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St. Laurence's Church in South Hinksey consists of a chancel 15 ft. 9 in. by 15 ft. 9 in., nave 42 ft. 9 in. by 16 ft. 6 in., west tower 12 ft. square, and a north porch.

The nave and chancel appear to have been built early in the 13th century. In the 14th century a window was inserted in the north of the nave, the west tower was added in the following century, and in the 18th century the chancel was largely reconstructed. The church has been restored and the timber north porch is modern.

The chancel has a plain round-headed window in the east, north and south walls, with external impost blocks and keystones, all of the 18th century. The 13th-century chancel arch is low, narrow, and pointed, with moulded capitals to the responds. The roof is plastered.

The nave has a two-light square-headed 14thcentury window in the north wall and further west a plain round-headed north doorway with chamfered edges, perhaps of the 13th century. The first and third windows of the south wall are simple 13thcentury lancets and the second window is of two modern lancet lights with ancient external jambs. The tower is three stages high, with a plain moulded parapet, and a square turret staircase rising to the base of the belfry on the north side. It contains three bells.

The 15th-century tower arch is pointed and of two hollow-chamfered orders with square responds having moulded capitals. The west window, of similar date, is of two lights under a square head, and below it is the west door with four-centred head and plain chamfered edges. The belfry is lighted by a two-light square-headed window in each face with uncusped lights. In the south wall of the nave, towards the east end, is a very small piscina with a triple arched head and two quatrefoil drains. The font is of the 13th century, and has a circular bowl tapering slightly to the base, which is moulded and rests on a square plinth.

The plate consists of a silver chalice and paten of about 1636.

The registers previous to 1812 are as follows: (i) mixed entries 1670 to 1715; (ii) mixed entries 1716 to 1812; (iii) marriages 1754 to 1812.

In the churchyard, to the north of the nave, are the base and three steps of a stone cross.

Historical information about St. Laurence's Church is provided by 'Parishes: South Hinksey', in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4, ed. William Page and P H Ditchfield (London, 1924), pp. 408-410. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol4/pp408-410 [accessed 9 March 2023].

St. Laurence's Church is a Grade II* listed building. For more information about the listing see CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE, South Hinksey - 1048297 | Historic England.

For more information about St. Laurence's Church see Parishes: South Hinksey | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk).