Parish Church Of St Mary

Parish Church of St Mary

This parish church at Fowlmere is a substantial medieval structure with later additions and restorations. The nave dates from the early 12th century, with the western walls of the chancel belonging to the later 12th century. The central tower and chancel were rebuilt in the late 13th century. The west tower arch and second stage, north arcade and north aisle were added in the early 14th century, while the south transept dates to around 1300 and the north transept to the mid-14th century. The clerestory, north porch and the top stage of the tower are 15th century work. The building has undergone significant restoration campaigns: the west window was restored in 1857, transept roofs were repaired and a vestry and buttress were built north of the chancel in 1859, part of the north transept and clerestory were rebuilt in 1863-4, a complete restoration was carried out by T. Whitehead in 1869, and further work was undertaken in 1956.

The walls are constructed of flint and pebble rubble with dressings of clunch, Barnack limestone and freestone. The roofs are possibly of lead.

On the south elevation, the nave displays a plain parapet and an embattled gable parapet with a cross finial. Three clerestory windows contain three recessed cinquefoiled lights with four-centred arches, below which are two 14th-century Y-tracery windows in two-centred arches, with a further two-trefoiled-light window with tracery in a square head dating to around 1330 to the east at a higher level. The south doorway dates to around 1300 and features a two-centred arch with moulded jambs. The central tower rises in three stages with an embattled parapet, surmounted by a small lead-covered spire which was topped with a weather vane in 1759. Single lancet-light windows occupy the second stage, while the belfry window comprises two cinquefoil lights with spandrels and a four-centred arch. The south transept displays diagonal buttresses, plain parapets, and a four-cinquefoiled-light south window dating to around 1300 with tracery in a two-centred arch with label. The three chancel windows feature Y-tracery in two-centred arches, with a single cinquefoiled light to the west, and a blocked low side window remains visible on the internal wall; the chancel is reinforced with angle buttresses.

The interior contains a nave arcade of three bays with two-centred arches of two chamfered orders. The piers are quatrefoiled with small rolls at the angles and corresponding responds, with moulded capitals and bases. A 19th-century north doorway is present, above which is a 12th-century coffin lid fragment. The doorway itself dates to the 14th or 15th century and is constructed of vertical boards with horizontal rails and integral moulded battens, featuring a large lock case and key. The tower arches are notable: the west wall features a two-centred arch of two plain chamfered orders with semi-octagonal responds with moulded caps and bases, while the east wall displays a two-centred arch of two hollow-chamfered orders with a moulded label carved on semi-octagonal responds with moulded capitals and hold-water bases. Similar but later arches occupy the north and south walls. The north transept arch to the north aisle is two-centred with two chamfered orders. The transepts contain niches: the north transept features niches with moulded ogee heads dating to the 14th century, along with a stone bracket and shelf, while the south transept contains a niche with a vaulted head and canopy with crockets and finials dating to the 15th century. The chancel possesses a 19th-century doorway to the vestry in the north wall. Two piscinas are present: a 12th-century example with a plain round head, projecting chamfered rectangular stone shelf and square sinking to drain, and a late 13th-century piscina with two trefoiled arches in a round head with a central round column featuring engaged shafts with moulded caps and bases. An octagonal font of clunch with quatrefoil and foliate spandrels on each face dates to the 15th century.

The roofs are of significance. The nave roof is 15th century with a low pitch covering three bays. It features tiebeams supported on short wall-posts with carved braces, each bay subdivided by moulded principal rafters with carved bosses at intersections. The north transept roof, also 15th century, spans three bays with heavy cambered tiebeams and short king-posts with curved braces to the ridge. The south transept roof comprises two bays with a moulded central tiebeam, moulded ridge and purlins, short king-post, and bays subdivided by moulded principal rafters. The north porch roof spans two bays with chamfered principal rafters and ridge.

Medieval stained glass survives in various windows: the west window of the south wall of the chancel contains a shield of arms of De Vere, the east window of the north transept retains fragments of medieval glass, and the south transept preserves pieces from the 14th and 15th centuries.

The church contains several monuments. In the north wall of the chancel is a white marble pedestal with Latin inscriptions to William Mitchell (died 1745) and Elizabeth his wife (died 1748). Above the pedestal sits a seated draped female figure representing Elizabeth, carrying a cartouche carved with the head and shoulders of her husband, signed by Th. Ady. In the south transept stands a white marble tablet to John Crown Agnis of Longford (died 1829) by Gaffin of London. The chancel floor contains several slate slabs: one inscribed to Rev. William Metcalf (died 1850) and Susanna his wife, another inscribed to James Mitchell Esquire and his family (July 1715), one to Henry Hall (died 1757), and one to Alexander Chisholm, late of Sydney, New South Wales, husband of Emily, third daughter of William Metcalf (died 1845). A marble slab with brass inlay commemorates Anna Maria Blackburn (died 1842) and her infant son (died 1843).