Sunday Worship Schedule

March 2020 - Please note that due to the coronavirus the church is closed until further notice.

1st Sunday of the month: 10am Benefice Communion
This service rotates around the parishes of Garsington, Cuddesdon and Horspath. Please check the church porch or churchyard noticeboards for the coming month.

2nd Sunday of the month: 11am Parish Communion
A sung Eucharist service

3rd Sunday of the month: 11am Family Time
An informal service beginning with coffee and cake and followed by a short act of worship with songs, a reading, prayers and an interactive child-friendly talk. We warmly encourage children to come along, play and be part of the family of the church. All ages welcome.

4th Sunday of the month: 11am Morning Worship
A non-Eucharistic service with readings, hymns, sermon and prayers

5th Sunday of the month: 11am Parish Communion
A sung Eucharist service

Please check the church porch or churchyard noticeboards for additional services and special events for Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Easter, Remembrance Sunday, Advent and Christmas.

If you would like to arrange a baptism, marriage, funeral, interment of ashes or would like a home communion visit, please contact Karen, the vicar or Emily, the administrator.

Please visit the Benefice website for further information about St Giles and her sister churches in Garsington and Cuddesdon www.gchparishes.co.uk

St Giles Church is one of the partner churches in the CEF (Community Emergency Foodbank). There is a CEF box in the back of the church and it is hoped that people from the village as well as church-goers will donate food each week for the foodbank. You can read here about CEF and also check out the food list.

History of the Church Building

St. Giles Church is open to visitors every day between between 9.30am and 4pm. St. Giles is a listed building. For information about the Church building see the "Listed Buildings" page in the History of Horspath section. There is a selection of photos of the Church in the "Images Around Horspath" area.

The 13th century church was drastically altered during the 19th century, with the chancel being rebuilt and north transect added. The church contains medieval stained glass and, amongst a number of notable details, a handsome Jacobean pulpit. The tower is 15th century, and the bells are an extremely smooth flowing ring of six, with long ropes for exceptionally short ringers. The church bells specification: 6 bells 5 cwt, 2 qr, 9 lb or 283 kg Bb. You can read an article about the bells (PDF format 170 Kb) written by Brian Lowe, Church Warden and local historian. On the east wall of the South Transept in St. Giles is the Horspath Village War Memorial Plaque, and you can read an article about the Memorial (PDF format 232 Kb), again written by Brian Lowe.

In 2013 the Friends of Horspath worked hard to raise funds to buy the Old Chapel. They were successful with their bid and they re-opened the Chapel in February 2014. Check the Friends of Horspath web pages for further news.
This village focal point is now re-named "Horspath Hub @ the Old Chapel".

Horspath Hub @ the Old Chapel

Bell-ringing
Every Tuesday evening at St. Giles Church - contact Brian Lowe: 873342.

Churchyard Conservation
A highly commended scheme in St. Giles' churchyard - contact Sheila Frankum: 872793.

Friends of Horspath
The Friends of Horspath was established in November 2010 when members of St.Giles Horspath Parochial Church Council decided to strengthen community spirit in Horspath. Visit their web pages which they started in January 2013.

Parish Council New Burial Ground
If you are interested in the aims and usage of the New Burial Ground, which is owned by Horspath Parish Council, read or download the PDF version (80Kb) of the Rules for Usage of the Burial Ground (updated April 2021).

Benefice of Garsington, Cuddesdon & Horspath
Visit the Benefice website for information about 3 local church parishes, Horspath, Cuddesdon and Garsington.