History

The Early Church

By 700 AD First Saxon Church built at at the side of the ancient road from Oxford via Crick and Lilbourne to Leicester and the North, on the site of the present chancel. The road was diverted to make room for the churchyard. Early churches of wood, later replaced by local stone.

By 1077

Norman Church with Nave and Chancel built by Geoffrey de la Guerche, who granted the tithes to Monks Kirby for the monastery of Angers, Normandy

1160-70

Walter de Camville probably made additions.

The Medieval Church

1200-20 Alaric Thomas de Astley married Camville heiress in 1209. He added S. Aisle (perhaps N. also) and Tower with early design (rare) of broach spire. Second diversion of the Oxford way to make space for the Tower.

1260-80

Andrew de Astley raised height of S. Aisle & rebuilt N. Aisle

1300-1320

Nicholas de Astley re-faced Tower with pink Hartshill stone, renewed its windows and built a belfry on N. side with cinquefoil tracery

1320-40

Sir Thomas de Astley rebuilt Chancel on a grand scale & flamboyant style, rebuilt most of the nave arcades & put new windows in N aisle and at E end of S Aisle incorporated a rose window.

1360-80

Nave neight raised by a clerestory, probably with early round windows with carved corbel stones to support the roof.

1400-50

Windows in clerestory replaced

Later Church

1840

Church restored and pewed throughout

1841

Organ installed

1847

Churchyard extended eastwards

Last Century Church

1926

Floor relaid in Sancuary. Late 12th century Stone effigy discovered.

1940

Gurney stoves installed

1970s

Pews removed from N. aisle to create a social area

1978

Organ restoration

1997

New bell frame fitted and ring of six bells installed

Kitchen installed

1998

Bells increased to eight

2009

Full organ restoration