St Mary's Church is located in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England. The church is said to have been the "Mother Church of Huntingdon". It occupies what is probably the original site of Huntingdon Priory of

Austin Canons Canons regular are priests who live in community under a rule ( and canon in greek) and are generally organised into religious orders, differing from both secular canons and other forms of religious life, such as clerics regular, designated by a ...

, founded in 1140 by

Eustace de Lovetot Eustace, also rendered Eustis (disambiguation), Eustis, ( ) is the rendition in English of two phonetically similar Ancient Greek language, Greek given names: *Εὔσταχυς (''Eústachys'') meaning "fruitful", "fecund"; literally "abundant in ...

, and seems to have been used initially as a

parochial church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

upon the removal of the priory to the east end of town during the reign of Henry II. In July 1607, the building fell down, and construction of the present church commenced in March of the following year and finished in 1620. The church's organ chamber and vestry were built later in 1869, and further restorations were carried out in 1876. It was listed as a Grade I building in January 1951.

Architecture and fittings

The church consists of chancel, cloistered nave, aisles, south porch and a western tower, of

Perpendicular Gothic Perpendicular Gothic (also Perpendicular, Rectilinear, or Third Pointed) architecture was the third and final style of English Gothic architecture developed in the Kingdom of England during the Late Middle Ages, typified by large windows, four-c ...

era. Crocketed pinnacles and buttresses are enriched with panelling and niches. The nave is divided from the aisles by four arches on each side, supported by round and octagonal columns. Some of the piers, as well as the chancel, exhibit portions of Early English Period and Decorated Gothic work. There is a stone pulpit, the gift of John Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich. The font is Early English, with a plain octagonal bowl, resting on clustered shafts. The whole building was restored in 1876, adding open oak seats and a new triplet east window (the latter a gift from

Gerald Vesey Francis Gerald Vesey or Veasey (15 July 1832 – 18 March 1915) was a priest of the Church of England. He was the Archdeacon of Huntingdon from 1874 to 1915. He was educated at Windlesham House School, Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, ...

, Archdeacon of Huntingdon) and installing its present eight bells (presented by M. E. Maill). This was under the direction of Reginald Blomfield and was completed at a cost, exclusive of special gifts, of over £2,000. There is a monument to the family of De Carcassonett, erected in 1749, and one erected by the officers of the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment, to the memory of their comrades who fell in the Crimean War. The church has seats for 550 persons. The earliest entry in the register of St. Mary's dates from the year 1593.

References

* ''This article includes text incorporated from E.R. Kelly's "Kelly's directory of Bedfordshire, Hunts and Northamptonshire." (1885), a publication now in the public domain.'' {{coord, 52.3289, -0.1804, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Huntingdon Huntingdon Huntingdon Huntingdon,Mary