On a constrained site, cosseted by its community sits the church of St Swithuns at Hinton Parva. Or should I call it Little Hinton?, because the village is known by both names, though with Parva being a latin form of 'little' there is small difference. Hinton itself refers in Old English to a house/farm associated with a religious community.
This is close to the ideal of a village church, compact in form with its three short bays and diminutive tower, surrounded by trees and at the junction of narrow lanes. St Swithuns dates itself back to the first substantive record which in 1172 saw the church pass to the control of St Swithuns priory.
Like many churches its structure is a patchwork of history, though the nave is close to original it was expanded with a south bay towards the end of the 12'th century and a north bay in the 13'th century. The chancel itself is 14'th century with the clerestory roof of the nave and some of the windows dating from the 16'th century. As is usual attribution of dates may well be the cause for some discussion.
Whatever, it is a characterful building in a good state of repair with some fine details. Well repaying an exploration.
This church is normally open.
