Saturday, 18 April 2026

St Margaret of Antioch Harpsden

 

 This week The Church Explorer heads back into South Oxfordshire from Buckinghamshire where he was last week but then it was just a matter of driving back through Henley-on-Thames to get there. St Margaret of Antioch has been on my radar for a while but I missed out visiting due to the road being shut in the direction I had come. This time I came more direct. 

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The Church of England parish church of Saint Margaret[4] was originally late Norman, as evidenced by the piscina, font and a blocked doorway that survive from this period.[5] The current windows in the nave and chancel were inserted in the 14th century, and a stone effigy of a knight dates from the same period. In 1848–54 the Gothic Revival architect Benjamin Ferrey lengthened the nave and added the north aisle and tower. In 1879 the architect Henry Woodyer restored the chancel.

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From the road it does look a very pleasant church

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West end looking towards the tower off to the left

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North east aspect of the church

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Coming around to show more of the bell tower

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South side of the church with the church rooms on the left

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I did wonder what this was when I first saw it thinking it may have been a mortuary 

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No wrong on that one, it looks like it was a personal Lychgate for the manor behind

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 But now converted into a small chapel where you can sit and contemplate 

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 South view of the church
 
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From the south east

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Another north east view

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Going round to the north west

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There was not a large churchyard but at the other end of the village is this lychgate 

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That takes you to the cemetery

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It's quite full of headstones

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Right at the end is the War memorial 

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This little reminder of Easter was near the porch

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Round the south side a few headstones and tombs

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East end of that part of the churchyard

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Around the north side even less headstones to see but the near one was different

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Inside looking down the nave

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Into the chancel

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between the choir stalls

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Altar and east window

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Very nice looking east window

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Looking back through the church

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Family vault dating back to the 1700's

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Tomb recess with effigy

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Stoup and chair 

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I did like this stained glass window

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Not sure what the little cupboard was for

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Church brass now on the wall

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Tomb of Mary Hampton who died in 1667 age ten from the look

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No pulpit shot but I did take one from iImage

Some of the stained glass windows in the church

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West wall of the church

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Stained glass window above

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Mothers union banner 

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Tomb with brass 

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This window is beside the pulpit and I found interesting

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I've never seen one showing Queen Victoria

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The plaque telling to the reason

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Brass Roll of Honour

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Some of the memorials in the church

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North aisle

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At the end is the organ

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which faces the chancel

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The south door takes you to the church office and meeting rooms

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Pilgrim marks on the posts were interesting to see

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 Carved arch corbel

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Couple more church brasses on show

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British legion flags

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Last of all the font which looks as though it is Norman

Next weeks church may be a day late in Publishing as I am hoping to visit the church for a couple more photos on the Sunday morning 

Till Next time may I wish you all a peaceful week 

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