St Mary's, Fowlmere
Christians have been worshipping on this site since Saxon times. This building is only the most recent manifestation of St. Mary's, but it contains material from as early as 1130. The Church registers date from the year 1561, as does the list of Rectors of the Parish. Over the centuries this building has changed with the theology, culture and fashion of the times. It has also been carefully restored in 1869-70 and again between the years of 1956 and 1961 and in the 1990s.
Restoration and maintenance of this marvellous building is an ongoing task, but it is well worth the effort for St. Mary's Church bears many of the marks of the Christians who have worshipped here for over one thousand years.
In the 11th Century a Norman Church was built on this site facing east, towards Jerusalem.It may have been built by William Montfichet and would likely have had a chancel with a tower over it and a nave separated from tower and chancel by a nave arch. This structure was transformed into a cruciform shape in 1270, which became particularly popular during the Middle Ages.
As is common with many cruciform churches the chancel was built slightly off centre. If you stand under the western window of the nave facing east you will notice that the arch of the East window is not directly in line with its counterpart in the western window. This is not an example of poor medieval workmanship, but rather was meant to represent the leaning of Jesus' head to the right as he hung on the cross. The Cruciform Church not only symbolises the cross. It is meant to enclose the body of Christ, i.e. the members of the Church.
The tower was built in stages during the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. The Battlement on the North exterior of the tower bears the mullet of the De Veres family in Flint and Stone. The Bell-Chamber contains five bells which read "1704 Thomas Newman made me", only four of which are now in use. The tenor bell is cracked and has not been in use since at least 1860 when Mrs. Saville, the wife of the rector, notes the purchase of four new bell ropes.
The Chancel Screen is of early 15th century construction, with tracery of a later date." It is possible that the medieval rood (crucifix) was supported by a wooden beam above this screen, and was removed by Dowsing. The cross which stands on top of it has been added since the time when Rev. Saville was rector, perhaps under the influence of the Cambridge Camden Society during the period of liturgical revival which took place in the early years of the twentieth century. (The water-colour painting of the inside of the church Mrs. Saville painted which can be found on the West wall of the Nave and shows the rood screen with tracery but no cross.) The pulpit, which now stands in the nave, once stood in the south-eastern corner of the tower. The North, South and East arches of the tower date from the 13th century.
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If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
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