A church has stood here from Saxon times for the Parish of Ambrosden was referred to as being already in existence as early as 1069 AD.
It was constructed as a Catholic Church. The Norman tower and a church which included part of the nave were built at the end of the 11th century or the beginning of the 12th century.
The actual year of its consecration is unknown but it is assumed to have been in the month of September close to the birthday of the Virgin Mary whose name it bears.
The first recorded priest was Willielmus Sacerdos de Ambrosden (William priest of Ambrosden) in 1106 and an interesting list of those who have followed him can be found framed behind the entrance door to the Church.
To mention a few: The Rev. J Stubbings (1637-1656) was responsible for building the old vicarage, which stands behind the wall on your left as you walk towards the church entrance. It was the centre of parish and village life for over 300 years.
It was built in 1638, in the reign of Charles l and replaced a mediaeval one dating from 1336. It passed into private hands in 1949.
A stone in the chancel, between the communion rail and the altar, marks the place where the Rev. Stubbings was buried.
The Rev. White Kennett (1685-1701) who later became Bishop of Peterborough, published a book in 1695 called Parochial Antiquities which is well known to historians and is a documented study of Ambrosden and the surrounding countryside from his own times back to those of the Romans.
There is a sad story here too.
When he was 30 he married Sarah Carver of Bicester.
They were very happy together but his young wife died in childbirth at the age of 18 at the Vicarage here.
He was so grief stricken that he became seriously ill and, as a result, his hands were so permanently swollen and shaky that it affected his writing for the rest of his life.
The Rev. T. P. Matthews started the first school in Ambrosden in 1818, at the vicarage and the Rev. Henry Dryden continued this work and started a further school in Arncott, at his own expense, in 1833.
The Rev. L. G. Dryden (1836-1866) built the north wing of the vicarage facing the church porch.
The Rev. C. E. Bagshawe was said to have set a very high standard and was responsible for sharing Mission Rooms in Arncott and Blackthorn.
The bell tower has a ring of eight bells and a sanctus bell.
The Sanctus dates from 1336 and the four heaviest, were first hung in 1190, the tenor bell weighs over 1.25 tonnes.
Two more were added in 1552 and 1697 and the last two in 1928.
There is a memorial to those who died in the 1914-18 War.
Their names were also engraved on the new treble bell in 1928.
Our villagers were more fortunate than most in the second war war for all those who served in the Forces returned alive.
We do however remember members of our armed forces (based within our parish) who have lost their lives in conflicts in recent years, at our remembrance service, and there are a number of war graves within our churchyard.
St. Mary’s churchyard is also the final resting place of the mother of the doctor who tried to save President Abraham Lincoln’s life after he had been shot by John Wilkes Booth in 1865.
More history can be discovered when you visit our lovely Church.