St Andrew's Church, Woodwalton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew's Church, Woodwalton |
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St Andrew's Church, Woodwalton, from the southeast
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| OS grid reference | TL 208 821 |
| Location | Woodwalton, Cambridgeshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Friends of Friendless Churches |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 28 January 1958 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone with terracotta tiled roofs |
St Andrew's Church is an old Anglican church in Cambridgeshire, England. It stands alone in fields, about 2 kilometers (1 mile) north of Woodwalton village. You can even see it from trains passing on the East Coast Main Line! This church is a special Grade II* listed building, which means it's very important historically. It's looked after by a group called the Friends of Friendless Churches. As of 2010, the church isn't usually open to visitors because its foundations are moving, making it unsafe.
Contents
The Church's Long History
This church is so old that it's mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086! Back then, it probably had a main hall (called a nave) and a special area for the altar (called a chancel). The church is in an isolated spot because it was once central to a castle, an abbey, and the village.
How the Church Grew Over Time
Around 1250, a side section (the south aisle) was added. Then, about 1330, the north aisle was built or rebuilt, and the chancel was updated. The church tower likely dates from the 1300s. In the 1500s, a row of windows above the main hall (called a clerestory) was added.
The church was repaired between 1856 and 1859. During this time, parts of the aisles, the tower, and the entrance porch were rebuilt. A small room for the priest (a vestry) was also added. Later, the vestry was rebuilt in 1897 and changed in 1911 to hold an organ.
Church Design and Features
St Andrew's Church is built from limestone with terracotta tiled roofs. It has a main hall (nave) with a high row of windows (clerestory), side aisles, a chancel, an organ room, an entrance porch, and a tall tower.
The Tower and Windows
The tower has three levels with strong supports called buttresses. At the top, it has a battlemented wall, like a castle. The lowest part of the tower has a pointed arch doorway with a window above it. The middle level has narrow windows (lancet windows), and the top level has openings for bells. The main window at the east end of the church has three sections. The porch has a pointed roof and an empty space where a statue of Saint Andrew once stood.
Inside the Church
Inside, the arches that separate the main hall from the aisles are in different styles. The south side has an older style (Early English), while the north side has a later style (Perpendicular). The floor is covered with tiles from the 1800s. The baptismal font (where baptisms happen) also dates from the 1800s but is made in a 15th-century style.
Special Stained Glass and Monuments
A beautiful 14th-century stained glass window from the church is now on display at the Stained Glass Museum in Ely Cathedral. It shows Saint Catherine with her wheel and Saint Lawrence under a decorative canopy.
You can also find several monuments inside the church, especially those remembering the Hussey family. The tiles and the decorative screen behind the altar (reredos) from 1874 are also dedicated to them. Under the chancel is the family's burial vault. There are also some very old stone coffin lids in the church.
The Church Bells
The tower holds four bells. Two were made in the 1700s by Joseph Eayre, and the other two were made in 1841 by Thomas Mears II. However, as of 2010, the bells cannot be rung because the tower is not safe.
Recent Challenges and Care
Over the years, the church has faced some challenges. Lead was stolen from the roofs in 1956 and 1964. After the church was no longer used for regular services, it suffered from vandalism, and much of its stained glass and furniture were damaged.
The church was even used as a filming location for a TV show in 1984! It appeared in an episode of Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense.
Today, the church is cared for by the charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches. They have a very long lease (999 years) on the building since 1979.
Repairs and Future
The church's foundations are moving because of problems with its drainage system. The tower and the main part of the church are sinking at different rates, and there are serious cracks in the chancel. Experts have looked at the church, and their reports helped get funding for repairs. Good news: the church is no longer on the Heritage at Risk Register! Important repairs to the tower and roofs were finished in 2013.
The organ that used to be in the church has been moved to St Barnabas' Church in Huntingdon.
A picture of St Andrew's Church is even on the cover of a book called The Nation's Favourite Churches by Andrew Barr!
Images for kids
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The nave looking towards the chancel, taken during a Heritage Open Day, September 2010. The blue paint over the chancel arch covers over a Victorian pattern, just visible through the cracks.
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Floor plan, showing the different eras of architecture.
