Statement of Significance
Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Gamlingay
Situation: Gamlingay Village, South Cambridgeshire
Dedication: St Mary
Grade: I
Date Listed: 22 November 1967
English Heritage Building ID: 52728
Location: Church Street, Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire SG19 3JH
PART 1
The Church Building
The church is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. It was built around the 13th century in the Early English style with a square tower (now containing eight bells) from field stones and local ironstone. A church existed in the parish before 1120. The church stands to the eastern far end of the village. It is a large building which can be seen from across neighbouring fields whilst it is not located in the centre of the village it is en route for many who enter and leave the village.
The North Transept
(The Taylard Chapel / War Memorial Chapel)
This chapel was completed in the late 15th century and paid for by Sir Walter Taylard's widow. The chapel is now used our War Memorial Chapel. In the east window of this chapel are some pieces of medieval glass reassembled from the equivalent window in the Guild Chapel. Two sets of arms can be seen, one, a form of the arms of Merton College, Oxford, taken from the arms of Walter de Merton, Bishop of Rochester, the founder of that college, who was also a landowner in Gamlingay (the college remains so to this day). The other arms are those of Fitzjames, probably Richard, Warden of Merton College 1483-1507. On the right of the altar there is a hole cut right through the massive pillar. This is a `Hagioscope', cut to enable those worshipping in the transept in former years to observe the elevation of the host at the high altar.
The Rood Screen
At the great chancel arch is a very fine rood screen which separates the nave from the chancel. The design dates from the latter part of the 15th century, and was obviously part of the work completed in 1490 for Bishop Alcock's visit.
The screen once had an overhanging vaulted canopy which was replaced in the 19th century. Parts of this canopy are now used in the tower as rails in the arch over the ringing chamber.
In 1980 a rood, with the figures of Jesus on the cross, and the figures of Mary and St John were added, by means of a kind donation. On the east side of the screen are six priest's stalls, some of which still have their original misericords.
The High Altar
On the right of the high altar is a 15th century sedilia (built in seats) for three acolytes (servers), together with a piscina. The reredos (the panelling behind the altar) and the east window are relatively modern, being gifts from the Orlebar family in memory of their family. On the left of the altar is an aumbry, in which the reserved sacrament is kept.
The Guild Chapel
(South Transept)
This chapel was used in ancient times by the guilds of the Holy Trinity and the Brotherhood of Gamlingay. These guilds maintained their own priest. The chapel has a reliquary on the west wall, in which a holy relic would have been kept. We have no record of what holy relics were stored here.
The ancient medieval pews in this chapel were moved here during the last century.
The south window is dedicated to Miss D. Orlebar, who started Guiding in the village in 1920, and the Guide banner dates from this time.
The South Aisle
On the south wall can be seen a monument to Ralph Lane. Near the south porch entrance is a Banner Cupboard, in which, during medieval times, the banners would have been kept.
PART 2
The North Porch is the normal entrance to the church. The porch contains the only example of stone vaulting in the church.
Over the porch is a parvaise (a small room) which had many uses in earlier times..
The Porch and the north wall, are the oldest parts of the church and are all that remains of an Early English church which stood here until it was absorbed into the present building. A little further along is a tomb recess belonging to the Avenell family, who were once Lords of the Manor. The Avenell family are still remembered today through the road name Avenells Way.
The Font
The font dates from 1180, and was part of the Early English church on this site. It has a fine wooden cover which has been repaired in three separate periods.
The Tower
The tower is of massive construction, the base walls are nearly six feet thick. Access to the ringing chamber and the clock are from a spiral stairway on the north side.
The Tower used to house six bells, the largest of which weighed approximately 914 Kg (18 cwts). There are now eight bells. The earliest known record referring to the bells at Gamlingay is that of the hallowing of two bells by the Bishop of Ely, John Alcock in 1490, shortly after a major rebuilding of the church. Indeed the larger part of the oak bell-frame still in use today may well date to this period. In the Cambridgeshire historical records is an illustration of the bell-frame, originally designed to hold four bells. We have no record of the founder of the four original bells, but it is believed that they were cast in the village. There is a field that used to be known as `Bellfounders Close' where it was done. They were recast in 1653 by Giles Graye the Younger of Colchester, and increased in number to five, the bell-frame being modified to hold the extra bell. Three of these bells are still in use today. These bells have now been in use, requiring only routine maintenance, for 100 years.
The churchyard is closed.
St Mary’s is a building of building that is both grand and peaceful and of very great historical and architectural importance. During any year the church is visited by many tourists and groups from universities, colleges and interest groups. The building is well used by the local schools for visits, concerts and special services. The priority for the PCC and wider community is for the church to fulfil its role as a place of worship whilst opening up the possibilities of offering hospitality to more local groups, visitors and exhibitions. In order to do this and discharge our duty of care and health and safety, we must first make the provisions we are proposing.