Kencot is a village about five miles S of Burford. The church lies to the W of the village and must originally have been a two-cell structure. The chancel dates to the 13thc, although it was largely rebuilt in the 19thc, whilst the nave is basically Romanesque. There are two Romanesque doorways to the S and N sides of the nave; in the chancel, the pointed arch retains the original imposts.

The Domesday Survey records that 'Chenetone' was held by Roger d'Oilly, being his uncle Robert tenant-in-chief. The manor valued £6. In the 1160s Roger d'Oilly mortgaged Kencot to a London financier (original deed, P.R.O. E210/5199). In the early 13thc the d'Oillys still held the presentation of the church (Fisher (1970), 18, 21).

The d'Oilly connection is interesting in view of the depiction of the centaur and the label 'SAGITTARIUS', who also appears on the font at Hook Norton, another d'Oilly church. A drawing by J. C. Buckler dating to the 19thc - reproduced in Fisher (1970), 21 - shows what seems to be the original doorway, with three elaborate triple C-strap hinges, but does not show the inscription. A further d'Oilly connection is between the dedications to St George, at Kencot and also at St George's chapel attached to Oxford Castle.

The S doorway and the chancel arch are probably from the same workshop as the rather more proficient work at Westwell, also near Burford, which has the same impost moulding and decoration.