Until the 19thC Sydenham Church, a Vicarage in Aston Deanery, was, like Tetsworth & Towersey (Bucks), a Chapel of the Prebendal Church of Thame & therefore in the peculiar Jurisdiction of Thame. From at least the mid-13thC & probably before it had the Ecclesiastical Privileges of an Independent Parish. The Church is mentioned in a Charter of 1185–6, but its early-Hhistory is as obscure as the early-History of Sydenham itself. The Township, unlike Tetsworth, was never as far as is known part of the Bishop of Lincoln’s Thame Manor. The Church was a Chapel of Thame in the mid-13thC and may have been so from the beginning, or it may have been given at an early date to Lincoln Cathedral and later annexed to Thame Prebend.
In 1841, along with Tetsworth & Towersey, it was separated from Thame and made into a separate Vicarage. Richard Slater of High Wycombe (Bucks), who had bought the Advowson of Thame, vested the Advowson of Thame’s 3-Chapels in Trustees, known as the Peache Trustees. The relationship between Thame and its Chapelries was 1st defined by the Ordination of Thame Vicarage, made in or before the time of Bishop Grosseteste (1235–53). The arrangement for Sydenham was nearly the same as that for Tetsworth, the revenue of the Parish being divided between the Prebendary of Thame, the Vicar of Thame, and the Chaplain of Sydenham. During the Middle-Ages, therefore, the Prebendary collected the Greater Tithes & those of Wool, but not those of Hay. However, since the Cistercians did not pay Tithes on Lands which they cultivated, at least a part of Thame Abbey’s Sydenham Grange was Tithe Free.
After the Dissolution of the Prebend in 1547 the Tithes of Sydenham became separated from those of Thame; in the 2nd-Half of the 16thC and in the early 17thC they were held by the Wenmans, who were Lords of Sydenham Manor. In 1609 Sir Richard Wenman was called the ‘Parson‘ (i.e. the Lay Rector) & in 1613 he refused to pay a Church-rate for the repair of Sydenham Church, presumably on the grounds that he was already responsible for the upkeep of the Chancel. By the late-18thC the Sydenham part of the Prebend had again become United with the Thame part, which in 1825 was Sold to Miss Wykeham. In 1826 she received 161-acres in Commutation of the Great Tithes of Sydenham.
OS Map of Area 1881 Albury, Crowell, Emmington, Kingston Stert, Moreton, North Weston, Stoke Talmage, Sydenham, Tetsworth, Thame, Towersey
The Vicar of Thame, who was responsible for nominating the Chaplain of Sydenham, or, as was later the case, for serving the Church himself, received the rest of the Tithes and a mark (13s 4d) for the Tithe of Hay. The mark was still being paid in the 1580‘s, for it is recorded that the Curate had received 13s-4d a year from the Inhabitants for 8-yrs, but that not knowing its purpose he had used it towards the Church Services until he was Sued for it by the Vicar of Thame. At the Inclosure Award, the Vicarial Tithes were Commuted for 68-acres. This Land, with the ½-acre of Glebe, probably the equivalent of the ½-acre mentioned in the late-12thC, was the Principal Endowment of the New Living formed in 1841 & was known as Glebe Farm. It was Sold in 1920. In 1843 & 1844 the Vicarage was augmented by £400 from Queen Anne’s Bounty and £455 from James Prosser, the Vicar of Thame.
The Medieval Chaplain of Sydenham, who received the offerings of his Altar & had the House & Land belonging to his Church, was supposed to have a Clerk to live with him and help him serve the Church. The names of only a few of the Medieval Parish Priests, usually those who acted as Witnesses or as Feoffees in Local Land Transactions, have been found. One of these, William Grendon (c.1363–74), was Outlawed for Debt & another, William Skyle (1389–95), is known to have had a Chaplain called Simon.
Sydenham Church for reasons unknown was in Ruins in 1293 & the people of Sydenham erected in its place a Wooden Chapel, but this could not be used before the Prebendary of Thame had inspected it to see if it was suitable for Divine Service.
After the Reformation (completed 1537) it is likely that the Parish usually had a Resident Minister: when in the late-16thC the Wenmans were holding the Tithes, they, rather than the Vicar of Thame, named him & he received the Small Tithes. Not much is known about these Ministers of Sydenham, but one, William Yorke, who was serving the Church in the late-16thC, was ‘unlearned‘. A 17thC successor Robert Coney, who had a House in Sydenham, was at odds with his Churchwardens, perhaps for Doctrinal reasons. They accused him in 1609, among other things, of giving the Communion to Strangers. He in his turn presented Robert Sule, the Sidesman, for his abusive language, ‘which he doth use in all times & places‘ & for his common contempt; & also Sule’s younger brother John, aged about 17, who refused to attend the Catechism Classes & was known to keep ‘evil rule‘ instead, singing bawdy Songs in the Village Street or outside the Parsonage at 11 or 12-pm. The Churchwardens refused to sign the Presentment because one of them, being the Town Miller, could not afford to make Enemies & both were accused of taking Sule’s part. Coney was more than once Summoned to the Peculiar Court & by 1611 had been replaced. At about the same time the Lay Rector was Presented for failing to supply Quarterly Sermons. There was also trouble in 1612 over the Church Lands. The revenue from a ½-acre, intended for the upkeep of the Church, had been misappropriated for the past 10-yrs. In 1661 the Church received a further Bequest when Robert Munday, a prominent Yeoman, Founded his Kingston Blount Charity.
During the Commonwealth Period, the Minister, Francis Herne appears to have been an anti-Puritan. In 1656 the Council refused him permission to Preach, but he seems to have been already ousted from the Living by Francis Bailey. At the Restoration Bailey and his wife ‘ran away‘, taking with them the Church Register; Herne on his return started a New One beginning in 1663.
William Stevenson, who was Curate at a Stipend of only £20 a year from at least 1677, was non-Resident, living at Bledlow (Bucks), where he was Vicar. He appears to have seriously neglected the Parish & a change of Minister was evidently being considered when in January 1711 the Churchwardens sent word to the Official of Thame Peculiar not to License anyone to the Curacy without 1st Consulting the Parishioners. In May 19-Parishioners, among whom were the names of several well-known Yeoman Families, signed a Petition asking that Alfred Carpenter should be made their Curate on the Grounds that he would live in the Parish & constantly Serve the Church. Some years ago, they said, there had always been 2-Services on Sundays, but ‘of late years‘ only 1-Service had been given, sometimes in the morning & sometimes in the afternoon, either by the non-Resident Curate or ‘by some neighbouring Clergyman, when he could be absent from his own Cure‘. Consequently, the young people had been given too much Liberty and there was danger of ‘division & fanaticism‘ in the Church, in a Parish ‘where there has been no Separatist‘ for over 40-yrs.
Carpenter, who in 1710 had been given permission by the Official to Preach in Churches throughout the Peculiar, was apparently living in Sydenham & had preached ‘diverse Lecture Sermons‘ in the Church there. He was, however, not liked by all the Parishioners & one Martha Taylor, the wife of a Sydenham Yeoman, ‘on the occasion of his standing to be Curate‘, charged him with Immorality & he Sued her subsequently in the Peculiar Court for Defamation. Edward Sewell, a Sydenham Victualler and one of those who had signed the Petition to have Carpenter made Curate & his wife, in whose House the Statement had been made, Testified on Carpenter’s behalf, believing him to be ‘a person of honest life & conversation‘ & Carpenter won his case. But at about the same time William Clerke, the Vicar of Thame, perhaps encouraged by some Sydenham people, brought a Suit against Carpenter. He accused him of Preaching without a Proper Licence (for to obtain a Licence the Bishop had to be given a Testimonial of ‘sober life‘ for the past 3-yrs) & of being a heavy drinker, a ‘common railer & sower of discord‘, especially among Thomas Smith, Gentleman & his Tenants and neighbours. This was perhaps an indication that Class-feeling was involved. Carpenter was found Guilty on all Charges & his Permission to Preach was Revoked. Evidently, much feeling had been aroused in the Parish & in September 1711, probably when the Case was finished, the Churchwardens presented the non-Resident Stevenson for Omitting or Imperfectly Performing Sunday Services. They reported that there had been no Catechism for 10-yrs and no Confirmation for 7. Nevertheless, Stevenson remained as Curate for another 10-yrs.
After 1761 the Parish ceased having its own Minister & was Served by the Vicar of Thame or his Curate. This arrangement is unlikely to have been very satisfactory and in the 1st-Half of the 19thC certainly the young people of Sydenham were ‘in almost a perfectly Wild state‘. This was attributed to the lack of a Resident Minister. In 1841 Sydenham was made into an Independent Living & its 1st Vicar was William D Littlejohn (1844–79), formerly an Officer in the Indian Army. In 1846 he built a ‘neat & commodious‘ Stone Vicarage, suitable in size & dignity to his position; he helped to Found the National School & finally in 1877, with the help of Lady Wenman, who had paid for the restoration, he restored the Church. He held frequent & regular Services; had a large Sunday School & an Evening School; & saw an increase in his Congregation & the number of Communicants & a corresponding decrease in the number of Dissenters. A later Vicar, Conway Joyce (1884–94), continued Littlejohn’s good work by Building a Reading Room.
In the 1950s, because the Living was so Poor, it was found impossible to fill it, and the Church was served by the Rector of Chinnor & Emmington. Usually, only Evening Services were held.
The Church of St Mary, dedicated as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a small Building of Flint & Stone, dating mainly from the 13thC, although considerably restored in the 19thC. It comprises a Chancel, Nave, North Transept, South Porch & Wooden Central Tower with a short, Cedar Shingle Clad Spire.
The Chancel & Nave retain most of their 13thC Lancet windows: 2-Single Lancets in each of the North & South Walls of the Chancel & 2 on each side of the Nave. Before the North Transept was made there was probably a 3rd Lancet in the North Wall to correspond with that in the South Wall. Before the Tower Arches were rebuilt in the 19thC they were said to be plain 13thC Arches with Masonry Responds & moulded Abaci. The Piscina with fluted Bowl & Trefoil Arch in the South Wall & the plain Tub Font also date from the 13thC of slightly tapered limestone located near the S doorway. Stepped slightly from the base are 3 convex mouldings that seem to be integral. A lead lining is present, reaching over the rim. The greater part of all the 13thC work presumably belongs to the year 1293 or just after, for in that year the Church was ‘in ruins‘ & work on its restoration had begun.
In the 14thC the Chancel was Lightened by the insertion of a 3-light window at the East end & in the next Century, the Church was beautified with a Rood-screen & Loft that survived until 1840.
There appear to have been no major Alterations to the Fabric until the 19thC, but minor repairs & improvements were no doubt carried out from time to time. It was reported in 1607 that the Floor was out of repair & in 1608 that the Communion Table was Broken. The Table now in the Vestry may be the New One that the Wardens were ordered to provide. The Steeple was said to be in need of repair in 1620 & an Inscription with the names of John North Jr, & Richard Web(b), Churchwardens, 1662, recorded by Rawlinson, but which has since disappeared, may have commemorated some repairs in the latter year. In 1700 the Chancel needed repair, but no records have survived of any work done to the Church in the 18thC. The West Gallery, however, ‘a shocking unsightly thing‘ according to a 19thC Vicar, was probably Erected towards the end of it. When Parker visited the Church in the early-19thC he found the Rood-screen & Loft disfigured by Whitewash.
In 1877 a badly needed restoration was undertaken. The Chief Structural Alterations were the lengthening of the Nave by 7-ft at the West end, the lengthening of the Chancel & the rebuilding of the Tower Arches, the Erection of an entirely New Tower & Shingled Spire of Oak, & the Building of a North Transept & Vestry. The walls of the extended Nave were Buttressed on both sides. Roland Lee’s Drawings of the Church before & after the restoration show how the Chancel was lengthened & how the Central Tower & its supporting Arches were moved some way to the West. When the work of restoration was being considered, it was proposed to ‘raise the ceiling‘ & ‘remodel‘ the Seats. The Vicar said that the Seats in the Chancel were useless ‘by reason of the Tower Ceiling & Beams‘ and that under the new arrangement these Seats would be made available. The Chancel Ceiling, which is now coved & plastered, was presumably intended. The Nave has a Hammerbeam Roof, & although much of its Timberwork has been renewed, the Main Beams are Ancient. During the restoration, the South Doorway, which retained ‘good‘ Iron Work, was replaced & the South Porch was rebuilt. An early window of 3-lights in the South Wall of the Nave was replaced by Double Lancets, which were later filled with painted Glass by Bell & Sons of Bristol in Memory of the Rev W D Littlejohn (d.1891). A window in the ‘Decorated style‘ was inserted in the West Wall of the Nave & the New North Transept was given ‘Lancet‘ windows. The Gallery & the Screen were taken down. The Architect was John Billing of Reading & the Builder Giles Holland of Thame. The estimated cost of restoration was £647.
In the 20thC a Clock was set in the Tower in Memory of William Morris, Vicar 1904–19. Electric Light replaced in 1936 an earlier system of Lighting that was installed in 1913 in Memory of Margaret Mary Morris, wife of the Vicar. In 1958 the North Transept was used as a Vestry & had been cut off from the Church by a Wooden Partition.
A 17thC Memorial to Mary Day (d.1698) has disappeared. There are 2–18thC Memorials, one to Abigail (d.1705), wife of Robert Seywell, Jr & daughter of Edward Phillips of Thame, Draper & the other to John Quartermain d.1780). The 1st is now in the North Transept. A Tablet on the North Wall of the Nave Commemorates the Parishioners who died in WW1.
At the time of the Edwardian Inventory, there was one Silver Chalice. In 1958 the Church possessed one dating from between 1660 & 1684, which was probably presented about that Period. There were 4-Bells in 1958 as there were in 1552. The Treble is probably a Medieval Casting & the Tenor is dated 1625. The Sanctus Bell, dated 1650, now hangs in the Ringing Chamber.
The Register of Baptisms & Burials dates from 1705, that of Marriages from 1754, but there are some earlier Transcripts.
Nonconformity
No record of Roman Catholicism has been found. At the beginning of the 19th century, if not earlier, encouraged by the absence of a Resident Vicar, Protestant Nonconformists established themselves in the Village. Private houses were Licensed for Worship for unknown Denominations in 1804 and 1821. In 1825 one was licensed for Baptists, who in the same year built a Chapel. Dissensions evidently arose among them, as in 1844 another rival Baptist Chapel was built. These 2 Chapels, known as the Old Baptist and the New Baptist Chapels, continued in use until about 1855. Congregations fluctuated in size, and one of the Chapels closed about 1855, partly because the number of Dissenters had declined owing to the efforts of the energetic Vicar, William Littlejohn. The Chapel which remained open belonged to the Particular Baptists in 1864. In that year its 11 Trustees included 2 Sydenham Labourers and a Shepherd, all members of one Family, a Schoolmaster, and 2 Chair-turners from Chinnor, and 2 persons from Thame. It evidently prospered, for it was rebuilt in 1881 and named Ebenezer Chapel, and a Sunday School was added in 1883. This Chapel was Registered for Marriages and it was still in use in 1920 but had closed by 1932. In 1936 it was sold to a private owner, who in 1949 leased the Chapel to a Methodist Congregation and in 1957 sold it to the Methodist Trustees. In 1958 it was one of the Chapels on the Methodist Thame & Watlington Circuit but it has since closed and is now a Private House. A Primitive Methodist Chapel had also come into existence by 1866 which was still in use in 1910, but no later record of it has been found.
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 