The side lanes of this village clearly show how unspoiled it all is. Rectory lane is dotted with 17th and 18th century cottages giving an ancient bucolic feel to the place. At the bottom of the hill you find the manor house, clearly immaculately kept, if the view through the gates is anything to go by, and of course, the lovely parish church.

With a broad central tower, buttressed and battlemented to the full, this church has a kind of baby cathedral feel about it. Indeed it has always been a rich living. In 1291 its valuation was £16, the highest in the deanery, and the various rectors over the centuries have been men of distinction and learning.

In the 18th and early 19th century they were relations of the lords of the manor, called Talbot Rice, who lived in the great palladian house in Great Barrington called Barrington Park, about a mile from here, which we visited last year.

The church is clearly 12th century in origin but it was largely rebuilt in 1873. The oldest medieval work surviving is the bottom of the tower which stands on the oddly varied pointed 13th century arches.

Their differences may have been exaggerated by the insertion of the rood stairs. You can see the small window inserted to light the rood, which, like most rood lofts, has been removed.

The nave was entirely rebuilt in the 16th century with perpendicular windows, which makes me realise that this church’s history is probably too complicated for examination here. Do come and visit and see the very spectacular west rose window. I know nothing of its origins but it’s a sparkling affair and throws a lovely light over the organ loft.