Wilcote is a hamlet hidden away in what was once part of Wychwood forest, 4 miles NE of Witney. St Peter’s church is built of coursed limestone rubble with a stone slate roof. It remains a small aisleless church of nave and chancel, dated by its surviving features to the late C12th. The chancel arch and chancel E wall were rebuilt in the C13th and a S chapel was added in the early C14th. About the same time the N doorway was rebuilt, with new windows to N and W walls. Despite a restoration by H. Woodyer in 1853, a more comprehensive one by A.W. Blomfield was made in the later C19th. The surviving Romanesque features include the blocked S doorway of c. 1170 and a window in the chancel.

The church of 'Wiveliscota', granted to Oseney Abbey in 1151 by Ralph Basset, son of the justiciar, may have been Wilcote, although Ralph is not otherwise recorded as having any connection with the place. That church was subsequently lost by the abbey.

In 1103 Manasser Arsic granted two thirds of the demesne tithes of Wilcote to Cogges Priory, which lost possession soon after. The first known presentation to the living was made between 1209 and 1219 by Adam Butler, and the advowson passed to the manor thereafter. Until recently it remained an independent rectory.