St Nicholas Oddington

The Launch of The Appeal “The Next 1000 Years” St Nicholas has a venerable history and was first noted in the Domesday Book in 1086. The original church was Anglo Saxon and over the next two hundred years, it was remodeled and enlarged most notably in the thirteenth century, prompted by the visits of Henry III to the Manor of Oddington, then in the See of the Archbishop of York. Architecturally, little has changed since the Middle Ages. In the seventeenth century, the village moved away from the vicinity of the church probably as a consequence of the Plague. After the Victorians built another church within the village of Lower Oddington, St Nicholas became the mortuary chapel and was effectively derelict. Services were resumed in the early twentieth century after a restoration project during which the fourteenth century Doom painting on the north wall was discovered. Today, St Nicholas is a thriving place of worship with regular services in the summer and two candlelit services in December which attract over two hundred congregants. There is still no electricity in the church. Like many historic buildings, once again the church requires significant restoration: to the roof, windows, stone, mortar and leadwork. Hence in May 2026, an Appeal is being launched to save and prepare St Nicholas for the next millennium. The target is to raise £350,000 over the next three years through a combination of private donations, charitable trusts and grants together with village events. It is very much hoped that you might support our endeavour by making a donation.