St Peter & St Paul, Fenstanton (undated)

St Peter & St Paul, Fenstanton

History of St Peter and St Paul

Listed Building

The tower was built in the early to mid-C13 and the spire was added in the late C14. The south aisle was rebuilt in the early C14, and the chancel and south porch were rebuilt between 1345-42 by the Rector William de Longthorne. In the C15 the nave was rebuilt with the clerestory, and the east arch of the tower was raised with heavy buttresses added for support. The north aisle was rebuilt in the late C15 or early C16.

The chancel was completed 1347-1352 and is slightly bigger than the nave.

There is a memorial to Lancelot (Capability) Brown although he never lived in the village.

There is another memorial to John Howland who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. John’s parents, John and Margaret are buried in the churchyard.  John was one of a group of Baptists who went to Holland to escape persecution during the reign of James I. In 1620 he sailed from Holland on the Speedwell. The ship was damaged by the time it reached Plymouth so the passengers transferred to the Mayflower. During the voyage John was almost swept overboard.

Memorial to Capability Brown and his family