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This is an attractive small church from the Norman period, retaining a significant amount of original 12th century work. The inevitable Victorian period restoration, 1869-71 by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, involved far less change to the masonry fabric of the building than is often the case, the most significant result being the renewal of the roof structures.

The church consists of an aisled nave and chancel of the 12th century, retaining the aisle arcades from this period. An odd feature for which no explanation can be found is that the capitals of the south arcade have decoration whilst those of the north arcade are plain. The north aisle to the chancel was added in the early 16th century, when the current main north aisle windows were inserted, and the south chancel aisle, now a lady chapel, and south aisle windows were added in the early 17th century. Both these aisles open of the chancel with wide arcade arches.

A feature of both aisles is that the original 12th century corbel tables of the Norman chancel are retained within the church. The benefit of this in terms of the detail of the carving can be seen by comparing the indoor corbels with the remaining external ones on the north side of the chancel.

For a full description of the Norman elements of the church, visit Link

It is unclear at what stage the bellcote at the western end was added; the Listing suggest there may have been a bell tower in the 17th century. The older of the two bells was cast in the first half of the 17th century, and the reference to a tower could simply be the bellcote. The second bell was added in 1903.

The oldest internal fittings and features all pre-date the Norman church and are evidence for a Saxon period church. The font is of this period, there are remains of a Saxon cross in the Lady Chapel, found during the 19th century restoration in the fabric of the church, and the remains of a possibly Saxon window in the west wall of the north aisle. Also in the Lady Chapel are a pair of small mass dials, possibly also of Saxon origin, which have survived through being enclosed with the addition of the chapel.

The main monumental feature is the recumbent effigy of a lady in the chancel. Indicated in the Listing as c.1400, more recent research places it as late 13th century and has identified it with a high degree of probability as Lady Alice Vavasour, widow of John Vavasour who died in 1285. From then until her death in 1295, Alice was in control of the family lands at Bilton, and is the most prominent local lady known to have died in the period to which the effigy belongs. The effigy is not in its original (unknown) position, but was moved into the sanctuary area in the early 21st century for its better preservation.

Also of interest are the altar table (early 17th century) and the eagle lectern. This dates from around 1664 and was discovered headless and wingless during Scott's restoration. He made arrangements for it to be sympathetically restored with new head wings and pedestal.

The church is Listed Grade I Link