The parish of Strethall is very small, at only 600 acres. The name is derived from the “nook” or “sheltered corner” on the “street”; as an ancient trackway once ran through here.
The church of Saint Mary the Virgin, Strethall is a Grade 1 listed Saxon church which dates from about 1010, soon after the burning of Cambridge by King Swein’s henchman Thorkill the Tall that year. King Swein forcibly converted his subjects to Christianity, so it is thought the church was built around this time.
It is positioned next to a farmyard and only has a footpath leading up to its’ porch. It is constructed of flint and parts of the tower were re-constructed in the 14th century. The tower houses two mid-14th century bells.
The church is unusual in that it does not have a war memorial, as no parishioners were lost in the Great War due to the fact that they were farmers, which was a reserved occupation.
The church underwent substantial repairs between 1999 and 2007, supported by grants from English Heritage, the Historic Churches Preservation Trust and others. In 2010, the year of the church’s 1000 year anniversary vandals spray painted graffiti on the walls, floors and pews of the church and tore pages of the main bible which required specialist repair.