St Andrew, Isleham

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Margaret Peyton, 1484, Isleham

History of St Andrew

Parish church of cruciform plan dedicated in 1331, replacing an earlier church on the site of which traces remain in the stone- work of the north east corner of the nave and in the C13 Y-tracery in the north chapel. Much of the internal appearance dates from C15 when the roofs of the nave and aisles and the clerestorey were built. The west tower was rebuilt in 1863 by G.E. Street replacing one that had collapsed and the walls were refaced in 1893. The church has a particularly fine clerestorey and roofs of 1495 and is noteworthy for its monuments and brasses to the Bernard and Peyton families.

Lych gate, much repaired and restored, but of late C15 or early C16 origin. (Historic England)

St Andrew, Isleham, engraving pre 1862 (Cambs Collection)

St Andrew Isleham after 1862 collapse of tower (Cambs Collection)

Fen and Marshland Villages by Anthony Day, p20, tells how Elizabeth Brown, hearing the collapse of the tower, came out to see how many workers had been injured. However, the workmen had just retreated to The Griffin after seeing a piece of masonry fall and the tower collapsed behind them and were saved.

A Houghton notes in Memories of Isleham Village, that there is a 15th cent. brass. There is also a table made of bog oak and a seven-branched candlestick – a gift from Jewish schoolboys who were billeted there in WWII.

Gate, Isleham Church (RGL2025)

St Andrew, Isleham (RGL2025)

1949, B50 crash in Isleham

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