Soham Roots Interactive Website - Saint Andrews Church Soham Cambridgeshire

Saint Andrews Church Soham

St Andrews Church from Fountain Lane

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St Andrews Church date c. 12th Century, originally of cruciform style with a central tower being taken down in the late 15th Century, and the new Bell Tower added about this time. Dedicated to Saint Andrew from the 12th Century to the mid 18th Century when for a short period it was known as St John the Baptist for some unknown reason, returning to St Andrews in the mid 1880's to the present day. The picture on the left shows the Northern side and on the right is depicted the Southern side.
St Andrews Church Soham is now in the Diocese of Ely, the Arms of the Diocese of Ely above, show the Crowns of the Kings of East Anglia, these three crowns can also be seen at the top of the church tower, the Church of Soham has also, in its past history been in the Diocese of Norwich and the Diocese of Lincoln.

Left: shows the West Door into the Tower, which has a height of 120ft. The Tower has 8 pinnacles at the top, and around the top of the Tower are a series of St Andrews Crosses set in flint.

Right: shows the Lectern, which is dated 1896 and was a gift commemorating tragic deaths at sea.

Left: shows the Nave looking East towards the Alter with the Chancel behind.

Right: shows the Nave facing West towards the Organ, that is situated in front of the West door in the Tower.

Left: Shows The High Alter that is located in the Chancel.

Right: Shows the North Porch leading to the North door which is the door most commonly used to enter the Church to-day.

Left: Shows a double arched Piscina used for cleaning sacred vessels, the one in the picture is situated in the South Transept where an Alter was once probably positioned.

Right: Shows an Alter Tomb or a Monument under the North window in the North Transept, dated 15th or 16th Century, there is no inscription that can definitely identify the family to who it belongs. The Monument has Ogee Arch, Double Feathered, with Crockets and Finial; Roses in the hollows of the Ogee, there is very faint traces of light blue paint that can still be seen on close inspection. The Monument has been Attributed to either a member of the De La Pole Family or the Docwra Family. At the side of the Monument is a small trefoiled water drain with foliated points, the upper part inclining to the west, is thought that this side of the Piscina may have been altered when the Monument was erected, see images below.

Above images:

Decorations on the Alter Tomb or Monument under the North window.

Left: A painting of St Christopher, facing the north door was visible in 1746 but has since disappeared, but a 15th century painting 5ft in height of a Bishop on his throne, clad in Episcopal vestments, the right hand uplifted, and the left holding the staff, possibly St Felix was uncovered in 1849 within the blocked lancet in the Chancel, other clear traces of colouring have been found showing that the whole of the walls in the chancel were probably decorated around the 15th century.
Right: A view of the Chancel facing west measuring 34ft by 18ft. The Chancel is of 13th - 14th Century and was probably the Chapel of St John The Baptist referred to in the 13th Century.

Left: An old doorway in the north wall of the Chancel leading to the Lady Chapel.
Right: Shows the entrance into the Vestry, and the door that can be seen beyond leads to the Lady Chapel. The Parclose Screen dates from the 16th Century, and was restored in 1880. At one time five Coats of Arms could be seen on the Screen, but only faint traces remain to-day. Much of the gilding and colouring can still be seen.

Left: The Organ was brought from a Church in Peterborough in 1966, The casing was made by pupils from Soham Village College, one of the shields commemorating this, the shield on the left is the arms of Pembroke College, Cambridge, patrons of this parish since 1470.
Right: Shows the finely carved Choir Stools that are now located in the Chancel, the picture above shows the ones on the North wall, the others being opposite on the South wall. They once stood either side of the Font at the West end of the Church.

The late 15th century oak roof of the Nave shows nine Angels, six on the north and only three on the south side, three being missing, upholding the six hammer beams.

Left: Shows the ceiling between the four great pillars, above it was where the central tower was located, in the vestry is an old staircase leading you into a small room, with the above ceiling as the floor.
Right: Shows the Sedilia in the Chancel and to the right of the High Alter, dated 14th - 15th Century , that was used to seat three Clergy during the Mass. Beside these in the background can be seen a Piscina , a Medieval sink used for cleaning Sacred Vessels, also dated 14th - 15th Century.

Left: Shows the Chancel roof which was restored in 1848 - 1849 by Pembroke College and Henry Tasker, the then Vicar. The roof is made entirely of oak.
Right: Facing east shows the flat pitched lead covered oak roof, extending from the chancel to the west tower, covering all traces of the old central tower. The roof has six massive tie beams alternated with single hammer beams, and has ornamented cornice. The tie beams have open work panelling, with angels upholding the six hammer beams, the rafters are plain, the principals and purlines have hollow mouldings. The wall pieces have carved figures in niches, and rest on oak corbels.

Left: The aisles have simpler contemporary roofs with arched braces, the above image shows the north aisles roof.

Right: The Bell ringers chamber, showing plaques on the walls recording ringers and peals of long ago.

Located on either side of the large east window in the chancel is a niche, and in one of them can be seen the letters, what looks like I.H.S. whilst traces of decorative colouring can be seen in and around both.

Left: Shows the graveyard at the East end of the Church, showing the large window in the east end of the Chancel and the small window in the Lady Chapel.
Right: Shows the graveyard on the South side of the Church, also can be seen is the window in the South Transept.

Showing the Northern part of the graveyard. with Churchgate Street in the background on the right hand image.

Left: Shows the Northern approach to the Church, with the Fountain Pub, on Fountain Lane in the Background, with Churchgate Street just to the right.
Right: Shows the main approach to the Church towards the North Porch.

Left: Shows the way from Church Alley at the west end, towards the northern approach to the Church.
Right: Another view of the Northern part of the Churchyard, the North Porch can be seen to the right.

The Southern part of the Churchyard, the other side of the wall to the right is the old St Andrews Vicarage, also to the left can be seen the South Porch. The pathway leads you to the High Street.