| Church Hanborough | |
|---|---|
 SS Peter and Paul parish church | |
  Church Hanborough Location withinOxfordshire | |
| OS grid reference | SP4212 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Witney |
| Postcode district | OX29 |
| Dialling code | 01993 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Hanborough Online |
| |
Church Hanborough is a village inHanboroughcivil parish about 5 miles (8 km) northeast ofWitney inOxfordshire.
TheDomesday Book of 1086 records the village asHaneberge.[citation needed]
TheChurch of England parish church ofSaints Peter and Paul was built before 1130, whenHenry I granted itsadvowson toReading Abbey, which he had founded nine years earlier. Surviving 12th century features includeNormantympanum of the north door, which is a relief ofSaint Peter with theLamb of God and thelion of Saint Mark. Early in the 13th century thechancel and chancel arch were rebuilt, the north chapel was extended eastwards, the height of theaisles was increased, the north and south porches were added and a west tower was built.[1][2]
In 1399Pope Boniface IX granted anindulgence to contributors to the church fabric. Immediately after this the church was remodelled inPerpendicular Gothic style. The west tower was completely rebuilt and the spire and western buttresses added. Then the nave was remodelled with new north and southarcades of delicate octagonalcolumns. Later in the 15th century new windows were inserted in most parts of the church, andtraceried wooden screens were inserted in the chancel arch and at the west ends of the north and south chapels. The arcades are similar to those ofSt Peter and Paul parish church, Northleach,Gloucestershire, and it has been suggested that they are the work of the samemastermason.[2] Sources differ as to when the naveclerestory with its low-pitched roof was added. Jennifer Sherwood inThe Buildings of England includes it in the early 15th-century remodelling,[1] but theVictoria County History attributes it to the early 16th century.[2]
The spire and other parts of the church were repaired in 1660–62 and much of the roof was repaired in 1778–79 and 1799–1800. At some date, perhaps in the 18th century, asingers' gallery was added. There is a record of it existing in about 1806, and it was removed in 1845–47.[2] In 1860 the church wasrestored to designs by the architectSamuel Seckham. The 15th century east window of the chancel was removed and replaced by aGothic Revival one in a 14th-century style. The set of three 15th century wooden screens was to be removed, had not the thenBishop of Oxford,Samuel Wilberforce, personally intervened to save them.[2] In 1892 the west door was opened and the 15th centuryfont moved to its present position under the west tower, and the 15th centurypulpit was repaired and lowered to its original level. The spire was repaired in 1972.[2]
The tower has aring of six bells. Joseph Carter ofReading, Berkshire cast the fourth bell in 1602, Richard I Purdue ofSomerset cast the fifth bell in 1603 and Robert Atton ofBuckingham cast the third bell in 1615.[3] Robert II Wells ofAldbourne,Wiltshire cast the tenor bell in 1786 and James Wells, also of Aldbourne, cast the second bell in 1807.[3] Mears and Stainbank of theWhitechapel Bell Foundry cast the treble bell in 1956. There is also aSanctus bell that Richard Keene ofWoodstock cast in 1668.[3] The church has a 17th-century clock of unknown date.[4] It haswheel trains end-to-end and acrown wheel and verge escapement in original condition.[4] The church is aGrade I listed building.[5] The parish is now part of theBenefice of Hanborough andFreeland.[6]
Anational school near the church was built in 1832 and enlarged in 1872. It was closed in 1959 and converted into a private house in 1961.[7]
Among past residents of Church Hanborough are:
