Church of All Saints, Cuddesdon

The Church of All Saints in Cuddesdon is a Church of England parish church in the village of Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire. It is a Grade I listed building, the highest level of protection in England, and its origins go back to the 12th century.

What does the church look like?

The church has a cruciform plan with a central tower. The nave has three bays, with aisles to the north and south, and the building is entered through porches on the south and west sides. The core dates from the mid to late 12th century, the Norman period. The aisles were added in the 13th century, and in the 14th century their roofs were raised and the south porch was built. The west doorway in the 14th-century porch has an arch of three orders.

The upper part of the Norman tower was rebuilt in 1630. It has twin arched bell-openings and an embattled parapet, which gives the tower a slightly fortified look.

In the churchyard, beside the south transept, stand historic monuments including a chest tomb and the Gardiner memorial, both of which have their own listing entries.

What is the history of the church?

Abingdon Abbey founded the parish at Cuddesdon around 1180. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538-41 the church was no longer in the abbey's care and began to decay. It was rescued around 1630, when a local builder supervised repairs to the upper part of the tower.

The 19th century brought a thorough restoration. The chancel was restored in 1849 by Benjamin Ferrey, and the rest of the building in 1851-53 by the architect G. E. Street. This work shaped much of the church's present interior, although the medieval structure remains easy to read.

The church became widely known after 1854, when Bishop Samuel Wilberforce founded a theological college in Cuddesdon, now Ripon College Cuddesdon. Since then All Saints has been recognised throughout the Anglican Communion.

Why visit?

It is a rewarding stop for anyone interested in medieval and Victorian architecture or in Anglican history. In one building you can see a Norman core, 13th- and 14th-century additions, a tower rebuilt in the 17th century and the work of well-known 19th-century architects. The village lies in South Oxfordshire, not far from Oxford, so a visit combines easily with exploring the surrounding countryside.

Frequently asked questions

When was the church built? The oldest parts date from the 12th century. It was extended in the 13th and 14th centuries, and the tower was partly rebuilt in 1630.

Is it a protected building? Yes. It is Grade I listed, designated on 18 July 1963.

Who restored the church in the 19th century? Benjamin Ferrey restored the chancel in 1849, and G. E. Street restored the rest in 1851-53.

What is Cuddesdon known for? The theological college founded in 1854 by Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, now Ripon College Cuddesdon.