Christianity

RELIGION - MONASTIC SITES
THEOLOGY - PHILOSOPHY and
FENLAND CHRISTIANITY

RELIGION THROUGHOUT THE FENS

On olden days the Fens became a refuge for people of little religious faith, but records suggest that the early Christian movement was
present in the Fens by the end of the third century, and that the early attempts at drainage in the Fens was undertaken by religious
orders. After the Roman empire receded from the area, the next attempt to introduce real Christanity was by Augustine in the year 597.
However, Christianity did not penetrate the Fen swamps until much later. There are some well known religious structures that show
that the Fens did in fact have a religious past. The better known ones are Boston Stump, Ely Cathedral, Crowland Abbey, the
monastery at Ramsey Abbey, and Thorney Abbey, and many more Parish Churches, and other symbols of a religious past. Many of
these religious sects kept control by fear and threat, and although the Fen men were fearless in mortal combat, they feared witches,
ghosts, pucks, will-o-the-wisps, werewolves, and spirits of dark wet places. The religious sects built on these fears and therefore
kept the Fen men in order.
Benedictine religious ideals were talked about in this period, but not put into practice. (These ideals were first proposed by St
Benedict, and the monks were called the 'black monks', not because of their ideals put because of the colour of their habits). These
monks had a poor understanding of Latin, the language of the time. The Danish invaded the area around the Fens, there was a famous
battle near Crowland between the Danish and British fighters, and the Danish won and many religious figures were killed, therefore
religion in the area went into decline. But an English hero came to the fore in the later millennium in the name of King Alfred, and the
St Benedict ideals also came to the fore again. A monastery was built at Soham, but was later destroyed and never rebuilt. Other
monasteries went down the same route, but they were eventually rebuilt.
The next time we hear about Christianity in the Fens is in a place called Medeshamstede, which is currently known as Peterborough,
where a monastery was build, and later a great cathedral. There is a story about St. Ivo and a place called Slepe, which we now know
as St Ives. There is another story about Thorney where another monastery was built, and the Kings who controlled the area were
renowned religious figures. During this period Etheldreda, a devote Christian, was linked to Ely.
Hereward the Wake is reputed to have fought the Danish (Vikings), when in fact there was a compromise. He protected certain parts of
the Fens e.g. Ely and Crowland, and allowed them to ransack other parts. Finally when the Normans came on the scene Hereward and
his followers were put down, and the Normans took control. There were four groups that tried to tame the Fens, they were the Romans,
Saxons, Danish (Vikings), and the Normans. The Normans were the only group who were prominently Christian, now with the religion
restored to the Fens time passed beyond 1066 and the Norman Conquest. William imposed many french religions on the populous. The
Fens came under the Diocese of Lincoln. At this time two convents were established at Eltisley and Chatteris, although the Eltisley
convent was later moved to Hinchingbrooke, near Huntingdon. Later two other nunneries were opened at Icleton and Swaffham
Bulbeck
The early churches were made of timber, trees being numerous on the edge if the Fens. Later churches were built of stone, which can
NOT be found in the Fens. It is therefore reasonable to assume that this must have come from quarries to the west, in Northampshire,
and surrounding countries, and was brought to the general area by boats and barges which were navigated down the rivers.
Churches were generally built on slightly higher ground, or 'islands', and therefore became protected areas for Fen people in times of
flood, or uncertainty. Churches were numerous in the Fens, and some villages had two, and were often controlled by different
religious orders.
Still later, the Parish Priest was introduced together with churches and chapels, it must be borne in mind that the parish priest was
involved in may other things, including the education of the young, and 'obits' (the origin of the word 'obituary'). Priests salaries were
paid by the populous. The parish priest's duties were numerous and later much of their work was taken over by 'Vicars', 'Pastors' and
'Rectors'. Other titles started to filter into the English language, like 'Church Officials', 'Curate' (derived from 'Cure More Ills' and was
an assistant to a Parish Priest), 'Bishop' (clergyman in charge of a group of churches), an 'Abbot' (person in charge of Monks), a 'Dean'
(head of a religious chapter or collegiate), 'Chaplain' (in charge of a chapel), 'A Friar' (similar to a monk but not aligned to a main
stream religion), and 'The Clergy' (Group of religious figures). There was also a number of building names that came into the language
like 'Rectory', 'Convent' (Nunnery) and 'Priory', 'Diocese' (a group of churches or other religious area), and 'Synod' (A Church Council).
About 1340 religious riots took place which was just before the plague years. The village of Bottlesham was founded by a William
Bottlesham, who was succeeded by John Bottlesham and Nicholas Bottlesham.
Another religious order that flourished in the Fens was the 'Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem' which were more often
known as 'Knights Hospitallers', and founded the original 'Red Cross'. Hospitals were set up at Cambridge, Ely, Wisbech, Fordham,
Levington, Longstowe, Thorney, Whittlesford, Whittlesey, Wicken, Chippenham and Wilbraham. Out of this organisation rose the
'KnightsTemplar', who were much more militaristic, and later conducted the 'Crusades'. Regardless they still maintained religious
beliefs, and worshipped at Chippenham, Denny, and Wilbraham.
Another religious sect that took a foothold in the Fens was 'The Friars', who mainly settled in Cambridge. They vowed poverty, and
were devoted to the sick and the poor. These were mainly of the Franciscan Sect, and commonly known as the 'Grey Friars' owing to
the colour of their habits. If the Friars had white habits they would be Carmelites.
Originally Cambridgeshire was part of the diocese of Lincoln, with the exception of Ely which remained a separate entity, but
eventually became part of the Diocese of Cambridge. John Morton was a Bishop of Ely, and was involved with drainage in the Fens,
including 'Morton's Leam', a straightened channel that is now the Nene between Peterborough and Guyhirne.
Church building stagnated about the 14th century. The finance for this building was a joint effort between the Lord of Manor and
Citizens of the area ('Burgesses'), who were responsible for crime in the area. The original churches had no pews and therefore there
was standing only. Seating was brought in around the walls where the elderly and infirm could sit, hence the slightly cynical saying
'the weak go to the wall'. It was normal to find the remainder of the congregation squatting on the floor during sermons. Originally the
churches were held to be sacrosanct, except for criminals who could seek refuge for up to 40 days, and no meetings other than
religious assemblies were allowed, and no animals were allowed inside either. Nowadays church funds are from charity events (e.g.
Fetes, and Car Boot Sales), Donations, Congregation Collections, and Charges for Church Use (e.g. Marriages, Organ Playing etc.).
In the early 1500's religion degenerated further in the Fens, so the monestry at Anglesey was dissolved, as was the Priory at St
Edmunds. The nunneries at Chatteris, Swaffham and Denny, were also dissolved and no longer exist.
Out of this background grew an increasing respect for Christianity, and there grew a need to bring religion to the more remote places
in the Fens. How to travel to these remote places became the big question, and many diverse suggestions were proposed, like the
Fenland Ark. (It must be borne in mind that in olden times the only real travel across the Fens was by boat, therefore it followed that
there would be floating church). One of these, was the floating church of St. Withburga's. (Withberga was a woman who founded a
convent at Dereham, and was later buried at Ely) This church was in fact a barge pulled by a horse, and was dedicated by the Bishop
of Huntingdon at Stokes Bridges on the edge of Whittlesea Mere between Holme and Ramsay St Marys in 1897, and shortly after a
formal service was conducted. It is recorded that this barge was sunk about 1914, and can no longer be located.

NOTABLE FEN MONASTIC SITES

1. Long Sutton. The church at Long Sutton is 162 feet tall, as a lead lined spire, which is described as the oldest and most perfect in
the whole country.

2. Crowland (or Croyland): The original name was Cruland which means 'soft and muddy ground'. Famous for it's unusual shaped
Abbey, which was built by St. Guthlac, a soldier-cum-monk. The River Welland originally wandered across the Fens from Deeping St.
James towards the Wash in a very indirect manner, and at one time flowed under the triangular bridge in the centre of Crowland,.
whcich was originall built as a pack horse bridge. The current Welland was cut in a more direct route towards Spalding. Nowadays
this triangular bridge spans dry land, and contains a statue of a man reputed to be 'Our Lord', holding the world in his hands.

3. Cowbit: Usually precedes the word 'Wash', which has a spireless church, the Wash was a winter overflow for the River Welland,
and when it froze over the Skating Championships were undertaken on the ice.

4. Spalding: Contains a number of Churches, including one made of red brick at Fulney. It also includes St. Margaret's (the parish
church) which is made of stone and sports a spire. Spalding is known countrywide as the centre of the tulip growing industry. But the
tulip is not a native of the United Kingdom. The first tulips were imported into this country in 1578, and replaced the growing of native
English flowers.

5. Thorney: (Originally called the 'Isle of Thorns' and previously 'Ancarig'). It is also famous for the ruins of it's Abbey, and the burial
place of two saints named Tancred and Tottred, and their sister named Tona. It was also a worshipping place for the Walloons
employed by Vermuyden who came from Picardy and North Flanders who were employed by him to drain the Fens, and at that time it
had a Baptismal Register. In the early 1600s there was incidents that events that involved the Pilgrim Fathers in reverse, this
involved French and Walloon Hugeuenots fleeing religious persecution in their own countries and settling in The Fens around Thorney
and Parson Drove. Traces even today are still evident in the names of Behagg, Lefevre, Fovargue and Tegerdine. Places reflect a
Flemish past, like 'French Drove', and the word 'Eau'.

6. Boston (UK): (originally called St. Botolph's Town). It has many links to the Pilgrim Fathers, including having the Guildhall next to
Fydell House where William Brewster and William Bradford and many others of Pilgrim Father's fame were imprisoned. St. Botolph
was a Saxon and was born in Iken in Suffolk. The most notable monastic site, is 'The Parish Church with the Stump' with it's timely
structure. The 'Stump', which was originally, a lantern tower that was once used as a light house, which could be see for many miles
across The Fens and the The Wash. It has 60 steps (the number of minutes in an hour), 24 Steps to the Library (the number of hours in
a day), 7 doors (the number of days in a week), 52 windows (weeks in a year) 365 steps to top of Stump (days in a year), and 12 nave
pillars (Month's in a year). Boston is also noted for it's unusual Maud Foster windmill in Bargate, and also Pescod the oldest house in
Boston at the end of Mitre Lane. In 1516 a house once stood on the site of the Rum Puncheon Inn that was occupied by a John Foxe,
better known as the author of the Foxes Book of Martyrs. Skirbeck Church (see Witham Page) was originally the Boston Parish
Church.

7. Peterborough (UK): Peterborough's Norman cathedral is the centre of a number of monastic sites, whch is generally called the
cathedral precincts, and includes the Market Cross, the Fourteenth century Chancel of Thomas of Canterbury, Kings Lodge (Which was
originally a prison), the Cloisters, a Norman Well, the Fifteentth Century 'New Building'. Bearing in mind that there is no stone in the
immediate vacinity of Peterborough, the stone was brought from Barnack further to the west from quarries which are now a nature
reserve, and locally known as the 'Hills and Holes'. Peterborough is also the focal point of a number of other churches, including
Woodston, Stanground and Fletton. It is also the resting place for 'Old Scarlet' ( A Robert Scarlett 1496 - 1594 - Some times called 'King
of Spades'), who was a sexton who buried two queens, Mary Queen of Scots (whose body was brought from Sawtry Abbey) and
Katherine of Aragon both were originally buried at Peterborough Cathedral. Mary was beheaded at Fotheringhay.

8. Whittlesey: Once an island, and now the centre of well drained land, and the centre of the brick making industry in the area. St.
Mary's Church spire is reputed to be the finest in th, and there are links to St, Etheldreda of Ely, St. Edmunds and St. Guthlac of
Crowland.

9 Norman Cross: This is so called because at the entrance to the Church Yard is a Norman Cross. Once a village, now a just a
junction of the A15 and the A1. It is famed for having a prisoner of war camp for French Soldiers, which were brought to the area
along the Nene in boats.

10. Holme village: Sports another ancient church, and nearby has the only woodland in the Fens in nearby in Denton Fen, famous for
it's Fen Post.

11. Ramsey: This was one of the many islands in the fen, which in turn was ideal for building a monastic site, and therefore Ramsey
Abbey was built, which could be originally approached by boat along the 'Forty Foot Drain' that went through the 'Great Whyte', the
main street. The drain has now been filled in and become the main street and car park. The Abbey is little more than a ruin nowadays.

GLOSSARY of CHURCH ARCHITECTURE and FURNISHINGS.

Aumbry; Small storage compartment in a wall for storing baptism articles etc.
Bench Ends; Carved wooden ends of Pews.
Brasses: Decorative metal objects in bedded flush in internal stone surfaces.
Buttress: Support tied to wall (Flying Buttress - Support for a wall forming a arch)
Capital: The top of internal pillar.
Censer: Receptacle on end of chain for burning incense.
Chalice: Decorative cup used for drinking wine at the Eucharist
Chancel: Internal burial place.
Clerestory: Upper part of nave above the side aisles.
Cloister: Covered walk.
Corbals: Carved internal wall columns or roof trusses.
Font: Receptacle for holding water during a baptism.
Gargoyles: Grotesque figures carved in stone on the external corners of the roof trusses.
Lectern: Decorative stand for holding bible.
Misericords: Carved wooden seats in the choir stalls
Nave: Main central space in a church
Paten: Shallow dish used for bread of the Eucharist (Contained in a Pyx)
Pew(s): A pew is a single wooden bench seat (Pews are a series of same)
Piscina: Hand basin that drains water to the outside. (Often called a Fenestella)
Poppy Heads: Decorative carved objects on top of bench ends
Refectory: Place for eating in a monastic building
Reredos: The area between the alter and the window
Rood-Screen: A stone or wooded partition between the nave and chancel
Sanctuary: The part of a church containing the alter
Sedilia: Decorative internal stone seats designed for the clergy.
Squints: Narrow slits in wall near Chancel to give a view of the Sanctuary
Sepulchre: Burial place made of stone
Sexton: A person who looks after a Monastic Site. Can can act as a bellringer and grave digger.
Spire: Tower that tapers towards the top (Steeple)
Spandrell: The area underneath a arch.
Stoups: Recessed holy water containers. Very often in porch.
Triforium: Area above and overlooking the nave or choir arches.
Vault: A room under the main body of a monastic building (Vaulted Roof: Curved arch roof)
Vestry: A robing room belonging to the monastic building, but not part of the main building.

NOTABLE FEN RELIGIOUS FIGURES

1. The Reverend Edward Leeds : He started his religious calling as a Monk at Ely. He later became a Rector at Elem and Emneth,
and then became a Rector at Littleport and Croxton, then went top the Rectory at Snailwell. He eventually died at Croxton.

2. Cartwright and John Preston: They were both Calvinists and attended Cambridge University.

3. Richard Greenham: Was also a Calvinist and attended Cambridge University, but later retired to the Rectory at Dry Drayton.

4. Richard Bushby: Who was a schoolmaster at Westminster, but was born in the village of Lutton near South East of The Wash.

Fen Folk sought refuge in monastic
buildings in times of trauma and also
sought solace in religious doctrine.

(Is it just a coincidence that monastic
buildings were the best constructed
buildings of the time and always built
on higher ground)