Church of St Mary the Virgin, Gamlingay
St Mary's church is built in the Early English style with a square tower (now containing eight bells) from fieldstones and local ironstone.
The 19th-century and later repairs include a major restoration in 1880 when the vestry and South porch were rebuilt to the design of J. P. St Aubyn.
[4] Among the church fittings are a reredos (not in situ) and other items from a bequest made by William Meadston of Woodbury (d. 1683).
The nave has a North arcade of five bays with arches of two chamfered orders standing on octagonal piers with moulded caps and bases.
The chancel roof is modern but is supported on eight 15th-century corbels carved as half angels holding blank shields.
[1][2] The stoup outside and immediately to the South of the West door with a projecting broken bowl is late mediaeval.
This was used in medieval times for preaching sermons and was destroyed following a visit from William Dowsing on 16 March 1643 because it was considered idolatrous.
At that time there would have been a small winding staircase (a vice) leading up to the top of the screen from behind the present pulpit.
In the north chapel can be found three remodelled pews, with an additional pew-end incorporated into modern seating.
[4] The carvings on the seats on the north side are: modern; a mitred ecclesiastic; a collared animal; a bird with long wings and turned-back head.
[8] The church has a number of brass indents with one in the chancel being of a cleric, with an inscription plate and roundels at the corners.
In the south aisle at the west end is another very worn example of two figures with scrolls, with an inscription plate below and prayer picture.
[1][2] In the southwest corner of the nave can be found part of a 13th-century limestone marble slab, with an undeciphered inscription in Lombardic capitals along one margin.
The door in the ground stage of the tower is formed of two leaves and is late-medieval, and originally was fitted in the west doorway.
The present 13th-century font has an octagonal limestone marble bowl with two pointed arched panels in each face.
The church also has a number of ledger stones, with one in the chancel dedicated to Dixie Windsor (1743) with an achievement of arms.
his wife [dates illegible]; a sixth to Elizabeth E[kins] (1702), and a seventh to William S[pin]kes (1701).
The voussoirs of both nave arcades show the traces of medieval painting in red ochre, with that on the north side in particular still being quite distinct.
On the first pier of the North arcade in a small 15th-century hand is scratched "hic est sedes Margarete Tayl .
On the second pier of the South arcade in bold characters is scratched in a late medieval hand "mors cõparat / umbre que / semper / sequitur / corpus".
On the North splay of the West window of the tower in a bold 16th-century hand can be found "Th[om]as [?Jek]yll Clar[ke] of Ga[m]ly[n]gaye".
