The view to the south is dominated by the scarp of the Lambourn downs, including the Uffington White Horse.

St Mary's is now part of the Church of England Benefice of Shrivenham and Ashbury, which also includes Bourton, Compton Beauchamp, Fernham and Watchfield.

[5] Longcot (or, until the 20th century, Longcott) was part of Shrivenham Hundred, with the manor and most of the land being held by Viscount Barrington.

The village population declined in line with the loss of commercial traffic on the canal to the Great Western Railway, completed in 1841.

[7] The parish has had a Church of England school since 1717,[4] the original building in the southwest corner of the churchyard paid for by voluntary subscription.