St Mary, Sawston

St Mary sits slightly away from Sawston's busy main High Street, and includes architecture from the Romanesque and all the principal Gothic periods, along with some nice memorials.

The church has a nave with aisles, chancel and west tower. The oldest fabric dates from the 12th Century, and is seen in the Norman doorway to the chancel (photo above) and the three west bays of the nave, which are rounded and unmoulded. Moving east, after a short blank wall, there are two further bays of pointed arches in the Early English style, dating from the early to mid 13th Century. These probably replaced the original chancel when the church was extended eastwards. The chancel arch is Perpendicular but the east window Decorated. Also Dec are the east window on the south aisle, and the tower (which dates from around 1400). The clerestory and large new Perpendicular windows on the south chancel wall were added in the 15th Century.

Despite the jumble of architectural periods, the church has a homely feel, helped by the sensitive replacement of pews by good quality chairs and a stone floor. In the chancel is a fine tomb chest to Lady Elizabeth de la Pole (d.1423) and above this, the canopy forms the memorial to John Huddleston (d. 1530). His funeral helm is attached to the wall above. Next to these is a painted alabaster wall tablet Gregory Milner, fellow of Trinity 1616, and his wife, shown kneeling, facing each other. The church also has a good number of brasses. These include a civilian in fine armour c.1480 with a missing head; two to Robert Lockton and his wife from around 1500, showing them tightly wrapped in funeral shrouds; one to a finely robed priest c.1420, with a later inscription to one John Huntington (d.1558); and finally to William Richardson (priest, d.1527).

On my visit, I bumped into the cheerful and welcoming Vicar, departing in traditional Anglican style on a bicycle. The church - which serves what its website proudly proclaims is "Cambridgeshire's largest village" - clearly has an active community, boasting craft sessions, concerts, and children's church. Sundays have Holy Communion followed by an informal worship service later in the morning, with Holy Communion also on Thursdays.

St Mary, Church Lane, Cambridge CB22 3JR