Historic churches in Cambridgeshire

all things bright & beautiful visitchurches.org.uk/daysout 1

escape to the past Whether city centre landmarks or in the heart of the Fens, the historic churches of Cambridgeshire have a tranquility and beauty that can take you to another place.

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Some of these churches are treasure troves of art and craftsmanship. Others are ancient and simple in their design, with a quiet beauty born of light, space and harmony. Each has a sense of serenity that is rare to find. Let these churches transport you from the 21st century into a world of enchantment. All the churches in this leaflet have been saved by divine The Churches Conservation Trust. The Trust is a charity that cares for more than 340 churches in England. This is one of 18 leaflets that highlight their history and treasures. inspiration For more information on the other guides in this series, discover the glorious Arts and Crafts as well as interactive maps and downloadable information, interior of All Saints’, one of Cambridge’s see visitchurches.org.uk best kept secrets 4

Cambridge, All Saints 1 Victorian decorative genius

• A Gothic Revival masterpiece • Works by William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Madox Brown All Saints’ stands opposite the gates of Jesus College in the heart of Cambridge, its pale stone spire a prominent city landmark. It was built in the 1860s to the plans of the famous 19th-century architect GF Bodley, and is a triumph of Victorian art and design. The simple wooden door opens into a dramatic blast of colour and pattern. Light gleams through stained glass windows, designed by leading Arts and Crafts artists, including William Morris, Edward Burne-Jones and Ford Madox Brown. What’s more, almost every surface has painted, stencilled or gilded decoration. Pomegranates burst with seeds; flowers run riot over the walls. There is a glorious painting of Christ, Mary and St John, with throngs of angels. Despite all this glory, All Saints’ struggled to pay its way for decades – eventually becoming ‘redundant’ for regular worship in the 1970s. Today, thanks to the care of The Churches Conservation Trust and much local support, All Saints’ is rejuvenated, and hosts events and services throughout the year. peace Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BP In city centre, opp. Jesus College and serenity Nearest railway station: Cambridge (1 mile) immerse yourself in deeply atmospheric Open daily St John’s, Duxford 2 4 Conington, Duxford, All Saints St John Glorious monuments A heavenly church with in a church full of light Templar links This late Medieval church is a light-filled wonder, its clear glass The picture-postcard setting of St John’s is only part of its windows displaying almost lace-like tracery. The estate of charm. The exterior is quirky rather than beautiful, but the Conington belonged to Maud, niece of William the Conquerer, sparsely furnished stone interior has a light, airy serenity. who married David, son of the Scottish King Malcolm, in 1109. Moreover, it is a treasure trove of curiosities. Graffiti, some Conington remained part of Scotland until 1237 and was of it so old it is written in Latin, is scratched into the stonework eventually passed to the Cotton family, whose gloriously - look for the Templar cross. Carvings of angels, human opulent monuments are held in the church today. faces and otherworldly creatures adorn the north aisle while dramatic Medieval paintings of martyrdom, torture and Church Lane, Conington, Peterborough PE7 3QA crucifixion grace the walls. 10m N of Huntingdon off A1 Nearest railway station: Peterborough (8 miles) Green Street, Duxford, Cambridge CB22 4RG Keyholder nearby 6m S of Cambridge, 1m SE of M11 at Junction 10 Nearest railway station: Cambridge (6 miles) Open summer weekends; at other times keyholder nearby visitchurches.org.uk/daysout 3

3 Cambridge, St Peter

Saxon mermen in the smallest with us Spend a day church in Cambridge The tiny, tall-spired St Peter’s stands in a tranquil city setting on Castle Hill. It was originally built in the 11th century, and traces of its Saxon past survive in the form of two lovely carved doorways and the stone font, decorated with four mermen grasping their split tails. Mermen may have an ancient link to St Peter, patron saint of fishermen. The church was rebuilt in Georgian times, and is a simple, elegant gem of a building.

Castle Hill, Cambridge CB3 0AJ In city centre Nearest railway station: Cambridge (2 miles) Open weekday mornings; at other times key available from Kettle’s Yard Gallery next door Swaffham Prior, St Cyriac & St Julitta 10 More churches to enjoy A strange and beautiful church – one of two in the same Each CCT church has been saved because it is special. village churchyard – with an octagonal bell tower and a ring We can’t do justice to them all in one leaflet, so visit our website of six bells. The Georgian interior has fantastic acoustics. for more information on those only briefly described here. High Street, Swaffham Prior, Cambridge CB5 0LD 7m NE of Cambridge on B1102 Open daily Abbotsley, St Margaret 5 Part working church, part in the care of the Trust, the bold tower of Medieval St Margaret’s bears four royal Guyhirn Chapel 11 statues – William the Conqueror, King Harold and Scottish Designed in 1660 for Puritan worship and virtually kings Macbeth and Malcolm. unchanged, this little chapel is simplicity itself. Built from brick and stone, the chapel has plain glass windows and its original High Street, Abbotsley, St Neots PE19 6UJ narrow pews. The churchyard is spacious and beautiful. 4m SE of St Neots on B1046 High Road, Guyhirn, Wisbech PE13 4ED Keyholder nearby 4m SW of Wisbech off A47 Keyholder nearby Long Stanton, St Michael 6 A thatched church in an idyllic village setting with a holy well, used until the 1880s for baptisms, in the churchyard. Inside it is austere and atmospheric with 13th-century painted glass. Longstanton, Cambridge CB24 3BZ 8 7m NW of Cambridge and E of A14 off B1050 Open most days; at other times keyholder nearby

Offord D’Arcy, St Peter 7 This Norman church overlooks both a beautiful river and a busy railway line. There are carved stone heads, brasses visitchurches.org.uk/joinus and an alabaster 17th-century sculpture of Richard Nailour, his two wives and many children. High Street, Offord D’Arcy, St Neots PE19 5RH 4m S of Huntingdon off B1043 Keyholder nearby

Parson Drove, St John the Baptist 8 A lovely atmospheric Medieval Fenland church filled with Become a supporter carved faces peering out of the stonework. The churchyard has some intricately detailed gravestones and an obelisk to John Peck, an influential local farmer who died in 1851. Main Road, Parson Drove, Wisbech PE13 4LF 6m W of Wisbech on B1169 Keyholder nearby

Steeple Gidding, St Andrew 9 A beautiful church in a tree-filled churchyard with a 14th- century steeple and a wonderfully carved Norman doorway. Brilliant stained glass lights the austere but lovely interior. Steeple Gidding, Huntingdon PE28 5RG 10m NW of Huntingdon off A1 and 3m W of Sawtry Open daily A968

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A5 A449 8 A 4 A5190 A RUTLAND our churchesA447 A46 Wisbech A47 A493 The map opposite shows the location of each M42 NORFOLK A470 A490 A464 of our churches in Cambridgeshire, together with M54 CITY OF 11 A1 A1122 other nearby attractionsLEICESTER and CCT churches in A6121 1 2 2 A488 A47 A470 15 adjoining counties. A47 Peterborough A146 A489 M6 Toll A47 A A1139 A1075 A12

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0 A493 A444 A11 Our website, visitchurches.org.uk, has much more 0 A458 14 3 SHROPSHIRE A6 J Whittlesey March A10 A143 detailed information to help you plan your trip. A43 A483 A454 A38 A49 I A489 M6 A446 A489 A458 16 Ordnance Survey ref A427

A427 A605 A141 A140 1 Cambridge,M69 All SaintsA5 (cover image) TL 453 587 A1(M) A426 Corby A470 17 2 A144 Ramsey Chatteris A145 M6 2 Conington, All Saints TL 179 858 Littleport A143 A487 A442 A488 18 A616 A4304 A1066 A44 A45 3 Cambridge, St Peter TL 445 592 9 A1101 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE A142 A1065 M6 M1 Ely A452 2 CAMBRIDGESHIRE A449 4 Duxford, St John TL 478A14 462 A141 19 A11 A1088 A4120 A4141 A5199 A448 5 Abbotsley, St Margaret TL 227 565 A4117 A1123 Mildenhall A143 A4113 A14 A142

A4 6 Long Stanton, St Michael TL 403 658 A46 A134 POWYS M45 A43 A45 Huntingdon St Ives A11 M42 1 A508 B 7 Offord D’Arcy, St Peter A45 TL 216 664 A485 A483 A456 A12 77 A140 A44 A4110 6 A10 8 Parson Drove, St John the Baptist TF 390 091 7 A14 A470 A443 A428 A488 WORCESTERSHIRE A435 C 9 Steeple Gidding, StA4 Andrew25 TL 133 813 A1 10 A14 A49 A4112 A45 A14 Newmarket CEREDIGION A6 10 Swaffham Prior, St Cyriac & St Julitta TL 568 639 St Neots D A10 M5 3 A1120 94 A44 A44 H A428 A482 11 Guyhirn Chapel A423 TF 403 040 5 Cambridge A44 A422 WARWICKSHIRE A428 1 E A481 A46 A1198 COUNTY OF A143

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A10 Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey ® on behalf of The Controller of HMSO 4 A485 A44 © Crown Copyright 2012 A40 A479 A49 A361 A40 CARMARTHENSHIRE A465 A131 M50 A4 A421Other local heritage attractions A507 G Wimpole Hall – house, gardens, home farm 13 A6 A487 A449 A4146 A4069 M5 A137 A Peckover House – house, gardens A505 H Bushmead Priory A1124 A A466 A38 A435 A5 M1 A120 A4137 I Elton Hall – house, gardens A478 4215 BLAENAU A4421 B Wicken Fen Nature Reserve A44 LUTON PEMBROKESHIRE A40 A424 A4260 A602 A470 GWENT 4095 BUCKING-C Denny Abbey J NeneA120 Valley Steam Railway A40 A436 A A120 A 133 A40 A483 D Anglesey Abbey – house, gardens A1(M) A12 HAMSHIRE A418 www.english-heritage.org.uk A48 A34 A41 E Cambridge colleges, museums,A4146 botanic garden Telephone 0870 333 1181 A131 A40 A484 MERTHYR A435 67 A417 A40 F Imperial War Museum Duxford HERTFORDSHIRE A1060 40 TYDFIL A130 A474 A465 A4136 A A A46 A4095 A413 TORFAEN 4075 A477 A4066 A414 A4076 A40 A418 A10 A429 A A A476 GLOUCESTERSHIRE A415 A40 A414 4 4010 A41 A465 A469 6 MONMOUTHSHIREA466 A414

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A3110 ISLES OF SCILLY Find out more Welcome to a thousand Our website has a host of additional information years of English history that will help you plan and enjoy your visit, including: • Interactive maps The Churches Conservation Trust is the national • Filterable lists of all our churches charity protecting historic churches at risk. • Up to date opening times We’ve saved over 340 beautiful buildings • Visitor comments which attract more than 1.5 million visitors a year. • Downloadable guides With our help and with your support they are • Image galleries kept open and in use – living once again at the heart of their communities. • Event listings Go to visitchurches.org.uk to access all this and more. Visiting information Go to visitchurches.org.uk for detailed directions, local maps, information on disability access and up to date opening times. For other enquiries, call us on 020 7213 0660 (Monday – Friday, office hours), or [email protected] Please take care when visiting our churches. Floors may be uneven/worn or slippery, and interior lighting may be low.

Assistance dogs are welcome. For full disabled access information, see our website. Unsure about the ‘keyholder nearby’ access? You will find details at the church or call us in advance. Parking is available at most churches – see the website for more details.

The closest station for each church is shown in the guide. For bus routes, see traveline.org.uk Cyclists welcome! For cycle routes, go to sustrans.org.uk Help us save historic churches The CCT needs to raise an additional £1.5million every year just to cover essential repairs. If you enjoy your visit please leave a donation at the church, or go to visitchurches.org.uk/donate for details of how you can help.

Become a fan visitchurches.org.uk facebook.com/ChurchesConservationTrust The Churches Conservation Trust Follow us 1 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9EE twitter.com/TheCCT Registered Charity No: 258612 © CCT 2011