Church of the Holy Cross

The Church of the Holy Cross stands in the village of Avening, set among the gentle hills of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. Built in the late 11th century, it is one of England’s oldest churches still in use. Queen Matilda of Flanders commissioned the church, and parts of the original structure remain. The tower and north aisle were added in the 12th century, while the transepts came later in the 13th. A fourth-century stone coffin lies outside, a reminder of the site’s long history.

The church is recognised for its layered past and fine architecture. Parts of the Norman design survive, including the doorway, arcade and chancel arch. The three-stage tower, supported by buttresses, was completed in stages over centuries. Inside, a 1657 table and a kneeling effigy of Henry Brydges of Avening Court can be seen. Clayton and Bell designed the East Window, and Christopher Whall created two nave windows. A war memorial tablet lists villagers lost in three conflicts.

Visitors find a cruciform building of Cotswold stone, its nave roof dating from the 14th century. The north aisle has a porch, and the tower rises in clear stages. Inside, monuments and tablets line the walls, and stained glass fills the windows. The churchyard holds the ancient stone coffin, a silent witness to the site’s early years. A quiet lane leads to the church, where history is still read in stone and glass.