The Church of St Michael & All Angels consists of Chancel measuring internally 33-ft by 20-ft, North Chapel 17-ft. wide, Nave, North Aisle, South Porch & North-west Tower.
The Chancel & North Chapel are of Medieval date, but were very considerably restored between 1874 & 1890, when the rest of the Church was completely re-Built. The Walls are of Flint with Stone Sressings & the Roofs are Tiled. Although originally dating from the 14thC, the Church of St Michael & All Angels was almost entirely rebuilt in 1875 by Sir A W Blomfield, and has a distinctly Victorian feel to it.
The Chancel has a modern window in the East Wall & in the South Wall are 2-modern windows & a 14thC Piscina with a trefoiled Ogee Head, having a round Basin & a Shelf at the back; internally the Outline of an early pointed Doorway can be Traced. In the North Wall is an Arcade of 2-Bays, dating probably from the late-15thC, with 4-centred Arches supported on an Octagonal Pillar & semi-Octagonal Responds with Capitals Bearing Shields. There is a small trefoiled Niche on the East Respond & a Square Niche on the North side of the Pillar. The Chancel Arch is modern, with the Exception, perhaps, of a few Jamb Stones.
The North Chapel has a restored East window of 3-trefoiled lights with Tracery under a pointed Head, dating probably from about 1350; in the North Wall are modern windows and a 14thC Tomb Recess with a moulded 2-centred drop Arch, while in the South Wall, west of the Arcade, is a small 4-centred Tomb Recess of about 1500, with 2-glazed rectangular Openings to the Chancel. On the Sill of the East window are 2-Head Corbels, comprising a Grotesque of the 12thC, a Mailed Head of the 13th & a Crowned Head of the 14thC.
The Nave is of 3-Bays and is Built in the Style of the 14thC, as are the Tower, Aisles & Porch. The Roofs throughout have been renewed. The Font, dating from the early-13thC, is of Cylindrical Form enriched by continuous trefoiled Panels with a Foliated Band at the Top. The Altar dates from the 17thC and has Carved Rails & Turned Legs. 2 high-backed Oak Chairs, 1-in the Chancel and the other in the Nave, are probably of the 17thC.
On the East Wall of the North Chapel is a small Brass Figure of a Priest in Mass Vestments, with an Inscription to Robert Thursbe, ‘Capellanus,’ who died 15th January 1493, and in the Recess in the North Wall of the Chapel is a Marble Slab with indents for a Head, a Scroll & 2-Shields. In the North Chapel are 6 very interesting Effigies, of which the Oldest, a recumbent Effigy of a Cross-legged Knight, dating from about 1285, but slightly altered probably in the 16thC, lies in the South-east Corner. This is supposed to be a de Montfort, Ancestor of the Wellesbournes of this Parish. He wears Chain Mail and a long Surcoat charged with a Griffon grasping a Child in his left Claw and a Chief Checky, possibly for Wellesbourne; with his left hand he grasps his Long Sword, on the Scabbard of which are 7-Shields, and holds a Dagger in his right, while a Long Shield over his Left Arm bears a Lion with Forked Tail in an Orle of Crosslets and holding a Child in its Mouth, possibly for Montfort, though it differs somewhat from the Montfort Shield, as do the Arms on the Surcoat from the Shield of Wellesbourne. Both the Head & Feet rest upon Cushions; that at the Head has a Shield on either side, of which the Dexter is Bendy of Ten a Chief and the Sinister seems to be Bendy, but is much defaced.
On the sill of the East window is a Knight in Chain & Plate Armour of the time of Edward III and wearing a Bascinet with Camail. The Forearms having been broken off, they have been rudely Carved in the Body of the Figure. The Head rests upon 2-Griffons, each holding a Child in its Claws, and at the Elbows, Feet, and on the Jupon are arms similar to those on the older Effigy. On either side near the Knee is a peculiar Crescent inclosing a Face. This Effigy has also been altered at a Later date, probably in the 16thC.
On either side of the window is a Slab with the figure of a man in Armour Carved in Low Relief; both are probably 16thC Imitations of Earlier work. The Figure on the North, which is somewhat defaced, wears a quilted Gambeson and a large Shield covering the Breast and all but the lower part of the Sword; the legs are in Profile and the Arms on the Shield are similar to the above.
The Figure on the South side wears a Visored Helm with Orle and holds a Mace in his right hand, while suspended from his shoulder is a Shield bearing a Griffon & Chief Checky, as on the Surcoat of the 1st Effigy, and over all a Bend. This is the nearest Approach to the Arms of Wellesbourne.
In the recess in the North wall is another Effigy of a man in Armour Carved in Low Relief, wearing a short Gambeson, a Coif & Collar of Roundels, a Sword and a large Shield on the Breast which covers the right Hand & both Arms. The left Hand grasps a Staff with a Cross end and another Sword pierces the Head of a Beast at his Feet. The Arms on the Large Shield are Incorrect versions of Wellesbourne & Montfort and those on the small Shields are meaningless.
In the Recess on the South side of the chapel is an effigy, probably of the 16thC, of a Corpse lying on a Shroud which partly envelops the Body; in a Cavity formed in the Breast bone is a little figure with Arms out stretched, Symbolising the departing Spirit.
On the South Wall of the Chancel is a Monument, with the Kneeling Figure of a Boy, to Thomas Lane, who died in 1621, and South of the Church, in the Churchyard, is a Slab to William Russell, 1694. In a Case in the Nave is a key dating probably from the 15thC.
The Tower contains a Ring of 8-Bells: the Treble & Second are by J Warner & Sons, 1881, and the 3rd & 4th by Mears & Stainbank, 1875; the 5th & 6th are by Henry & Ellis Knight, 1663; the 7th is Inscribed ‘Sancta Maria Ora Pro [N]obis‘ in Black Lettering with Crowned Initials, and the Tenor ‘Criste Baptista Campana Gaudeat Ista,’ with Lettering as the Last. These 2 are of 15thC date.
Near the Seat which he used is the Monument to Lord Beaconsfield erected by Queen Victoria. It is of White Marble and contains a Portrait in Relief of the Earl by R C Belt. Below is the following Inscription: ‘To the Dear and honoured Memory of Benjamin Earl of Beaconsfield, this Memorial is placed by his grateful Sovereign & Friend Victoria RI. Kings love him that speaketh right. Proverbs xvi, 13. February 27th, 1882.’ On the outside of the Church are Memorials to Mary Ann Disraeli, 1872 & to Sarah Widow of James Bridges Williams, who died in 1863 and made the Earl her Heir. The Banner and other Insignia of the Garter belonging to the Earl, from St George’s Chapel, Windsor, are in the Chancel.
The Plate consists of a Spanish Silver-gilt Chalice &Paten, presented by Mrs. Blagden in memory of her father, a Silver Calice & Paten of 1714 & a silver Flagon.
The Church of the Holy Trinity, Prestwood, consecrated in 1849, is built of Flint with Stone Dressings in 14thC style and consists of Chancel, Nave, Aisles, Vestry, South Porch and Open Western Turret containing 1-Bell. The living is a Vicarage in the gift of Coningsby Ralph Disraeli.
Advowson: Hughenden Church was given by Nicholas de Hughenden to Kenilworth Priory apparently early in the Reign of Henry II. In 1258 Simon Bluet of Hughenden Claimed the Church against the Prior, and about 3-yrs later his sons joined with others in Burning the Porch and breaking the windows. The Advowson follows the Descent of Hughenden Manor (qv), the present Oowner being Coningsby Ralph Disraeli. Hughenden Rectory does not appear to have been appropriated by Kenilworth Priory before 1291, when the Church was valued at £20, its Valuation in 1535 being £9-1s-4d., when the Rectory was worth £11-2s-10d yearly. The latter remained under the same Ownership as the Advowson until 1641, when according to Langley it was Sold by the Earl of Carnarvon to William Mayne and others. It seems to have been Dispersed on its Sale by Edward Harvey in 1703. In 1862 the Great Tithes belonged to the Landowners & the small Tithes had been commuted.
In 1548 Land & Rent which had been left for an Obit in Hughenden were worth 11s yearly.
Charities: In 1690 Thomas Gregory, by will proved 29 March, devised an annuity of £2 for Poor Housekeepers, issuing out of an Estate called Knife’s Farm, which is distributed in Bread.
The Almshouses consist of 4-Cottages in the Churchyard, given to the Parish by the Dormer Family. In 1816 Ellen Countess Conyngham, by her Will proved 24th July, bequeathed £500 of 4% Bank Annuities, now represented with Accumulations of Income by £635-8s-8d Consols, the Income to be distributed half-yearly to the Inmates of the Almshouses above referred to. The Stock was held by the Official Trustees, producing £15-17s-8d yearly.
The Charity of Katherine Pye. The sum of £7 to £8 a year is received as the share of the net Residue applicable for Educational purposes in this Parish.
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 