File:St Mary's church - the chancel - geograph.org.uk - 1593728.jpg

English: St Mary's church - the chancel. An Anglo-Saxon church is mentioned in the Domesday book of 1080 but no trace remains. The present church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, was constructed mainly during the 14th century, with the tower dating from C15 and the chancel from C13 > 1593696 - 1593733. The porch > 1593722 - described by N Pevsner as 'something phenomenal' - is believed to have been built in about 1478 with the assistance of John Moreton, the then bishop of Ely. The porch exterior is richly decorated with angels, a scroll, shields, and a scene depicting the annunciation > 1593726. Five statues can be seen on its battlements. The church still houses the original C15 font > 1593766 - 1593769 which is said to have been plastered over to avoid mutilation by Cromwell's soldiers, hence its excellent condition. The oldest benches > 1593744 date from the same time and are decorated with poppy heads and (mutilated) carvings. Of the stained glass, some is medieval, some C16 Flemish but the great majority was installed in Victorian times. The rood screen is thought to date from about 1450. The original frame has survived but the arches, the vaulting > 1593741 and the tracery gilding are a Victorian restoration as is the crucifix above. Originally the 16 panels depicted saints some of which can still be recognised > 1593735.