St Oswald's Church is one of the finest parish churches in Derbyshire and one of the glories of Ashbourne. Its slender 65-metre spire is a landmark visible for miles across the surrounding countryside, and Dr Johnson called it "the most interesting and elegant church in all of England." The building dates substantially from the 13th and 14th centuries, with elegant Early English arcades and a wealth of medieval stonework.
The interior rewards a proper look. Beyond the Boothby tomb, the church holds memorials to several centuries of local families, medieval tiles, and good Victorian glass. The churchyard is spacious and quiet. The church is reached from the town centre through a narrow Tudor alley called Church Walk, lined with timber-framed buildings — one of the most charming approaches to any English church.