St Michael’s Church

At the heart of the historic village is St Michael’s Church and it has been on the site since the reign of Edward III in the 14th Century. The Church is an active church with an above average size of congregation.   The Rector lives in the new Rectory a few hundred yards away in Aynho Court.   Since 1st September 2022 we have been without a rector and the benefice and parish are in vacancy. This could last for another 6 months. The Churchwardens have the responsibility of continuing the life of the Parish until a new appointment is made by the Bishop.

We will continue to conduct services in St Michael’s every month with Communion Services being shared with our neighbouring churches in the Benefice. Everyone is very much welcome wherever they attend. The times of the services are detailed on the first page of the monthly Newsletter. (St Michael’s is part of the  Astwick Vale Benefice  (www.astwickvale benefice.org) in South Northamptonshire with five adjacent parishes in Croughton, Evenley, Farthinghoe, Hinton in the Hedges with Steane. 

In addition to the Sunday services baptism, confirmations, marriages or blessings, funerals and thanksgiving services are held as required and are arranged by contacting the Benefice Office.

St Michael’s Church is a beautiful and architecturally different church – much loved and treasured by the village as it has been for nearly seven centuries.  For more information about our church see the Church Guide.

The churchyard is always open for access to graves and memorials. The historic graves and headstones are nearest the church building or around the perimeter wall where they were moved for safekeeping many decades ago. More recent graves are at the far end of the churchyard past the Preaching Cross standing at the end of the long gravel path; the ashes tablets also lie along the wall on the left in the same area. Very recent graves are now on the south side of the Church against the middle path.

For your visit please either use the car park at the end of Church Walk or, if you are blue badge holder, please feel free to park down the end of Church Walk by the church gates if there is no ongoing service or funeral.

Benefice Office:     Telephone: 01869-810903 or Email: office@astwickvalebenefice.org

Pastoral Letters