The "Historic Churches" group visited St Lawrence, Combe on the 20th Feb. Linda, the Church Administrator and former Churchwarden was our Guide, welcoming us with (fresh) coffee, tea, biscuits - thank you! Linda told us much about the village, the Church, and their history since - before - the Doomsday book.

The Village is formally Combe Longa - to reflect how stretched out it is - there is an (unexcavated) Roman Villa close by, and it seems the Village was originally more in the valley - where it seems there was a separate Church.

Intially the Parish was under Bishop Odo of Bayeux, but then became Crown land before being transferred to Eynsham Abbey who governed it for many years.

This Church building dates to soon after the black death - about 1395, and was decorated with wall paintings that are contemporary to that date. It seems likely the Chancel was a bit later, 1310 to 1325 from the style of the Sedilia, which are typical of that period. The Village are celebrating the 700th Anniversary this year!

Monks from Eynsham "staffed" the parish during that time, but the Abbey declined and eventually it was sold to Lincoln College, who retain links to this day.

The building has many wall paintings - there are really 3 sets, the originals from the 1390's, a couple more 20 or so years later. These were defaced by the Iconclasts, and new paintings put over them - with bibilical and liturgical texts rather than images of Saints. in the 1880s the Church was restored, the original paintings found and most of the whitewash was removed - many of them are remarkably clear and vivid still. But much was lost, and theres clear signs that some were repainted - a Crucifixion was overpainted with another Crucifixion; when the cleaning was done the later one was (mostly) removed.

Theres a stone pulpit, with a charming but crude sculpture at its base! The stone suggests a monastic origin, most are from wood. A claim to fame is that John Wesley was known to have preached here during his time at Oxford.

Linda was able to tell us much about the paintings - who they represented (a variety of Saints) and the reason they were sainted - rather gory martydoms typically!

There are steps up to a former Rood Screen and Loft - the Screen was rotten and removed in the 1880s at the time of the restoration.

We did not see the Bells - there was a "Ring" that were cast locally, in Woodstock in the 17th Century, but which were destroyed in a fire (a clumsy Rector lit a bonfire too close to the Church and set the Belfry alight). In 1919, they were recast, and are now a fine "Peel" with an active Ringing Team who practice weekly.

Afterwards, we had a good look round the church, took pictures, and chatted; some went on for Lunch at the Duke of Marlbrough.

All in all, a fantastic visit, thanks to Linda for enabling and guiding us. More on the Churches own website https://www.combeparishchurch.org/a-brief-history-of-the-church