North Side Steeple Aston Bicester
http://www.sntchurch.com

Please visit our website www.sntchurch.com for up to date details of services and events. The church of St Peter & St Paul stands on high ground at the northeast corner of the village. It comprises a chancel with north chapel, nave of three bays, north and south aisles, south porch, and west tower, all battlemented. Although the earliest record of a church dates to c. 1180, it is likely that a church stood on the sport earlier. Almost nothing remains of the 12th-century church. The church had a tower at least by 1220, when the prefix 'Steeple' was attached to the name Aston. During the 13th century the church was much altered with the constructions of the north and south aisles and arcades, a new chancel arch, and an buttressed extension to the chancel. The north chapel was built in the mid-14th century and contains an unusual double piscina with cusped arches decorated with a ram's head. The present tower dates from the 15th century. At some point during the High Middle Ages, an elaborately decorated cope was made for the church, though for some unknown reason it was soon thereafter cut into smaller squares. The Steeple Aston cope is currently kept at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.  See picture.

In 1362, the church was given to Cold Norton priory and remained under its care until the Dissolution. In 1513, the Bishop of Lincoln donated the living to Brasenose College, Oxford who remain the patrons until the present day. The most distinguished Rector of the parish was Dr Samuel Radcliffe, principle of Brasenose, and an ardent Laudian and Royalist. Dr Radcliffe established a village school and a supporting trust both of which continue to this day. Another notable Rector was Richard Duckworth, who wrote the first manual for campanology. In 1977, Steeple Aston became part of a united benefice with North Aston and Tackley.

Today, the parish church is home to a dedicated and welcoming congregation of worshipers drawn largely from Steeple and Middle Aston. 

Our aim is always to bring the faith, hope and love of Christ into the heart of community life. We welcome all who would like to worship with us, or who simply wish to explore Christian faith. 

Oxford Road, Steeple Aston, OX25 5QQ
(01869) 340259
holthotel.co.uk

Hopcrofts Holt Hotel, Steeple Aston

South Side, Steeple Aston, OX25 4RY
(01869) 340225
theredlionsteepleaston.co.uk/

About a mile from Heyford Station and the Oxford Canal, the village of Steeple Aston used to have two lions, of which only Hook Norton's Red Lion still remains, although in fact the original Red Lion was actually next door. The stone-built...

Southside, Steeple Aston, OX25 4RR

Closed and sold off by Admiral Taverns in early 2012, it was lived in without planning permission until 2013 when permission was granted despite a campaign by the village for it to remain a pub, see https://www.facebook.com/Fightforthewhite