A History of Cranfield

Some years ago, a series of articles appeared in a local newspaper, and Cranfield Express felt it would be of interest to readers to repeat the series during the next few months. Here is article number 5.

Parish Church Repairs and Renovations The Parish Church is dedicated to St Peter and St Paul. The present Rector is the Rev. C L R Becher. It is probable that the site of the Church and Churchyard was a meeting-place of the people before Christianity was known in this country. The first church would no doubt be a wooden building, as was usual in Saxon times. Earlier mention of the Church in Ramsey Abbey books was in the time of Abbot Walter, 1133-60, when he granted it to Godfrey, the priest, who paid 20s. yearly for the repair of the Service Books at Ramsey.

A stone building was erected towards the end of the 12th century and at the beginning of the 13th century. The north doorway, which is now blocked up, is of the Transitional-style of architecture, and is of about the date 1180.
The east window in the north aisle is the oldest in the church, but the very rude stone carving built into the wall near the south doorway is probably the oldest part of the church. It is difficult to make out this carving; it appears to be a figure with a nimbus round the head and with the hands crossed over the breast. It is assumed that it is a representation of the Saviour, or one of the saints. The original position of this carving may have been above one of the doorways. Most of the 13th century building was remodelled and rebuilt during the 15th century.

The Chancel is plastered and overgrown with ivy, and the windows, which have perpendicular tracery in four-centred heads are modern. On each side of the east window is a modern canopied niche, and the piscina and sedilia are modern work.
The Vestry, which has modern windows and doors, is 14th century work. Above it is a priest's chamber, approached by a staircase, this upper room being lighted by two narrow square-headed lights.
The Chancel arch is of two chamfered orders, with a deeply undercut label. There are half-round shafts in the jambs, having well-moulded capitals, of which that on the south is ornamented with nail-head. The clear story windows, of which there are four on either side are of three cinquefoiled lights under a four centred head. The Nave roof is good 15th century work in four bays. The secondary rafters have angels supporting them, with wings outspread and holding shields bearing emblems of the Passion. At that time the tower was heightened and much altered.

The north aisle has a late 13th century piscina in the north wall with a trefoiled head, over which is a label. Above it is an image corbel. In the north wall, which is plastered and has an embattled parapet, are three restored 15th century windows, each of three cinquefoiled lights under a four-centred head. Between these windows are 13th century buttresses in two stages.
The south aisle has a squint in the north-east angle looking into the Chancel. This squint would enable one to see the Altar from the south door, close to which is the stoup used for "holy door". There is 13th century square piscina in the south wall, moulded like that of the north aisle, and adjoining it is an unmoulded aumbry.