Dialogue with Trypho: Surprised by joy

I have lived a mile from St Mary and All Saints Church in Willingham, North of Cambridge since 1997 but I had never been inside until this afternoon, when I called in after visiting the local grocers. The church has been there since 1230 and if ever anyone doubted that England was once a Catholic country they should visit this church or others like it that give vibrant witness to the public piety of the people of our land prior to the protestant reformation.

Here one is struck by so much of beauty but perhaps especially the wall paintings, most of which are from the 14th & 15th centuries. The first painting one is invited to look at by the guidebook however dates from around 1244 and is believed to be the oldest known wall painting of St Etheldreda, foundress of Ely Abbey. St Bede wrote of Etheldreda sustaining a wound to her neck where a tumour was removed during her last illness. This can clearly be seen in the painting although my picture doesn't do it justice. Her picture is on the opposite side of a vault window to that of her sister, St Sexburga

St Etheldreda

St Sexburga

14th Century wall paintings on the north wall of the nave depict St George and the Dragon and also, very clearly, St Christopher as can been seen here.

St Christopher

There are also three carved oak screens. One in the traditional place was the rood screen and includes some fine carvings. A second screen enclosing what was once a chapel on the north side and the third surrounds the chapel on the south, near to the main door.

Detail of carving of a fish on the Rood Screen doors

Screen enclosing the organ with remains of paintings on the base. From 1320 and the oldest in Cambridgeshire

Hammer-beam roof with (modern) carved angels

One particularly exciting part of the church is the stone 'sacristy' built on the north side of the chancel in the 13th Century. This was probably originally as Anchorage as its floor are is 140 sq ft as prescribed in the Bavarian anchorite rule. It also has a squint doorway for the occupant to see the altar during mass without being seen himself and a small window to the outside world for receiving food and drink etc.

What a privilege to say my Pater, Ave and Gloria Patri there today as many thousands of loyal Catholics had also done in earlier centuries.

Oh Mary our Mother, reign o'er us once more; be England thy Dowry as in days of yore!

SS Etheldreda and Sexburga pray for us!