The church of St James, is early English and is the home of some of the oldest wall paintings in the county. It is also said to be the highest church (geographically speaking) in Hampshire.

To the left and right of the chancel arch can be found paintings which date back to the late 12th century , though some of these were painted over during the 15th century. One one wall in particular St Christopher can be seen and near the chancel arch are other paints some in red and a blue medal that depicts the arms of King Charles II. The paintings are said to have represented in large medallions left of the arch The Harrowing of Hell, and to the right The Resurrection and the Pentecost.

The paintings above the chancel arch surrounding a former rood are circa 15th century.

There are two windows from the Norman period and four consecration crosses can be found inside. The two windows from the 17th century have frames made of wood and there are two peepholes facing the altar, which with the pulpit is from the Georgian era. The font is 12th century and the bells 16th and there are also relics from the Roman era.

One of two of Ashmansworth's most noted inhabitants were Gerald Finzi the composer, though born in London on 14 July1901, his father died while he was just seven and he moved to Harrogate in Yorkshire with his mother. There he was able to study with Ernest Farrar the composer until his departure for the war, and from 1917 with Edward Bairstow at York Minster.

But Finzi was attracted by the countryside of England and moved to Painswick in Gloucestershire where iw as able to compose in peace and quiet. His firs published work was By Footpath and Stile a song-cycle for baritone and string quartet to texts by Thomas Hardy who work he greatly admired. In 1939 the Finzis moved to Ashmansworth Farm  and during the war years Finzi was drafted into the Ministry of War Transport and he opened his house to a number of German and Czech refugees. He was the founder of the Newbury String Players.

In 1951 he found he was suffering from Hodgkin's Disease which was a from of Leukaemia and was given from five to ten years to live. And he finally lost the fight and died on 27 September 1956. He is buried beside the porch of the church.

The other was  Jacqueline du Pré the cellist, who lived in the village with her sister Hilary, her husband Christopher Finzi, son of the composer Gerald Finzi (above) and their four children. Jackie as she was known as returned to the recording studios with Barenboin in December, nobody realised it then but these would be her final sessions in the studio.

Jacqueline Du Pré , died in 1987 at the age of 42, and had suffered from multiple sclerosis in her later years