Church Of St Mary

TL 4551, 19/62

GREAT SHELFORD, CHURCH STREET (north side), Church of St. Mary

31.8.62

I

Parish church of C12 and C14 origins, but almost completely rebuilt in early C15 by Reverend Thomas Patesley, d.1411. In 1798 the west tower collapsed and was rebuilt further to the east within the nave. In C19 the chancel and the fenestration of much of the church was restored. Coursed limestone, dressed clunch, clunch rubble, flint and pebblestone. Low pitched, embattled roof. Plan of west tower, nave, north and south aisles and chancel. West tower incorporates old materials. Three stages with octagonal bell stage. Embattled with needle spire. West window of clunch, three cinquefoil lights with vertical tracery. Newel staircase in north west angle. The windows of the clerestorey and the south aisle have been restored in C19 with Ketton stone in perpendicular style. The south porch, C15, has a parish room above. Embattled with two-stage diagonal buttressing. Original niche with modern sculpture above restored outer archway. Rib vaulted interior with bosses, including a pelican.

INTERIOR: Nave now of four bays. Two-centred arches of two chamfered orders on octagonal columns with typical high bases and moulded capitals. Moulded labels with mask stops, some of angels. Chancel arch of similar date, and with a rood loft staircase opening to the north. The nave roof is C15 and of alternating tie beam and hammer-beam construction. Above the chancel arch is a C15 wall painting of the Doom. In the south aisle is a C14 piscina with trefoil arch opening. The pulpit is 1636, oak. The tester and staircase are original. There are early C17 wall monuments in the north and south walls of the chancel and a brass to Thomas Patesley, d.1411 in the chancel floor.

Pevsner: Buildings of England p.396; R.C.H.M: record card; V.C.H: (Cambs) Vol. VII p.

Listing NGR: TL4587251872