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The church of St. Mary the Virgin at Freeland comprises an aisleless nave and apsidal chancel, a north-east tower with a saddleback roof, and a south porch and parvise. The building was completed in 1869 at a cost of c. £2,900. It was designed by J. L. Pearson in 13th-century style, with little exterior decoration except for carved stonework around the south doorway and porch, and a statue of the Virgin Mary over the entrance. The interior, which retains all its original fittings, is notable for the emphasis placed on the paramount importance of the chancel. In contrast with the plain nave the chancel was lavishly decorated and included 13th-century style wall-paintings by Clayton and Bell; some were added in 1878, and the whole design completed in 1890. The same firm was responsible for other interior fittings and all the stained glass. The west window was inserted in 1877 in memory of Sir W. E. Taunton (d. 1835) and his wife Maria (d. 1872). In 1889 Pearson inserted raised marble steps and a new super-altar, which involved raising his original alabaster reredos; a stone altar slab consecrated at that time was presumably a replacement for that removed from the church in 1869. Paintings depicting the Stations of the Cross were hung in the nave in 1897.

A ring of six bells by Mears & Stainbank (1896) was given by Emma Taunton (d. 1895); the tower clock of 1898 commemorates Sarah Percival Taunton (d. 1896). The plate, of 1868 and later, includes a chalice of 1894 set with jewels once belonging to Maria, Lady Taunton. 

The churchyard, which contains the graves of the Taunton family, was enlarged on the south in 1902 by the gift of Robert Taunton Raikes. The lych gate was built in 1873 in memory of Maria, Lady Taunton. A war memorial cross was placed in the churchyard in 1919. 

By will proved 1900 the Revd. C. E. Taunton left stock to provide for the education of choristers. The income was rarely, if ever, used for choral scholars, and by a Scheme of 1904, altered in 1951, was divided between the school, the organist, and the choir. R. A. R. Bennett by will proved 1931 and Minnie Taunton by will proved 1940 left charities for churchyard maintenance, the Bennett charity also yielding a small income for the Sunday school.

Historical information about St. Mary's Church is provided by A P Baggs, W J Blair, Eleanor Chance, Christina Colvin, Janet Cooper, C J Day, Nesta Selwyn and S C Townley, 'Eynsham: Churches', in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 12, Wootton Hundred (South) Including Woodstock, ed. Alan Crossley and C R Elrington (London, 1990), pp. 147-152. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol12/pp147-152 [accessed 7 April 2023].

St. Mary's Church is a Grade II* listed building. For more information about the listing see CHURCH OF ST MARY, Freeland - 1367941 | Historic England.

For more information about St. Mary's Church see Eynsham: Churches | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk).