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]