Drayton Parslow

Holy Trinity south

The Church of England parish church of the Holy Trinity contains fragments of 12th-century masonry.[4] The first known documentary record of the parish church is from 1232.[3] The chancel was rebuilt in the 14th century[4] in the Decorated Gothic style. In the 15th century the nave was rebuilt and the west tower was built or rebuilt in the Perpendicular Gothic style.[4] Of the same period are the Perpendicular Gothic hexagonal baptismal font,[5] the three-light east window of the chancel, a 15th-century alabaster relief above the altar depicting the Crucifixion of Jesus and fragments of 15th-century stained glass in the windows.[4] In the 16th century the south porch was added.[4] In 1863 the church was restored and the chancel was extended about 6 feet (2 m) eastwards, re-using the Perpendicular east window in the new position.[3] Holy Trinity is now a Grade II* listed building.[4]

By 1925 Holy Trinity had a ring of three bells.[3] Bartholomew Atton of Buckingham[6] cast the tenor bell in 1591.[7] John Taylor & Co of Loughborough, who at the time also had a foundry at Oxford, cast the treble and second bell in 1842.[7] In 1935 these became the fourth and fifth bells as John Taylor & Co cast a new treble, second and third bells, increasing the ring to six.[7]

Holy Trinity has also a Sanctus bell that was cast in 1669 by Anthony Chandler, who worked at his family's bell-foundry in the village (see below).[7]

Holy Trinity parish is now part of the Benefice of Newton Longville, Mursley, Swanbourne, Little Horwood and Drayton Parslow.[8]

Drayton Rectory is a Georgian house of five bays built in 1753[9] or 1754.[10]

Holy Trinity Church has been Grade II* listed (Entry Number: 1289256) since 19 August 1959. The summary states: "Fragments of C12 masonry, C14 chancel, C15 nave and W. tower,C16 S. porch. All much restored C19".[4]

Former Primitive Methodist chapel, now a private house

Drayton Baptist Chapel was built in 1830.[3] Worship at the chapel is now on alternate Sunday mornings.[11]

Drayton's first Primitive Methodist chapel was built in 1847.[3] In 1912 it was replaced with a new Gothic Revival red brick chapel, and in 1932 it became part of the Methodist Union.[12] Drayton's Methodist congregation declined in the 1960s and 70s, and in 1984 the chapel was sold and converted into a private house.

Drayton Parslow had a bell-foundry from 1635 to 1754.[6] It was started by Richard I Chandler and run by members of his family for the next 91 years.[6] In 1726 Edward Hall took over, and continued the business until 1754.[6] By early 1800, the business was no longer in operation, probably because of increasing competition.[14]

Reports indicate that 163 bells that were cast by founders from Drayton Parslow are known to survive.[6] Examples in Buckinghamshire include bells at St James, Aston Abbotts, St Nicholas, Ickford and St Giles, Pitchcott and the Sanctus bell at St John the Evangelist, Whitchurch. There are also examples in Oxfordshire including at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Beckley, St Michael's, Fringford, St Mary the Virgin, Kidlington and SS Peter and Paul, Steeple Aston and the Sanctus bells at St Mary, Chesterton and St Nicholas', Emmington. An example in Northamptonshire is at St James the Less, Sulgrave.

Residents of the village were involved in both world wars.[15] The village has a memorial obelisk that states: Commemoration First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945) at the junction of Main Road and Chapel Lane.[16]

According to Historic England, the village was also a World War II outstation to the Government Code and Cipher School at Bletchley Park; some of the work was moved here in 1943 when the group needed more space. Another source indicates that the buildings were also used as a prisoner of war camp, and after the war, as a hostel for displaced persons and those employed at the brick works. After the war, the Post Office used some of the buildings as a training centre.[13] By the late 1980s the site had been redeveloped; a housing estate is now located there, Prospect Close.[17]