St Helen's Church, Oxendon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Helen's Church, Oxendon |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | http://www.faxtongroup.org.uk/sthelenschurchgr.htm |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Brixworth |
| Archdeaconry | Northampton |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Helen's Church is a very old and special church located in Great Oxendon. It is a Christian church that belongs to the Church of England. This church serves as the main church for the local area, known as the parish church of Oxendon. You can find it on the west side of Harborough Road, just north of the village.
St Helen's Church is also a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a really important historical building. The "Grade II*" part shows it's extra special and needs to be protected because of its history and unique design. It's like a national treasure!
A Look Back in Time
When the Domesday Book was created in 1086, there was no mention of a church or a priest in Oxendon. The Domesday Book was a huge survey ordered by King William the Conqueror. It was like a big census to find out who owned what across England. This missing information might mean there wasn't a church building yet, or perhaps just no priest living there at that time.
Building the Church
The main parts of the church you see today were built a long, long time ago. Most of it was put together in the 13th and 14th centuries. That's over 700 years ago! Later, in the 19th century, some parts of the church were repaired and updated. This is called restoration.
The church has several important sections. It includes a nave, which is the main part where people sit. There are also north and south aisles, which are the side sections. The chancel is the area near the altar, and there's a tall west tower.
Old Records and History
The church has kept records of important events, like births, marriages, and deaths, since 1564. These are called parish registers. They are very old and give us clues about the people who lived in Oxendon centuries ago. Most of these old records are now kept safely at the Northamptonshire Record Office.
Working Together
Oxendon is part of a group of churches called a united Benefice. This means St Helen's Church works closely with the churches in nearby villages. These villages include Arthingworth, East Farndon, and Harrington. Even though they work together, each village still has its own church building.
