Church of the Holy Cross, Avening

Outside the church is a stone coffin from before the Norman Conquest.[2]

Parts of the church date from the late 11th century.[1] It was commissioned by Queen Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror.[3]

The tower, west bay of the chancel, north aisle, and north doorway were added in the 12th century.[4] The transepts were added in the late 13th.[1] The top storey of the tower was added in the 14th century.[5]

From the 11th to 14th century the church was the property of the Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, Caen,[2] although this was disputed by Tewkesbury Abbey.[4]

The building was restored in 1902,[1] after part of the tower had collapsed causing damage to part of the nave and north aisle.[4]

The parish is part of the benefice of Avening with Cherington within the Diocese of Gloucester.[6]

The Cotswold stone building is cruciform in layout. It has a two-bay north aisle with a porch. The nave has a 14th-century wagon roof. There are parts of the Norman architecture still intact including the doorway, arcade and chancel arch. The three-stage tower is supported by buttresses.[1]

The interior includes a table from 1657. There are several monuments and tablets along with a kneeling effigy of Henry Brydges of Avening Court. The stained glass of the East Window is by Clayton and Bell and two in the nave by Christopher Whall.[1]

The war memorial tablet commemorates villagers who died in the First World War, Second World War and the Iraq War.[7]