Services

The tradition of St Mary’s has varied from evangelical to Anglo-Catholic from time to time, but the affection in which the villagers hold the Methodist Chapel mean that Westcote has the best of all worlds in terms of breath of worshipping opportunities and most services are informal and family friendly.

Contact;
Mr Trevor Bigg, churchwarden, tel. 01993 830624

The Church & Parish

Early Westcote comprised three settlements: Combe (later called Combe Baskerville and now Gawcombe), Over Westcote (now Church Westcote) and Nether Westcote (briefly called Chapel Westcote). All three gaze north-east over the Evenlode valley along a line of natural springs.

The church was built by the Baskerville family at Over Westcote in the 13th century; there is a record of a Rector here in 1268. It was extended in the 15th century and restored in the late 18th century. Sadly the beautiful 13th century chancel, almost comparable with Icomb's, was not so well looked after during an 1876 restoration.

What remains is a plain nave higher than its 13th century predecessor, a wide arch to a chancel with north and south walls decorated by six feet of Austrian oak, and an original 15th century tower arch leading to a handsome embattled three-stage tower—with two-light louvred windows on each side of the upper stage. There is a 15th century octagonal font with a moulded bowl and plain stem.

The four windows in the nave have 20th century stained glass by John Hardman for the Nichols family of Gawcombe, two reverent scenes for the parents and more vivid paintings for the son and daughter. The triple-light above the altar with six scenes of Jesus commemorates another son, a captain in the Royal Dragoons who died on New Year’s Day in 1889. The altar until recently was curtained behind and at the sides.

Outside, the north-west corner has a fine bearded medieval character, and near the porch is a 13th century churchyard cross—although little remains of the figures in the eight niches of its separate base.

As with many parishes in the Middle Ages, one family dominated economically and placed their younger sons in the pulpit. Of the Baskervilles, Bernard was a monk of St Peter’s, Gloucester around 1100; Edward in 1539 became the last warden of the Franciscans in Oxford and was described by John Foxe as an vnlerned doctor for his persecution of Protestants; and Richard in 1572 was excommunicated amid complaints about the need for repairs and that fact that he had only preached one sermon in a year.

Two successive 17th century rectors served 89 years between them; two successive and related Victorian rectors, Thomas Pantin and his nephew, John Wicliffe Pantin, some 60 years; his middle name suggest their churchmanship. William Morgan, curate in the 18th century, was a friend and active supporter of John and Charles Wesley, but John Thomas, rector for 40 years from 1906, transitioned from a Welsh Wesleyan upbringing to High Church Anglicanism and sponsored the convent of the Sisters of the Community of Jesus of Nazareth. They flourished for a period in the village supporting parishes throughout Britain and there was also a short-lived movement led by Brother Edward Bulstrode, an ex-member of the Cowley Fathers in Oxford, to train young men in village evangelism.

Westcote, like all the villages in the benefice, has had an interesting religious life.