St Mary the Virgin
Witney, Oxfordshire
St Mary's church, Witney, is a magnificent building set in beautiful and historic surroundings and rising majestically above the centre of the town.
The Grade I listed church of St Mary Cogges originated as a two cell late Saxon structure probably linked to the Priory (currently the vicarage).
The church has arguably early Norman fabric in the west end of what is now the chancel, with the main body of the chancel and nave dating to the late 12th and early 13th century. Extensive remodelling was undertaken in 1330-40 with the addition of a north aisle and a chapel, now called the Blake Chapel.The south aisle and porch were added in the later 13th century.
The unusual northwest tower was probably added at the same time as the north aisle. The north chapel has a fine and unusual frieze of grotesques, animals and corbels of men and animals playing musical instruments.
There are notable monuments in the Blake Chapel: a tomb chest with a very fine early 14th century effigy of Margaret de Grey, and also the fine Blake memorial to William (d1695), Sara (d1701) and Francis (d1681). Stained glass includes the east window of the north chapel with early 14th century glass with foliate decoration in tracery lights. The Blake family owned nearby Cogges Farm, now a heritage trust.
