An Anglican parish church of the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries, substantially restored by J. E. K. Cults in 1879 when the transepts were demolished and the south aisle and porch were built.

The church is constructed of limestone rubble with dressed stone quoins, except for the north aisle which is of coursed squared and dressed limestone, and the tower which is of ashlar. The plan comprises a nave with north aisle, a chancel, and a western tower, with a porch at the west end of the north aisle.

The nave displays a part of a 12th-century corbel table visible on both the north and south sides. The south wall features two 2-light and one 3-light windows with rectangular casement-moulded surrounds and Perpendicular tracery (restored in the 19th century) with moulded stopped hoods and carved head stops. The central window appears to lie within a blocked doorway and is probably entirely 19th-century work. A 14th-century style, 19th-century pointed window with a moulded hood with early stops stands far right within the blocking of an arch that formerly opened into the south transept.

The chancel south wall has a plinth with deep flat chamfer. A 13th-century lancet with moulded continuous dripmould and continuous roll-moulded sill below is present. A narrow plank priest's door with decorative hinges sits within a narrow 13th-century flat-chamfered basket-headed surround with a segmental moulded hood to its lower right. A 14th-century pointed 2-light window with a stopped hood stands far left, and a 15th-century 2-light window with rectangular casement moulded surround and moulded hood with diamond-shaped stops stands far right. Clasping gabled buttresses flank the east end. Two pairs of tall thin lancets with roll-moulded continuous sill below are accompanied by single diamond-shaped lights with concave sides above each pair, with continuous dripmould continued over these in a series of steps. A single diamond-shaped light sits towards the apex of the gable.

The north side of the chancel has three lancets with continuous moulded hood and continuous sill below. The north aisle contains three pairs of lancets.

A gabled 19th-century porch stands at the west end with a pair of 19th-century double doors with decorative hinges within a double-chamfered pointed surround.

The tower comprises four diminishing stages, with the lower two probably dating to the 13th century. Clasping gabled buttresses stand on the west, and a deep plinth with three chamfered stages runs around the base. A 19th-century plank west door with decorative strap hinges and a moulded stopped hood is present, above which is a tall lancet with moulded continuous hood. The third and fourth stages have lancet-shaped belfry windows with stone slate louvres, and the upper stage windows have hoods with blind quatrefoils. A parapet with blind trefoil arcading features a pinnacle at each corner. Moulded strings divide the first and second stages, and stepped coped gables with upright cross finials rise above. A circular chimney stands at the west end of the north aisle.

The porch interior contains a 19th-century plank door within a reset 12th-century flat-chamfered round-headed doorway with a stopped hood. An early headstone with circular head and crudely inscribed inscription reading 'T (?) M / (?) JESPER / IRLAND / MADETH / ---- (?) N 1638' is displayed here. The upper part of a medieval grave slab with a cross with foliate decoration is present, with the lower part set in the wall opposite. Double 19th-century plank doors with decorative hinges within a 19th-century cinquefoil-headed surround open into the nave.

Interior

The church interior is plastered. A 2-bay 19th-century nave arcade with pointed arches and a single pier formed of four engaged columns is present. A 12th-century corbel table faces into the north aisle. A tall pointed 15th-century arch of three chamfered orders stands between the nave and tower base, with the inner order rising from engaged semi-circular columns with moulded capitals. The chancel arch is pointed with two chamfered orders, the mouldings of the capitals continued either side of the archway. A 19th-century trussed rafter roof covers the nave, and a medieval wagon roof covers the chancel.

Coloured tile flooring with some encaustic tiling is present in the chancel and sanctuary. Stone bench seats line the south and north walls of the chancel. Two trefoil-headed piscinas sit in the chancel south wall, one with mutilated enrichment, scalloped bowl, and a moulded hood continued along the south, east, and north walls either under or over various openings to two aumbreys with plank doors with decorative strap hinges. Three niches include one with a rectangular stone tank and drain in the north wall. A continuous hoodmould runs over the windows in the north and south walls.

The nave contains a high round-headed arch with simple moulded capitals and keel moulding continued down the jambs behind the pulpit, an arch that formerly opened into the south transept.

Furniture and Fittings

A tub-shaped font of circa 1200 stands at the west end of the nave. The 19th-century pews have fielded backs. A 19th-century octagonal wooden font with blind tracery is present. 20th-century chair stalls, a brass lectern, and a 19th-century Tortoise stove by Portway and Son of Halstead, Essex stand in the east end of the vestry. A 19th-century organ occupies the chancel. A 19th-century wooden communion rail and ornately carved reredos depicting the Crucifixion and figures of St George and the Dragon are notable features. A 17th-century altar table with turned legs stands on a medieval altar slab. Twelve circular olive wood plaques (originally fifteen) hang on the chancel walls; these are probably Flemish work of the 15th or 16th century and form part of a rosary, depicting the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious mysteries.

Stained Glass

Early 14th-century coloured glass fragments survive in the heads of the lancets. The south window contains a Crucifixion scene at the top, with the remainder in grisaille. Apart from the 14th-century fragments in the chancel, the glass is 19th or 20th-century work, including one window by Kempe and Tower of 1917 and one by Powell and Sons of Whitefriars of 1928.

History

The Advowson granted its rents to Eynsham Abbey before 1264, and it is possible that the monks of Eynsham were responsible for the building of the chancel and tower.