The original church was built on the site in 1367. At that time the ecclesiastical parishes of Henley and Beaudesert were quite separate, the people of Henley having to travel two miles to the parish church at Wootton Wawen. The church in Henley was erected in order that the parishioners would not have to make the difficult and dangerous journey to the mother church at Wootton Wawen for their worship.
No trace of the original building remains and the present church was built about 1448 in the Perpendicular style. It housed the Chapel of the Guild of St. John which was situated in the north aisle but further to the east than the present Memorial Chapel. The outside of the Church is essentially as it was in the 15th Century but the interior is very much changed.
The church has stood mainly unaltered for hundreds of years but recently several projects have been undertaken to symbolise a church that sees itself at the heart of a modern thriving community.
In 1999 the heavy solid oak doors that formed the entrance to the building were replaced with wood and glass doors to reflect the church’s position of looking out into the community at the same time as enabling the community to look in.
As part of the church’s celebration of the millennium the Chapel of Remembrance in the North Aisle was converted into a Chapel of Remembrance and Reconciliation and includes a colourful Reredos, which depicts the sombre act of remembrance together with the hopeful acts of reconciliation.
Our main millennium project was a modern stain glass window that depicts Christ in Henley High Street surrounded by local school children and towns folk including a district nurse, fireman, butcher, coach driver and the town crier.
The inspiration for the window came from the Gospel of John 1 : 14 ‘the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us’.
In 2012 the Queen's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated by the installation of a carillon which enables the church bells to ring out a hymn at the end of each day.
In order to find the cache you must find some information from the plaque at the headline co-ordinates.
St Nicholas Church circa ABCD Norman architechture.
This is an ancient Manorial Town and the charter was granted by King Henry (E) in FGHJ.
Then use the following formula to find the cache which is a short walk from the Church.
N 52 BC.GF(A+F) W 001 HE.J(F+H)C
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