Sutton Courtenay GeoCache Series
After our recently placed GeoCache Series at Great Western Park (GWP) (cache #1-11, 14, 17-19, 30-32, 35, 38, 60-61), Didcot (cache #12-13, 15-16, 20-25, 29, 33-34, 41-42, 44-45, 47-48, 53, 59, 62-63), Harwell (cache #26, 36-37, 43, 46, 54-55, 58), Chilton (cache #27-28), Sutton Courtenay (cache #39, 64) and Milton (cache #40, 49-52, 56-57), we decide to place a few more caches in other parts of Didcot and surrounding villages, in order to honour local heros, and to reflect our rich local history, stories and heritage. We hope you will enjoy these new caches and may also learn something new when you are caching, thank you!
Sutton Courtenay #65 - All Saints Church (Officially known as Church Micro 15629...Sutton Courtenay - All Saints)
The Church of All Saints, Sutton Courtenay is the Church of England parish church of Sutton Courtenay in Oxfordshire, England. Extant since at least the 12th century, the church has been Grade I listed since 1966. It is in the centre of the village, near the northeast corner of the village green.
The nave and lower stages of the west tower are late Norman. The font is also Norman, but decorated with a series of pointed arches. The chancel and third stage of the tower are 13th-century. The nave clerestory, north and south aisles and their four-bay arcades are 14th-century additions. The clerestory has five windows on each side. Most are Perpendicular Gothic, but two on the north side are Decorated Gothic. The two-storey brick south porch is early 16th-century. The panelled south door is oak, dating from the same period.
Control of the church at Sutton varied between Abingdon Abbey and the Pope. In 1258 the Abbey leased the church. When Hugh Courtenay inherited the manor he took over the rights from the Abbey.
Around the tower door are marks in the stone believed to be carved by soldiers returning from the Crusades, thanking God for their return. The tower has a clock with a one-handed dial, one of only 22 in England.
The five-bay rood screen is 15th-century. There is a wall painting above the chancel arch of the Stuart royal coat of arms. In 1643, in the English Civil War, gunpowder and munitions stored in the church exploded, shattering windows and damaging part of the tower. The King's coat of arms is believed to have been painted after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.
Of the church seating, one of the pews is dated 1633. The hexagonal pulpit is Jacobean and was given to the church in 1901.
The parish registers for christenings, marriages and burials cover the years since 1538–39. They are held at the Berkshire Record Office, Reading.
About this multi-cache:
There may be many thorns and nettles when approaching the GZ, so please try not to be stung!
The path may also be very muddy and/or icy in the winter or after the rain, so long sleeves, trousers and welly boots are recommended!
Please also respect the local residents when searching for the cache. You do not need to enter any private land or cross any fence. Please expect muggles at many times of the day.
At the published coordinates, you will be standing in front of a large blue notice board. How many letters are there in the name of the parish? Let it be A.
Behind the notice board there is a gravestone of the WHITEHEAD family. The number of letters in the wife's name is B.
Then, please move to Stage 2, where you will find the final resting place of a former UK Prime Minister. They were born on CD September 18EF, and the number of letters in their middle name is G.
Finally, please move to Stage 3, where you will find the resting place of a famous UK author (one of my favourites too), who wrote Animal Farm and 1984. The number of letters in their real surname is H.
Immediately behind this author's gravestone, lies their friend, who arranged the author's burial in this village in accordance with the author's request. How many letters are there in this friend's first name as shown on their gravestone? Let it be J. And this friend was born in the year of 19KL.
The final coordinates are a short distance away at:
N51 38. ( E * ( A - B ) ) ( ( A - F ) * C ) ( G + D * F )
W001 16. ( ( H - C ) / D ) ( H * G / J ) ( K + L + J + C )
The checksum of all the digits in the final coordinates is 61.
Please also note:
Please bring your own pen, and open & close the cache lid carefully so the cache and log book can survive longer.
Please also replace exactly as found due to obvious reason, and please be careful with the possible thorns and stinging nettles. Long sleeves, trousers, and gloves are recommended.
Thank you and enjoy GeoCaching!
FTF: Congratulations to Lydford Locators for their FTF on 12 January 2026!
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If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please visit
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html
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