Of those cambridgeshire villages that once had two churches standing within one churchyard to serve separate ecclesiastical parishes, only swaffham prior still retains, though mostly rebuilt, both the ancient parish churches certainly established by the early th century. Swaffham prior is an old village, and is mentioned in the domesday book of 1086 as possibly great swaffham, with swaffham bulbeck being little swaffham. Swaffham prior, cambridgeshire genealogy genealogy. The living consists of the consolidated vicarages of st. There are houses in the village dating back several centuries, with the 17th century being most prominent. The monastery of ely had lands in swaffham and it was for this. These are the remarkable twin churches of st mary the virgin, and sts. On 26th october 20 her new book, two churches together a history of swaffham prior is being launched. Sy cyriac s is believed to be the older of the two churches because it grabbed the higher ground and is more centrally located within the churchyard. Their benefices have, however, been united since 1667. West tower has a rectangular ground stage, late c12, and the upper two are sixteen sided and early c. Mary has fallen to ruin, except the tower, which from the peculiarity of its. You can contact her to obtain a copy of her book two churches. Copies of a shortened version covering just st marys are available to buy in st marys.
They both then saw varied fortunes including periods of dereliction. She has recently written a history of swaffham prior. The twin churches at swaffham prior billboyheritagesurveys blog. Tl 5663 swaffham prior high street east side 15175 church of st mary 19. Swaffham prior was formerly divided into two parishes with two churches sharing a single yard. Church of st mary, swaffham prior 1127040 historic england. The twin churches of st mary and sts cyriac and julietta, swaffham. Ringing at swaffham prior, an interesting village in which there are two churches in the churchyard. This strange and beautiful church is one of two in the same village churchyard.
Swaffham prior, cambridgeshire genealogy familysearch. Swaffham prior is perhaps best known for its two churches saint marys and saints cyriac and julittas in the same churchyard. I last visited the village about eight years ago, it was nice to revisit. Before entering st marys, admire the fine tower in flint and field stone, square at the base, rising to an octagon lit by roundheaded norman windows. Any visitor to swaffham prior will be puzzled at to why there are 2 churches in. Author, educator, local historian and drama specialist, sylvie short, visited swaffham prior primary school to bring to life the history of the village through a series of drama sketches that the children reenacted. Swaffham prior is a small village on the edge of the fens some 5 miles north east of cambridge. The two parishes were united in 1667 by act of parliament 18 and 19 chas. Cyriac and julietta, in the small village of swaffham prior, cambridgeshire. St mary having been given to the abbey of ely by brithnoth, the heroic alderman of east anglia under ethelred the unready. School children were involved in plough monday celebrations in 2014. Cyriacs, left in its turn to decay, were again ivygrown and its ceiling collapsing. Two churches at swaffham prior enid porter recorded many customs and traditions taking place at swaffham prior.
On this site we have reproduced by kind permission of the author, a web version of elizabeth everitts very interesting booklet on the history of the churches see below. Home ww1windows swaffham prior ww1 website swaffham prior. Sylvie short at swaffham prior primary school swaffham. The twin churches of st mary and sts cyriac and julietta, swaffham prior, cambridgeshire. The village is dominated by its twin churches that have served the parish since at least the 12th century the church of st mary. The two churches we reproduce here by kind permission of the author, elizabeth everitt, a web version of her very interesting booklet on the history of the two churches swaffhamtwochurches which was published in 1996.
It is noteworthy for having two churches a few hundred yards. There were formerly two churches in the same cemetery. The twin churches of st mary and sts cyriac and julietta. In the th century a sixteen sided section in two parts, with narrow lancets, was added.
Swaffham prior a tale of two churches sudden flashes. They both then saw varied fortunes including periods of dereliction until st marys became the formal parish church for both. Sylvie short at swaffham prior primary school enid porter project. Until they were amalgamated in 1667, the two neighbouring parishes had their own churches. We could feel the relaxed atmosphere as soon as we got off. Guide to swaffham prior, cambridgeshire ancestry, family history, and. There are now two churches here because the lands were divided into more than one lordships. Swaffham prior is one of those villages that has a peaceful, relaxing sunday afternoon feel to it whichever day it is. The monastery of ely had lands in swaffham and it was for this reason that the village became known as swaffham prior. The church of st mary s, in the cambridgeshire village of swaffham prior is notable for two reasons it is one of the few examples of twochurchesinonechurchyard remaining in england, and it has remarkable stained glass windows installed to commemorate 23 men associated with the village community who were killed in the first world war. I tried to point this out, but the ringing got shit after the first rounds, so i stopped it. On saturday i spent a lovely afternoon in swaffham prior, a village ten miles northeast of cambridge.
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