The Church of England parish church of the Assumption of the Blesséd Virgin Mary was built in the 12th century, and the four-bay aisles of its nave were added in the 13th century. Sources disagree as to whether the west tower is part of the original 12th-century church or a 13th-century addition. Originally the chancel had an apse, but in the 15th century this part of the church was reordered with a rectangular east end. The nave has a clerestory with 15th- or 16th-century windows. Some of the windows of the aisles are 16th-century. In 1891 a pair of flying buttresses designed by Reginald Blomfield was added to the west tower. In 1910 an Arts and Crafts-style screen designed by John Oldrid Scott was added to the south aisle. The church is Grade I listed. The bell tower has a ring of six bells, all cast by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon in 1907. The church has also a Sanctus bell that was cast in 1352. In the churchyard are the base and broken shaft of a 14th- or 15th-century stone churchyard cross. The ecclesiastical parish is now part of the Benefice of Bicester, Bucknell, Caversfield and Launton.
Launton had a Presbyterian congregation by 1772, when a meeting house was licensed for it. The congregation lapsed by about 1800, but was re-established by 1806. In 1807 Zion chapel was built for it on the western edge of the village. Later in the 19th century the chapel was used as a school.
Congregational chapel
Bethel chapel was built in 1850 for an independent Nonconformist congregation. By 1855 it had a lending library and a school. It later joined the Congregational Church.
Economic history
The Varsity Line between and via was built through Launton parish and opened in 1851. Launton railway station served the village until the end of 1967, when British Railways withdrew passenger services between Bletchley and Oxford.
Amenities
Launton has two public houses: The Bull Inn at the crossroads in the centre of the village and The Black Bull at West End. The village has also a post office, a butchers and a hair salon. Launton has a Church of England primary school. The school has links with the parish church including Christingle and Year Six leavers services. Launton has a Parish Hall. The Sports and Social Club provides the home pitch for Launton Football Club, plus a tennis court and small children's play area. The Launton Village Players is an amateur theatre group living in and around Launton who perform an annual pantomime at The Cooper School in Bicester, and musical shows and plays in the village. The village has a Woods on your Doorstep at Island Pond Wood, managed by The Woodland Trust. Villagers bought it by public subscription and planted it in 1999. Launton has a Non-League football club, Launton Sports F.C., which plays at Launton Sports Club on Bicester Road.
Public transport
route S5 links Launton with Bicester, Gosford and Oxford. This service runs hourly, Mondays to Saturdays only and there is no late evening or Sunday service. During school terms the village is also served by school coaches to and from Blessed George Napier Roman Catholic School in Banbury.
