The Chapel of St John the Baptist, Duxford

Whilst not strictly a church (it is no longer consecrated), I have included Duxford Chapel because of its interesting history and rustic charm.

It was founded around 1200 by the local Lord of the Manor, Sir William de Colville, and first mentioned in records in 1236.  Now in the care of English Heritage, the chapel was part of a small hospital providing shelter for travellers and care for sick people, one of many such foundations established around this time. It would have been staffed by a Master with at least one other brother.

The chapel was largely rebuilt in the 14th century, when it became a chantry: it is possible that the hospital (like many others in the period) lost some or all of its endowments. Whatever the cause, it remained a chantry until it, like others, was dissolved in 1548 under Edward VI. Thereafter, it was used as a barn for the adjacent Inn, which presumably had also taken over its original role to provide hospitality for travellers.

The chapel has an undivided nave and chancel, and is made of flint and pebble rubble, with dressings of limestone and clunch. The single-light windows on the north side have cusped headings, and shafted jambs inside with moulded caps and bases. The east end of the chapel is best preserved, with the remains of an easter sepulchre, aumbry, piscina and sedilia.

The chapel is normally open during daylight hours: free entry.

All Saints, East Stratton

Built by Sir Thomas G Jackson for Lord Northbrook in 1885-90, All Saints is a lovely example of a late-Victorian village church, prettily located in a spacious churchyard.

The church itself is largely Perpendicular in style, made of knapped flint with Chilmark stone dressings, and a pretty timber porch. The well-proportioned tower with its shingled broach-spire is sadly hidden on the side away from the road. Inside, the church comprises a nave, chancel, and a short 3-bay north aisle.

The interior contains interesting early electric light fittings, suspended on chandeliers of decorative wrought ironwork, which lend an Arts-and-Crafts touch. Lord Northbrook himself (1826-1904) is commemorated by a memorial tablet in the chancel: a prominent Liberal statesman, he was Viceroy of India (1872-76) and First Lord of the Admiralty (1880-85).

Located in the Upper Dever benefice, the church has a service every two weeks, with Evensong at 6pm (second Sunday) and Holy Communion at 10am (fourth Sunday). The church is normally open for private prayer during daylight hours.

All Saints, Church Bank Road, East Stratton SO21 3FJ

All Saints, Dummer

Located south west of Basingstoke and just off the M3, the pretty village of Dummer is home to a church rich in interest and full of character.

Mentioned in the Doomsday Book, the present building dates from around 1200, albeit with additions throughout the mediaeval period. Entered through a pretty 15th Century west porch, the first impression is one of gloom, thanks to the large 17th century gallery dominating the west end, which also contains the massive timber framing for the bell turret. The 13th century chancel arch is framed on the north by a fine 14th century niche, thought once to have been the reredos of a nave altar. On the south is a restored squint, rounded headed on the east side but decorated with cinquefoil cusps to the west. The chancel has three lancets in the east wall, filled with stained glass by Kempe, and a cusped piscina. Most impressive, however, is the 15th century rood beam and canopy above the chancel arch. This is a rare survival, and well preserved: it has twelve panels, decorated with bosses picked out in gold. 

The church has furnishings rich enough to match the architecture. Pride of place goes to the early  pulpit, dated to 1380 and with traceried panels. It is one of the oldest in England. Famous preachers who have used it include George Whitfield (1714-1770), who founded the Calvanistic Methodists, and John Wesley. The communion rails are 17th century, and Royal Coat of Arms in the chancel are those of Charles II (dated 1672). 

There are numerous small brasses, including one to William Moore, alias Dummer (d. 1508) and his wife, Katherine Brydges. Oddly, the space left for the date of his death was never filled in. In the nave, another brass records William Moore (alias Dummer) and his wife Ellen (d. 1427), in rhyming Latin verse. The nave has the remains of a 14th century tomb recess and also, beneath the gallery, a rare 16th century hinged palimpsest brass, recording different memorials on each side: on the rear, it commemorates Robert Clerk, priest, who dies c. 1500; on the front it recall Allys (Alice) Magewyk (d. 1591).

The church is in the benefice of Farleigh, Candovers and Wield, which contains 9 churches, and details of activities and service times.

All Saints, Farleigh Lane, Dummer, RG25 2AF

St Michael, North Waltham

 St Michael's sits atop a small rise at the north end of North Waltham, surrounded by a churchyard which was full of daffodils and primroses on my visit during Holy Week.

The church was rebuilt on the site of its mediaeval predecessor in 1895-6 by the prolific Winchester architect John Colson (1820-1895), responsible for the rebuilding of several of Hampshire's churches in the 19th century. The design is a simple double cell of nave and chancel, with north aisle and porch, topped with a shingle spire.

Colson reused a number of elements from the earlier building, most notably two of the arcade arches of c. 1200, which have robust drum columns, cushion capitals and moulded bases, supporting pointed arches. The chancel is of around 1300 with some original details alongside the 19th century east window and the rather elaborately decorated replacement chancel arch, all zig-zag and dogtooth. The chancel also has a fine surviving Decorated piscina, with an elaborately crocketed gable of surprising richness. At the rear of the church is a 15th century Perpendicular font, with pretty quartrefoils - this was brought from nearby Popham.

The church is part of a united benefice with Steventon, Ashe and Deane. It hosts services services every Sunday, as well as a Messy Church for children and families, and children's holiday clubs.

St Michael's, Church Road, North Waltham, RG25 2BL

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

St Peter, Petersfield