Parish Church of St Mary Virgin

The Parish Church of St Mary Virgin is a Grade II* listed building situated on Church Street in Fen Ditton. The church’s origins lie around 1300 with the north aisle and chancel, while the nave arcades, clerestoreys, south aisle, and south porch date to the 15th century. A substantial restoration was undertaken in 1881 by J.L. Pearson, followed by further work in 1888-9. The west tower was rebuilt in the early 13th century style.

The church is constructed primarily of flint and limestone, incorporating some reused medieval stone, with dressings of Barnack limestone and clunch. The roofs are lead. The south elevation features aisle extensions that align with the tower. The tower, of three stages, has a plain parapet, a moulded plinth and a small lead-covered spirlet. A two-light belfry window is topped with a quatrefoil in a two-centred arch. The south aisle and porch have plain parapets and grotesque gargoyles. The porch, centrally positioned, was partly rebuilt with a tall 19th-century two-centred arched opening featuring attached shafts and moulded capitals and bases. The doorway has moulded jambs and a two-centred inner arch and a square outer arch, both with quatrefoils in the spandrels. Aisle bays have buttresses at the corners and to the west. East and west windows have cinquefoil-lights in four-centred arches. Four clerestory windows consist of two trefoiled lights, with a blocked rectangular opening above that likely served as a light to the rood loft.

The chancel features three buttressed bays and three windows, each with two trefoiled lights. The west window has a transome and rebated jambs to the lower lights, suggesting the presence of former shutters. Inside, the nave arcades and chancel arch are 15th century, with two-centred arches of two wide hollow- and double-ogee-moulded orders. Attached shafts and semi-octagonal moulded capitals and bases support the arches. The eastern arch has a label with dog-tooth ornament. A pair of 14th-century niches are found in the chancel, each with ogee-cinquefoil heads and traces of colour. The nave roof is 15th century, of four bays, with braced king posts, moulded tie beams, and curved braces to wall posts. Two pairs of 15th-century niches are located in the south aisle, accompanied by a piscina. A piscina is also present in the chancel, partially concealed by a later string. The chancel features a 14th-century scissor-braced roof. The north and south aisle roofs are 15th century, of five bays each, with moulded principal rafters and purlins. A medieval door to the south aisle has been encased in modern wood. The font has an octagonal bowl with quatrefoil panels, dating to the late 14th century. Monuments and floor slabs are documented in the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments report. Stained glass in the south aisle’s east window was created by Kempe in 1898, and the east window features work by Clayton and Bell from 1881. The pulpit and lectern date to 1876, and the organ to 1877.