Owing to a fallen timber and the subsequent need to erect scaffolding inside the church, the building was locked. Let us hope that repairs are imminent and that the building will once again be accessible.
The dedication of the church to St Oswald seems to be comparatively recent. In wills of the mid-sixteenth century the church is referred to as All Saints. In 1834 it is described as St James's, but by 1877 it is called St Oswald's. The east window has some remnants of 15th century glass in the tracery.
The north chapel was converted by the Victorians into a vestry cum boiler house, and the east window was blocked and a chimney constructed in front of it! It looks too as if a north window in the chancel was blocked by brick at this time too.
The tower is supported on the west side by deep diagonal buttresses and has a staircase turret at the north-west corner. There are gargoyles at each corner and a sundial is attached to the south-east buttress. The weather vane is said to be a copy of one dated 1777 which was blown down in 1895. There are five bells.
There is an excellent summary of the history , or "quick tour" of the church here.
Digital photographs
Visitors to this album since June 2003
If you found this page using a search engine or other link, please use the icons below to link to one of the main sections of the Roughwood web site:
Please do not reproduce or store any of the pictures on this site without asking first.
