History of St Andrew's Church
11 07 07 - 12:03The history of Soham as a religious site dates back as far as AD 650 when St Felix, the "Apostle to the East Angles", founded a monastery here. This was destroyed late in the ninth century by the Danes who burnt the buildings, killed the monks and looted the monastery's treasure.
Soham's importance was restored circa AD 900 when Luttingus, a Saxon nobleman built a cathedral and palace here (predating the cathedral at Ely). The remains of St Felix are said to have rested in Soham until AD 1030 when they were removed in a daring night time raid by boat and taken to Ramsey Abbey (with the blessing of King Cnut). It is recorded that King Cnut stayed in Soham when he visited Ely.
The Building
The earliest parts of the present church date from the 12th century but most of it is from a century or so later. The tower, visible for miles around, was built at the end of the 15th century in the perpendicular style, replacing an earlier separate bell tower. It has been attributed to John Wastell who also worked on Great St Mary's and Kings College Chapel.
Also dating from the 15th century is the nave roof with alternating tie and hammer beams decorated with wonderful carvings of angels (those on the hammer beams have had their wings removed).
There are several 15th century pew ends carved with poppy heads, creatueres and people, including a musical bishop! We also have some former choir stalls with misericords which may be even older.
In the chancel and both transepts there are piscinas - stone basins used in the washing of sacred vessels during mass - and in the north transept a stone altar has survived which doubled as a tomb. Other survivals from medieval times include remnants of medieval glass in the lady chapel and the carved wooden screen at the entrance to the vestry. This still has the remains of its original paintwork and originally stood across the chancel.
Extensive re-ordering and restoration work was done in the 19th century with the removal of galleries fromthe aisles, replacement of the transept and aisle roofs and refurbishment of the chancel. The Victorian East window depicts the Passion of Christ (reading left to right from the bottom).
Twentieth century work included stained glass windows in the aisles; the provision of the modern nave altar; the conversion of the former vestry to the Lady Chapel and the installation of the present organ.
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