Whittlesey. church : st andrew
A beautifully warm mid September Saturday afternoon in 2008. The sun was shining which was very unusual in the English "Summer" of 2008. I had started off from Peterborough in fairly dense fog, heading towards March to photograph the magnificent church of St Wendreda.
Left there and heading back towards Peterborough, stopping off on the
way at Whittlesey, to photograph both of the Parish churches there.
I first went to St Mary, the largest of the two, but found the church gates all padlocked. Very rarely in my travels have I been unable to even get in to the grounds. A quick phone call to the church wardern proved productive as there was to be a wedding that afternoon and the church gates were to be opened in an hours time! I took the opportunity to wander a short way across town to photograph the church of St Andrew.
Starting off with the church grounds. Firstly they were open (St Mary take note!). As with other churches that I saw that day the churchyard had been partically cleared. Two rows of graves were curiously placed back to back, with these running through the centre of the churchyard. Most of the graves were very badly worn. Other graves were positioned around the churchyard walls, with these again for the most part being badly worn. The church grounds were well maintained and obviously well cared for.
For whatever reason, there were loads of Butterflies here. Literally hundreds of them! All over the grass and the gravestones. Looking up there was more local wildlife with the weather vane on top of the tower having Blackbirds perched from one end to the other. Those who like films might recall Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" where the birds perched hreateningly on the children climbing frame before attacking the fleeing humans. Well, this was like that....but not quite so frightening!!!!
Mentioned the graves earlier. As I said most were very badly weathered but there was evidence of some very fine work in places. They certainly like their cherubs in this part of the Fens. Sad to see the poor state of the gravestones in both churches in Whittlesey.
The church of St Andrew might not have the wow factor of its near neighbour St Mary but this is a pleasant church which looked absolutely gorgeous in the September sunshine.. Smaller than its more illustrious neighbour, having a quiet and dignified charm and being tucked a little way out of the town centre, it reminds me in some ways of the church of St George in nearby Stamford.
The church itself was locked, which I had expected, and I didn't see any notification of key holders for those wanting to see inside. The castellated tower is surrounded by gargoyles. Sadly, these were very badly worn, so much so that they are virtually unrecognosable. A couple of gargoyles lower down were far less aged in much better shape. Would like to say that the church grounds were an oasis of peace and calm...however, the noise from some boisterous, but good natured, drinkers in the public house nearby put paid to that. A nice view of the spire of St Mary can be had from the church grounds of St Andrew.
