St. Michael’s Church, Stanton Harcourt

The church is open all day, everyday, for the benefit of the many visitors. We lead a very full life, with services most Sundays. These include a Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion, Common Worship Parish Communion and an All Age Worship and a Benefice Service. The local church primary school has a monthly service here also. Other occasions celebrated here are an annual flower festival that involves all the village organisations (approximately 30), Harvest Festival, Remembrance Sunday, A Christmas Gift and Candlelit service, as well as a Midnight Communion and full church on Christmas morning.

St Michael’s Church stands in the middle of the village of Stanton Harcourt and is one of the four churches that comprise the Lower Windrush Benefice. This high quality church dates from about 1130, and reflects the association with the Harcourt family who acquired the manor in the 12th century, and still hold it. The cruciform church has a Norman aisle-less nave and central tower. The very large Early English chancel is divided from the nave by a 13th century wooden screen, probably the earliest in Oxfordshire. The 15th century Harcourt chapel is crowded with monuments of six hundred years of the family.