Wicken Methodist Church
Wicken, Cambridgeshire
The locale of has been a place of Christian worship for over 1300 years, St Felix founded and abbey here in 631AD. The abbey is believed to have been endowed by Sigeberht, the king of East Anglia.
The present church dates was originally a 12th century minster church. In 1102, Hubert de Burgh, Chief Justice for England granted Ranulph, the first recorded vicar of Soham, lands in trust for the church of St Andrew. Ranuph is credited with the design of the present cruciform building, constructed from rubble, pebblestone, flint and clunch in traditional Norman style. Much of the original building is extant, including the four crossing arches and the first four bays of the nave. 14th and 15th century alterations include the south aisle, south porch and transept, as well as an additional nave bay, the tower (now sporting a ring of 10 bells) and the clerestory.
The church's notable features include chancel wall paintings, one reputed to depict St Felix, a triple sedilia and piscine in the chancel, poppyhead pews and a tie beam roof, decorated with carved angels, each one carrying an instrument of the passion. The south transept now accommodates carved misericordes dating to the 15th century.
There are a number of memorials recalling the lives of famous Soham residents: Olaudah Equiano, abolitionist and former slave married Susannah Cullen here in 1792; a stained glass window at the west end of the south aisle is dedicated to William Case Morris who was born in Soham in 1864 and went on to found the El Alba Homes in Argentina (akin to Barnado's in the UK); a memorial plaque on the internal north wall, next to the north door commemorates the heroes on the Soham Train Explosion (1944).
The church and churchyard are situated on Soham's High Street, and the absence of a pavement on the church side of Churchgate Street means that the churchyard is a well frequented walkway for shoppers and other passersby.
We are always pleased to welcome visitors, and are usually open every day in daylight hours. Come and visit us to find out more!
