Ickleton Church, 1937, from the south (Photo L Cobbett) (Cambridgeshire Collection)

St Mary Magdalen, Ickleton

History of St Mary Magdalen

Listed Building:

Parish church. Late C11 nave and arcades, clerestorey, north aisle and lower part of tower. Late C13 or early C14 inserted arches to north and south of central tower and transepts. Tower heightened c.1340. South aisle widened and rebuilt with south transept. C14 south porch and upper clerestorey with new nave roof. Spire added to tower. South porch, rebuilt with vaulted roof late C14. Chancel rebuilt mid C15, north chapel and vestry added.

Wall paintings mid C12 true frescoes, arranged in two tiers above with arcade, four passion scenes and three martyrdoms of St Peter, St Andrew and St Laurence; C14 Doom painting over chancel arch with Christ and the Virgin.

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St Mary’s Church at Ickleton is one of the most historically important parish churches in Cambridgeshire, bringing together Norman architecture, medieval craftsmanship and one of the finest collections of wall paintings in eastern England. Standing close to the Essex border, the church reflects the prosperity of the village during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and has been described as one of the county’s greatest architectural treasures.

The oldest parts of the church date from the Norman period. The impressive nave arcades are particularly remarkable, their sturdy circular columns believed to incorporate stone reused from the nearby Roman settlement at Great Chesterford. This link with the Roman past gives the church an unusual historical depth, while the graceful Early English chancel and later medieval additions illustrate the continuing development of the building over several centuries.

St Mary’s achieved national significance following a fire in 1979, when the removal of damaged plaster revealed an extraordinary series of medieval wall paintings that had been hidden since the Reformation. Dating mainly from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, these include scenes from the Passion of Christ, figures of saints and fragments of a Doom painting depicting the Last Judgement. Their survival is exceptional and offers a rare glimpse into the richly decorated interiors of England’s medieval churches.

Other treasures include a fine fifteenth-century rood screen, an elegant octagonal font and medieval benches that continue to serve the congregation today. Victorian restoration was carried out with restraint, allowing the church’s medieval character to remain largely intact.

Combining Norman craftsmanship, rare medieval paintings and evidence of nearly nine centuries of continuous worship, St Mary’s is widely regarded as one of Cambridgeshire’s most remarkable historic churches. It rewards visitors not only with its architectural beauty but also with an unparalleled insight into the artistic and devotional life of the medieval parish.

Reference: based on the description of Ickleton in Simon Jenkins, England’s Thousand Best Churches, with additional architectural and historical context.

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According to memorials of Ickleton, 1945, church built shortly after Norman Conquest, though some believe arcades and the west doorway are Saxon.

Four monolithic columns believed to have been brought from a Romano-British temple at Great Chesterford.

In 1911 Dr F J Allen told the CAS that Ickleton church had the most perfect lead-covered spire in the county, and a quaint feature was the bell that hung out on the spire near its apex.

There was a serious fire in 1979 and old photos were used to aid reconstruction.