The medieval Church of St James in Hemingford Grey stands in a glorious location beside the River Great Ouse.
The church was begun around 1160, possibly by a nobleman named Payne de Hemingford, who was also responsible for the nearby manor house, one of the earliest surviving examples of domestic architecture in the county.
That first church was very simple, consisting of a nave and chancel, a north aisle, and a central tower. Of this original building, only the two westernmost bays of the nave remain.
A south aisle was added in the 13th century, and later in that century the central tower was pulled down and the aisles lengthened. The west tower was built in the 14th century and around 1500 the roof was raised and a clerestory inserted.
The church spire was blown down in a storm in 1741, giving the tower its unusual look. The spire was truncated near its base and topped by a series of ball finials.
The 13th-century chancel boasts a 14th-century double piscina in the south wall, and several original single-lancet windows. The nave is a study in changing architectural styles during the medieval period. The rounded middle arch dates to the 12th century, the eastern arch to the 13th century and the western arch to the 14th century. By contrast, the clerestory has four early Tudor windows on each
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If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please visit
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html
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The cache is not on church land, but access is via the churchyard if travelling on foot, or from the river if you are lucky enough to be on a boat. Please exercise caution near water and take extra care with small children or pets.