Historic Churches in Gloucestershire

St Mary's Church in Kempley is an isolated 12th-century church famous for its collection of superb medieval wall paintings. St Mary also features the oldest open roof in north-west Europe, and a door thought to be the oldest in Britain still in use. Well worth a visit.
Kempley, Gloucestershire, England

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St Mary's church stands on the north bank of the River Thames, near an ancient ford. The striking Perpendicular tower was built by John of Gaunt, and the tower ceiling is painted with heraldic designs. Nailed to the door of the church is a horseshoe lost by the Earl of Lancaster's horse as the Earl rode off to war in the mid-14th century.
Kempsford, Gloucestershire, England, GL7 4ET

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Heritage Highlight: John of Gaunt's tower and the Earl of Lancaster's horseshoe

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The late Saxon tower of St Oswald's is all that remains of the old parish church of Lassington. The church must predate the Norman Conquest, but the earliest mention of it is a reference to a ceremony of rededication in 1095.
Lassington Lane, Highnam, Lassington, Gloucestershire, England, GL2 8DH

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A lovely little country church of Cotswold stone, St Peter's retains quite a few Norman features. The tower is 12th century, and there are Georgian wall paintings in the interior, and fragments of 14th-century stained glass, but the most interesting historical feature is the beautifully carved south door.
Little Barrington, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, England, OX18

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Heritage Highlight: Norman tympanum set into the north wall

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St Peter's Church dates to the 12th century and retains Norman arcades and capitals, a 13th-century doorway, and a 15th-century font. Look for the RAF Little Rissington war graves in the churchyard and the RAF memorial window inside the church.
Church Lane, Little Rissington, Gloucestershire, England, GL54 2NA

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Heritage Highlight: RAF war graves and memorial window

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A delightful little church dating to the 12th century. St Mary's consists of just a nave, very small chancel, and central bell turret. The nave and chancel are of warm Cotswold stone, supported by simple angled buttresses and topped by a slate roof. The building stands in an orchard, one of the prettiest settings you can imagine.
Little Washbourne, Gloucestershire, England, GL20 8NQ

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Heritage Highlight: Georgian box pews and medieval paintings

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A Norman church with 12th-century remodelling, St James is best known for the Sezincote Chapel, built by the Cockerell family, In addition to Cockerell family tombs, St James's boasts the effigy of a 14th-century knight and a Jacobean monument to Sir William Leigh (d. 1631).
Church Street, Longborough, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, England

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The delightful country church at Lower Lemington dates to at least the 12th century, with a chancel arch that may be Saxon. Historical highlights include a Norman font, a medieval parish chest, and a 1636 memorial brass.
Lower Lemington, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, England, GL56 9NR

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Heritage Highlight: 11th-century chancel arch

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One of our favourite churches - St Nicholas church in Lower Oddington is hidden at the end of a small lane. It's not the easiest place to find, but the effort is worth it, for St Nicholas' boasts a superb series of medieval wall paintings, including a 'Doom' depiction that may be the largest in England. There is also a 16th-century likeness of a Cardinal that may be Cardinal Wolsey, who once held the living here.
Church Road, Lower Oddington, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, England

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Heritage Highlight: Wonderful medieval Doom paintings

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The 13th-century church of St Mary's stands looking over fields at the edge of the Gloucestershire village of Meysey Hampton. Within the south transept is an ornate 17th-century tomb to James Vaulx, a prominent local physician. In the chancel is a 14th-century founder's tomb, and by the altar is a 14th-century triple sedilia.
Church Street, Meysey Hampton, Gloucestershire, England, GL7 5LS

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Heritage Highlight: 1630 Vaulx memorial

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