St John's Church, Duxford - Cambridge

Jamie-Lee Harley Thornton

Church open daily

Fantastic ancient church with the remains of pre reformation wall paintings

Lindsey Ambrose

So much to see in this church! The faded yet still glorious paintings that cover so many of the walls, and the made then re-made features of this church, offer a real sense of generations each making their own contributions across the years. Wonderful to see that today this church remains a focal point for community activities. Free parking nearby. If you are in the area, it's well worth taking time for a look around.

Eliot Collins

A Norman church from the 12th century, made redundant in 1874 when the two parishes in Duxford were combined.
Typical of the area, the church features a spike atop its tower and walls made of flint and rubble.
Inside the church are a great number of well preserved medieval wall paintings. There are scenes from the crucifixion of Christ, St Margaret's torture and martyrdom, and some grotesque devils. Other fragments are also visible around much of the church.
There are many intricate carvings as well as the paintings, particularly in the North aisle where human likenesses can be found alongside animals and angels.

Gareth Bellamy

Has an interesting lead spike spire, but it's inside this church which has not been in regular use for over 150 years that the interest lies. Firstly, it's interesting just to be inside a church which isn't cluttered with pews etc so you get a bit more of a sense of the structure of the building, but it's the wall paintings here which date back to the 12th century which are worth the visit. Depicting various scenes from the bible, the exact details of which can be difficult to make out. They do, however, give you a great idea about how many of our whitewashed church walls would have looked hundreds of years ago, until the reformation came along. There are even a couple of horned devils prancing around on the stonework. For a congregation who maybe couldn't read, and might not have understood the prayers and readings in latin, the illustrations on the wall would have reinforced the message of the church.
Ickleton is only a couple of miles away, and that also has some fantastic images on the church wall there, including a doom, I which Christ looks down in judgement from the walls upon the church goers!! Worth a trip if you've come to Duxford.

Peter Rowlinson

This is a Grade l listed building which is redundant now in the care of the Church Conservation Trust and is open daily. It dates from the late
12th century and later the tower was raised and the chancel lengthened.
This church is originally Norman as shown by the magnificent doorway of that period with a zigzag pattern round the arch.
The bent spike atop the tower was twisted in a storm in 1897 by a flagpole attached to it to celebrate the diamond Jubilee
of Queen Victoria. The church has a rich collection of medieval wall paintings. It became derelict in 1874 when the parish was united with St Peter's
The bells were removed in 1957 and 5 transferred to St Peter's.
The tower and wall paintings were partially restored in 1985.Two large buttresses on the exterior south wall support the tower.

I Make Films

With a lovely collection of medieval wall paintings, the church is an amazing landmark. Made redundant in the middle ages, it stands, looming over duxford as a wonderful piece of history

Martin Green

A disused church which was unspoiled by the Victorian mania for refurbishment that damaged so many medieval churches. Some original wall paintings which somehow survived the iconoclastic reformation.

Stuart Palmer

Outstanding little church with loads of interesting features (medieval wall paintings, pews, rood stair, graffiti etc). Usually open and well maintained by CCT.