St Peter’s, Hanwell, is 2.5 miles NW of Banbury, in a unique setting overlooking Hanwell Castle, of Tudor redbrick built from 1498 onwards by William Cope, cofferer to King Henry VII. It is another ironstone church like those at Horley and Hornton nearby, and like them had 12thc. origins. However, St Peter’s was largely rebuilt in the 14thc., and now comprises chancel, nave, N and S aisles, and a W tower. It has some fine figurative sculpture of c. 1340: a frieze of men and monsters decorates the external walls of the chancel, and the nave capitals bear figures with linked arms. The only remaining Romanesque feature is the tub font, with intersecting arches and three little heads.

The existence of a rector was recorded in 1154, and the advowson probably belonged to the lord of the manor then and subsequently (VCH).

The church belongs to the Ironstone Benefice, comprising Alkerton, Balscote, Drayton, Hanwell, Horley, Hornton, Shenington and Wroxton.