Parish Church of St Mary

Parish Church of St Mary

This is a parish church of mixed medieval dates, with the earliest surviving element being the three western bays of the nave arcade, dating to around 1180. The early 13th century saw the construction of the east bays of the nave arcade, which may have replaced an original tower and south transept. The chancel and south transept were rebuilt in the early 13th century. The south aisle was rebuilt, and the west tower was constructed in the early 14th century. The north aisle and north porch date to the late 14th century. In the 15th century, the chancel arch was rebuilt, a north vestry was added, and clerestory windows were inserted. The church underwent major restoration campaigns in 1870–1, 1878, and 1891. A south vestry was added in 1899; the north vestry had been demolished around 1750.

The walls are constructed of flint rubble with dressings of Barnack limestone and clunch. The roofs are of slate.

On the north elevation, the chancel features two lancet windows. A 15th-century doorway with a two-centred head marks the entrance to the former vestry, while a 12th-century doorway is located to the south. The nave and north aisle have plain parapets with a moulded plinth band that is continuous around the buttresses. Five clerestory windows, each with two sexfoil lights in two-centred heads, have been restored. The north aisle has buttresses of two stages; a blocked window to the east retains head stops, and four restored cinquefoil-light windows are present. A two-centred arched doorway with a 15th-century door opens from the north aisle. The north porch features a plain parapet and a gable archway of two moulded orders with label and head stops. The tower rises in three stages and is topped by an embattled parapet with a moulded plinth; the second stage contains a trefoiled-light window, and the belfry window comprises two trefoiled lights.

Interior

The nave arcades comprise five bays with piers and double responds between the second and third bays. The two eastern bays date to the early 13th century and feature two-centred arches of two chamfered orders with circular piers and semi-circular responds; the capitals and bases are moulded. The three western bays are 12th century with half-round arches, round and octagonal piers, and moulded capitals and bases. The 15th-century chancel arch is two-centred with two moulded orders and responds with attached shafts, moulded capitals and bases. The tower arch is also two-centred with two moulded orders and responds featuring three main and two subsidiary shafts with moulded capitals and bases.

A 13th-century piscina in the chancel has a triangular head and is set in a recess; a 15th-century piscina in the south aisle has a trefoiled head and recess. A trefoiled-headed recess in the chancel dates to the 13th century. The north aisle contains a 15th-century recess with a central pier and ogee head.

The chancel's south windows contain 15th-century glass.

The church contains numerous monuments and floor slabs. In the chancel is an altar tomb and canopy of clunch dedicated to Sir John Huddleston, dated 1530, with a base featuring four quatrefoils. A Purbeck marble slab bears the remains of a brass to Elizabeth Pole. A painted alabaster tablet commemorates Gregory Milner, fellow of Trinity in 1616, and shows kneeling figures of a man and woman.

In the north aisle are a marble tablet to William Swann Daniel (1848) and his sons Fredrick (1849) and Edward (1855), and another to Thomas Evans (1850) and his wife Elizabeth (1845).

The south aisle contains a scrolled marble tablet with coat of arms commemorating Henry Huddleston, Sir Robert his son, and Lt Col Henry Huddleston his brother (died 1664–5) and Elizabeth his wife (died 1659).

Brass indents mark where brasses to William de Sawston (died 1308) once lay; a coffin was uncovered beneath the indent in 1973 containing two skeletons.

The church walls bear 15th-century graffiti including inscriptions, geometric patterns, and a figure with a sword.