St Mary's Church
St Mary's Church
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
50 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
18
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Edward
Santa Rosa, CA1,953 contributions
Jun 2022
This is a lovely church in Swinbrook in the Cotswolds, fairly typical of the churches in the Cotswold villages in its age and peaceful charm. However, it is also notable for having the ornate tombs and effigies of the Fettiplaces, a prominent local family, in side. In addition, the churchyard has the graves of siblings of the later prominent local family, the Mitfords, some of whom were strident fascists and Nazi sympathizers during the WWII era. One of these, Diana, married prominent fascist Oswald Mosley.
Written 5 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul M
Frome, UK563 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
I visited this church with friends we had walked from The Swan Inn and we initially studied the graveyard noting the ages on the grave stones. The church is small but attractive and interesting. The records date back to the 1700s. Swinbrook is a pretty quiet village.
Written 23 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael C
Derby, UK1,929 contributions
Aug 2021
This church has some of the most stunning memorials that we have ever seen. The whole of the interior is absolutely fascinating. In addition, three of the literary Mitford sisters are buried in the churchyard.
Written 6 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PortsmouthCtk
Portsmouth, UK45 contributions
Sep 2021
The title says it all! A delightful little church, with some very ornate family tombs (maunlu men!) from the 16c 17c. Also links with the Mitford family.
Written 2 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian J
Burford, UK13 contributions
Jun 2019
This lovely little church is home to the Fettiplace monuments. Six of the Fettiplace lords are commemorated, reclining figures stacked in two groups of three, as if stored in aristocratic filing cabinets. The earlier, left hand trio was ordered by the Sir Edmund Fettiplace (d 1613) to commemorate himself, his father and grandfather. They are reclining rather stiffly in full Tudor armour, and are highly stylised as was the Tudor fashion. The right hand trio are from 70 years later and commemorate a later Sir Edmund (d 1686) and his father and uncle and now they lie in full Stuart ceremonial armour.. We know the identity of the sculptor, William Bird of Oxford, who was a collaborator of Wren's. They are arguably the finest 17th Century funerary monuments in England.
Outside are the graves of three of the Mitford sisters, including the notorious Unity.
Outside are the graves of three of the Mitford sisters, including the notorious Unity.
Written 21 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rosemary62
Irvine, UK593 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
We went here specifically to visit the graves of the Mitford sisters. We saw Nancy, Unity and Diana’s graves. I know Pamela’s grave is there too but we didn’t see it. It’s not that easy to get to and on the day we went there was torrential rain and mud everywhere. However it was definitely worth visiting and I’m so glad we did.
Written 19 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CavalierJCS
Princeton, NJ353 contributions
Jun 2019 • Solo
Set in a lovely village, St Mary’s has some wonderful sculpture and glass; evocative of centuries past. Such places are important respites from the ridiculousness of our own times.
Written 28 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert H
9 contributions
May 2019 • Family
Lovely wedding ceremony held on 18th May . Thanks to Reverend Alex, , organist Hilary and Warden, sorry can't remember name. Wedding was beautiful and great when Rev comments on how good or singing was. The church is well worth a visit is simply full of interest and character.
Written 19 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joanna B
Oxfordshire, UK11 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
beautiful old church viewed on a nice autumnal day, the graves of the Mitford sisters were nice to see, as was a later trip to the Swann inn which was their stomping ground
Written 25 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kirkgirl
Ireland409 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
A nice way to escape the busy crowds of tourists on the main street, and to sit inside the church for a few minutes contemplation. Beautiful building.
Written 9 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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