History
The church of St. Martin in Bladon is the parish church of Bladon-with-Woodstock; it is also mother church of St. Mary Magdalene at Woodstock, which was originally chapel of ease. The first church was built around 11th century; the earliest references to it states that John de London, Henry III's chaplain, obtained from the King a grant of the Manor of Bladon, was the advowson of the Rectory in 1269. There are Parish Registers of baptisms, marriages and burials dating from 1545, which are kept in Boodlean library in Oxford.
There is a record of 1802 when Parish petitioned the Bishop of Oxford to grant them a new church as the old one was dilapidated and dangerous. The petition was allowed; the fourth Duke of Marlborough paid for the building materials, and the new church was opened in 1804.In 1891 considerable reconstruction was carried out; this involved the rebuilding of the chancel, the restoration of the nave and the addition of new windows and pinnacles on the tower.
Windows
Three of the windows in the chancel are in memory of Arthur Majendie: there is the large three-panelled east window; another, at the west end, depicting Daniel looking forward Jerusaalem, with the words, 'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house', is inscribed: 'To the glory of God and in memory of Revd. Arthur Majendie, who restored this house and rebuilt the chancel. This window is dedicated by his widow. He ceased from his labours 15th January 1895'. On the north side of the sanctuary is the third window, given by three children 'in memory of a loving father'. They also gave one in memory of their mother, who died at the age of 91. This is on the south side of the chancel.
Also on the south side is an interesting round foliated window; it is a copy of Sir Joshua Reynolds' 'Choir of the Cherubs' and is dedicated 'to the glory of God and in thankful memory of numberless blessings, 1893-1922 P.R. and M. L. Haynes'.
In the nave, on the south side, is a window showing St. Michael and St George, given in 1956 by Consuelo, wife of the ninth Duke of Marlborough, in memory of her son, Ivor Spencer-Churchill, a cousin of Sir Winston.
Organ
A board at the back of the church lists the thoughtful
bequests of John Nixon in 1800; among others he 'gave by the will the sum of twenty shillings per annum for ever to keep the organ of this church in proper and necessary repair ... and the sum of fifteen shillings per annum for ever to be paid to the choir of singers belonging to and singing in this church'.
Memorial to Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill died on January 24th 1965, exactly seventy years to the day after his father, and the funeral service took place in London at St Paul's Cathedral. It was a very moving occasion, marked with all the splendid panoply of Church and State; it was attended by the Queen together with rulers from all over the world and shared by the whole nation. In contrast to this, the burial here at Bladon was private, as Lady Churchill wished; it was conducted by the Rector and only relatives and close friends were present.