Churches of the British Isles

The framing for the bell turret is partly sixteenth century or soon afterwards. The church was again extensively rebuilt in 1850 by Reverend Richard Seymour. Most of the present windows were Victorian replacements but the oak framed window by the pulpit, and the quatrefoil chancel window showing the Virgin Mary and Child, are dated to 1336. The furniture and screen are Victorian, while the single bell was cast in 1716 at Bromsgrove. The church is now Grade II listed.

St Mary Magdalene & All Saints, Haselor, is surrounded by fields, with footpaths leading to Walcote immediately north-east and Haselor to the west. Also known as 'St Mary & Church All Saints' in one source, its parish is an amalgamation of two Saxon manors, Upton and Haselor, but following the Dissolution, the Crown gained authority for the parish and neglected it, with few regular vicars being appointed until the nineteenth century.

The church was apparently built in the twelfth century, with a west tower. A south aisle with an arcade of three bays was added later in the century. Early in the thirteenth century the chancel was rebuilt, with a north chapel and an arcade of two bays. The north chapel aisle was subsequently destroyed and the arcade was walled up, perhaps in the eighteenth century. The tower's bell chamber was added in 1622. The church underwent restoration in 1883 and again in 1892.

St Mary Magdalen, Great Alne, is to the north of Haselor. The church sits on northern side of Henley Road at the end of a long footpath. Great Alne takes its name from the River Alne but in the medieval period it was known as Ruwenalne or Round Alne, 'rough' Alne. The manor dates from 809, and belonged to Winchcombe Abbey until the Dissolution. Afterwards, the church was a chapel of ease for the parish of Kinwarton, a situation which remains to this day.

The church dates at least to the thirteenth century, shown by a surviving lancet window in the chancel. The nave was widened southwards some time after that date. The Victorians undertook a good deal of restoration work, with additions which included a new aisle with an arcade of two bays, the western part of the nave, and the porch-turret, all of which were probably completed in 1837. Very few original features remained, although the single bell of 1670 still rings.

Five photos on this page kindly contributed by Aidan McRae Thomson, and one photo copyright © Colin Craig, and reused under a cc licence.