St Mary the Virgin
Thame, Oxfordshire
There was a church here at least as early as the Norman period, but the lovely building we see today is the result of a complete 13th century rebuilding, when Long Crendon was under the patronage of Notley Abbey. The oldest part of the building is the chancel, which dates to about 1235, while the rest of the structure dates to around 1265.
In the south transept is the tomb of Sir John Dormer, dated 1627. The tomb was designed by Nicholas Johnson. Dormer's effigy shows him as a knight in full armour, set in a classical recess flanked by Tuscan columns. Every surface seems to glitter.
Just below the altar step is an intriguing medieval encaustic tile with the figures of three hares in yellow against an orange background. The tile is probably 14th century, made locally at nearby Penn. If you look closely you'll see that the trio of rabbits share only one set of ears between them.
