Shifford : St Mary

Built in 1863, St Mary’s is a small church in limestone in a Gothic Revival style by Joseph Clarke. It replaced a chapel documented from the early 13th century (c.1230) that was a dependent chapelry of Bampton.

About this church

The building is of stone with Stonesfield-slated roofs, and comprises a small chancel with a vestry on the north, and a nave with south porch and west bellcote; it is lit by plain lancets and by a small quadripartite circular east window. New glass with coloured medallions, and stained glass in the circular east window, was inserted in 1971. The larger bell, similar to products of the Burford foundry, is of 1685 and is inscribed ‘H. Allen’, the font and pulpit are modern. Electric heating replaced a coke stove in 1964, but lighting was partly from candles until 1976.

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