This picture shows the spire of St Mary The Virgin Church in Bampton seen across Sandford field. It was taken early in the twentieth century. Today, a hedge obscures the view of the houses in the foreground but not all still exist.

The Friends of Saint Mary, Bampton as part of their fund raising have in recent years organised a series of two or three talks, one a month, in the springtime. Robin Shuckburgh was to talk on the Role of Wine in The Church but sadly, due to dreadful weather this had to be cancelled and it is hoped Robin can do this another year.

A second Downton Abbey film is being made and once again Saint Mary's church, Churchgate House, the Old Grammar School and the area around the church in Bampton will be used for some of the location shooting.

Photograph of the statue of St Joh n the Baptist that fell down from the base of the steeple during a heavy storm in January 1990

The annual horse fair in Bampton. These horses are in Church Street. Note that both men and women wore hats and ladies' clothes were generally down to their ankles.

Copy of Funeral Service for Douglas Stanley Brewis Read MBE held at St. Mary's Church, Bampton, on 1st March 2022

'Go Thou and Do Likewise' is on the top of the banner of the Friendly Society. On Hospital Sunday the members walked from their headquarters in one of the inns to St Mary's for a service and in this picture, they are seen leaving after the annual service. Before the days of the National Health Service, those who could, paid into 'the club' ie the Friendly Society and if they were ill and could not work, sufficient money was provided for the family to buy food. It was literally a life saver for them. The National Health Service came into being July 5th 1948.
1a Foresters A photograph of the Foresters with their banner outside Oathurst, now called Rosebank Nursing Home. Bampton’s Brass band is with them. People paid into clubs like the Foresters then, if they were unable to work, the club kept them from starving. This was before the welfare state came into being and so these friendly societies were very important.

There was a very full program of events that took place throughout Bampton from Saturday June 2nd to Tuesday June 5th.
This is the full list of the events.

This is the service program for the service of thanksgiving, held on Tuesday June 5th 2012, for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in St Mary The Virgin Church, Bampton.

The Flower Guild put on a wonderful flower festival through the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May and on the Monday they also sell sandwiches, quiche slices, cakes, tea, coffee and squash.