Wood Eaton is a quiet village off the beaten track, yet it is only 5 miles NE of Oxford, and 2 miles from Islip. Holy Rood church comprises a chancel, nave, S porch and a W tower. The main fabric of the present chancel and nave probably dates from c. 1250 (VCH). There is a plain font that might be Romanesque.

In 1086 Wood Eaton belonged to Roger d'Ivri. His tenant was probably Fulk, father or grandfather of Fulk Hareng who witnessed a charter to Thame Abbey of c. 1138. Fulk Hareng, or his son Walehelin Hareng was lord by 1168. Before his death he gave Wood Eaton to Eynsham Abbey. The church is not mentioned in Hareng's gift, but it was evidently included with part of its demesne tithes (VCH). The first actual mention of a church is 1228 when Eynsham Abbey presented to the rectory. Eynsham held the advowson until the Dissolution.

The dating of the font remains inconclusive at c. 1200 or later.