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St. Margartet's Church in Harpsden is a medieval structure substantially rebuilt in the mid 19th century. The oldest elements appear to date from the 12th century, including a round-arched doorway in the south wall of the nave, and parts of the chancel (the altar-stone, piscina recess, and the top of an arch low down in the north wall). Further work was carried out in the 14th century, possibly including the construction of a now lost chantry on the south side of the building, and the fine timber roof may be late medieval. There is, however, no evidence to substantiate a suggestion that the chancel was rebuilt in this period to replace a Norman apse. 

Little work was carried out in succeeding centuries, and early 19th-century drawings (like that of 1586) show a small plain building whose chancel and (higher) nave were of almost equal lengths, with a small wooden belfry on the west gable. On the south was a wood and tile porch with studded door. A projection south of the chancel, possibly associated with the chantry, was demolished after 1586, and replaced before the 19th century by an odd decorated pier midway along the church's south side, composed apparently of medieval masonry. The pier was presumably destroyed during mid 19th-century restoration work. 

Extensive alterations in the 1840s and early 1850s amounted to almost total reconstruction (Fig. 64). The first stages saw the building of a north vestry (1844) and the rebuilding of the chancel and addition of an organ chamber (1848). This was followed by more extensive work in 1852, to designs by Benjamin Ferrey of Henley, involving the addition of an aisle, tower and porch on the north side, the lengthening of the nave by 13 feet, the replacement of box pews and removal of a western gallery, and the blocking up of the south door. The old south porch was moved to the south-east corner of the churchyard, and subsequently converted into a side entrance to Harpsden Court by Leonard Noble in 1912. 

Later work included a highly colourful redecoration of the chancel by the architect Henry Woodyer in 1879, although this work, including a 'frightful' reredos, was removed in 1953, despite some earlier local opposition. A new vestry-cum-meeting room (called 'St Peter's Vestry') was added to the south side of the nave in 1975, accessed by unblocking the old south door. In 1993 the porch-cum-gate at the back of the churchyard was converted to an oratory.

Historical information about St. Margaret's Church is provided by 'Rural Parishes: Harpsden', in A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 16, ed. Simon Townley (Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2011), pp. 231-265. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/oxon/vol16/pp231-265 [accessed 19 March 2023].

St. Margaret's Church is a Grade II listed building. For more information about the listing see CHURCH OF ST MARGARET, Harpsden - 1181036 | Historic England.

For more information about St. Margaret's Church see Rural Parishes: Harpsden | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk).