The beauty and drama of this delightful Norman church more than compensated for the heavy rain, which fell on the evening of Thursday 17th August.
Forty-three members of OHCT congregated in the historic, Grade 1 listed church of St Peter’s. We were warmly greeted by Church Warden, John Hemingway, who delivered a clear and expert account of the history of the building and its place in the village of Cassington.
Consecrated circa 1123, the spire was added in around 1318, together with additions to the windows. The belfry houses six bells, cast at the Woodstock foundry between 1640 and 1666 by James Keene and his son Richard. In May 2013, a £60,000 bell restoration programme was undertaken, assisted by a grant from OHCT.
The stonework of the east window is 13th century but the stained glass was probably installed from 1844 onwards and may have come from their patron, Christ Church, Oxford.
This beautifully maintained church also boasts pre-Tudor pews in extraordinarily good condition.
Afterwards, we had only to walk a few yards to The Chequers Hotel, where we were served the most delicious two course meal in vast quantities!
Our thanks certainly go to John Hemingway and his wife, Sue, who also served delicious wine in the church, and accompanied us for supper and to answer further questions on the church and the village of Cassington.