Church Of St Pega

The Church of St Pega is a building of primarily 12th-century origin, with traces of earlier 11th-century work in the east end of the nave. It has undergone alterations and additions throughout its history, particularly during the 13th, 15th, and 19th centuries.

The west wall of the nave dates back to an aisleless Norman building and features three flat buttresses with set-offs and a 13th-century lancet window. Above this is a Norman gabled bellcote with three round-arched bell openings. The nave also has a Norman south doorway, featuring a single order of colonnettes, a tympanum with a fan design, and an arch carved with a zigzag pattern. The nave’s clerestory windows are cusped lancets, with a parapet and moulded coping detail.

The north aisle, constructed around 1170, is characterized by a plain chamfered round-arched doorway and three-light straight-headed windows. The south aisle features a three-light straight-headed window with a hood mould decorated with ball flowers and a lancet window in the west end. A south porch boasts a double-chamfered pointed arch and semi-circular responds.

The chancel, originally late 13th century, was rebuilt in the 15th century. On the south side, it has two Perpendicular windows with four-centred arches and three lights; the east window is a large Perpendicular window with five lights and a four-centred arch. A chapel located on the north side of the chancel has a Perpendicular window facing north and an east window with two ogee-headed lights.

The interior includes a 12th-century three-bay north arcade with circular piers, scalloped capitals and square abaci, and roll-moulded round arches. The south arcade is Early English in style, with double-chamfered pointed arches, circular piers with capitals and abaci, and nailhead decoration. The transitional chancel arch is tall with a double-chamfered arch and circular responds; one capital features waterleaf decoration, and the other exhibits deep undercut foliage. The arch into the chapel from the chancel is pointed, with roll mouldings and circular responds with scalloped capitals. The nave and chancel have depressed tiebeam roofs. There are 14th-century head corbels in the north aisle. A screen between the north aisle and the chapel appears to incorporate Perpendicular fragments. The lectern has an early 14th-century stem with attached shafts. The octagonal font is likely 14th century. The remaining furnishings are largely Victorian.

A significant series of wall paintings of mainly 14th-century date have been uncovered, depicting the Crucifixion, the miracle of Longinus, the Deposition, the Entombment, the Resurrection, an appearance to Mary Magdalene, and a depiction of St Christopher. The east window contains stained glass by Kempe, and the tower was constructed around 1914.

The church is dedicated to St Pega, who was the sister of St Guthlac, the founder of the monastery at Crowland.