St Swithun, Martyr Worthy

Another of the Itchen Valley's picturesque churches, St Swithun's was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The present building dates largely from the late 12th Century, and sits above a heavily wooded lane which slopes gently down to the river.

The church has a nave and apsidal chancel: the former is the original Norman work, and contains fine north and south doorways with zig-zag and diamond decoration respectively. The chancel was added in 1865 and is clearly distinguished outside by its knapped flint walls (the original Norman walls being rendered). The nave has 15th century two-light windows in the west, north and south walls (the remainder being Victorian). The most distinctive feature is, however, the fine late Victorian bell-turret of 1871, which contains three 17th Century bells.

The church forms part of the Itchen Valley team ministry, with 3 services a month, complemented by those in Avington, Easton and Itchen Abbas.

St Swithun, Church Lane, Martyr Worthy SO21 1DY

St John the Baptist, Itchen Abbas

 St John's sits in a picture postcard position, just above the River Itchen, between Alresford and Winchester. 

Although there has been a church on the site since at least the 12th century, the present cruciform building dates largely from Victorian rebuilding, beginning with the chancel in 1867, followed by the nave and transepts in 1883. However, the main doorway and chancel arch are both 12th Century Norman and were reset from the original building. Both have heavy billets in the arch on simple column shafts. The windows in the Victorian chancel are also Norman in style, albeit rather more florid than the original, with marble columns and rich zig-zag decoration.

The interior is deceptively spacious and was re-ordered in 2009, removing the Victorian fittings, but expanding the gallery, and providing a kitchen and toilets. It is worth looking up at the fine barrel vaulted roof, with what the Listed Building entry describes as an "interesting design at the crossing".

St John the Baptist, Itchen Abbas SO21 1BJ