Church and chapels Sydenham, Oxfordshire

the nave s 15th-century hammerbeam roof



one of set of medieval corbels in chancel supported lenten veil. 1 may have included pulley.


church of england

by 1185–86 sydenham chapelry of prebendary parish of thame. in english reformation in 1547 act dissolution of collegiate churches , chantries dissolved prebendaries, , tithes of sydenham passed wenman family. earliest parts of church of england parish church of saint mary norman corbels in walls of chancel. however, in 1293 reported church in ruins , rebuilding had begun. carried out in english gothic style. church retains of lancet windows inserted during rebuilding.

the timber-framed bell tower built @ same time. 1 of number of wooden bell-towers in south oxfordshire. others include st helen s, berrick salome, saints, didcot; st nicolas, rotherfield greys , st mary virgin, waterperry.

early in 14th century decorated gothic east window inserted in chancel , rood screen , rood loft added. late in 15th century nave given hammerbeam roof. rood screen , loft removed in 1840. in chancel set of medieval corbels formerly supported lenten veil screen altar. such veils discontinued in english reformation, , these corbels rare survival.

sherwood , pevsner state architect john billing restored st mary s in 1856, victoria county history states restoration in 1877. both accounts tower rebuilt, chancel , nave lengthened , vestry , south porch added. victoria county history adds tower , arches moved distance west. 2 lancet windows west of south porch added during restoration, , 14th-century style west window of nave added @ same time.

the church grade ii* listed building. parish part of single benefice parishes of aston rowant, chinnor , crowell.

non-conformist

there nonconformist congregations in sydenham 1804. baptist chapel built in 1825 , rival second 1 in 1844. 1 of baptist chapels closed in 1855, 1864 other still going particular baptist chapel. rebuilt ebenezer chapel in 1881 , sunday school added in 1883. still open in 1920 had closed 1932 , sold in 1936. owner leased chapel methodist congregation 1949 , sold them in 1957. in 1958 member of thame , watlington methodist circuit, has since closed , private house.

sydenham had primitive methodist chapel 1866. still open in 1910, no subsequent record of known.