Church chest, Swaffham Bulbeck c.1910 (photo C H Evelyn-White) (Cambridgeshire Collection)

St Mary’s, Swaffham Bulbeck

History of St Mary's

Listed Building

Parish church, C13, except for the chancel and aisles which, although C13 in origin, were rebuilt in C14. Much of the clunch work has been restored, including the tracery to many of the windows.

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Enid Porter records in Cambridgeshire Customs and Folklore p180 that a witch bottle, now in the Museum of Cambridge, was discovered in the tower of the church.

1936 (CIP 25.12.1936)

The delightful old church of St Mary, Swaffham Bulbeck, was the scene of a disastrous fire. Thankful the vicar and his parishioners must be that the fire, which badly damaged the organ, belfry and tower, did not spread beyond. …. there is a cedar chest of the 15th century with fine carvings of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Crucifixion and the resurrection. During the fire Mrs Stearn, the wife of the vicar, together with her daughter and several villagers, worked valiantly to save valuable article and amongst the ornaments so rescued was a vestment box of Italian workmanship and made of Cypress wood which dates back to the time of King Richard I.