St Mary's Church

The Parish Church of St. Mary is situated at the southern end of the village and can be reached easily from the village green by taking the first left hand turn along Addington Road. In the past the Church has been described as “The Cathedral of the Nene” in reference to the commanding site it holds when viewed from the river, over which it soars.

It is likely that the present Church is on the site of a Saxon Church, a church being in existence in 1086 at the time of the Domesday Survey. The main body of the church was created by English builders in the 12^th Century in a Norman style, leaving the wall of the old chancel and setting up the south arcade with Norman arches, three big rounded ones and two smaller one in the 13^th century the North aisle was added, a new chancel with priests door and the south porch with a room above and an adjacent chapel. During the 14^th century the north porch was added and in the 15^th century the south aisle with three arches running across it from the older arcade.

The Tower is 12^th century, with 13^th century lancets, a parapet and a small parapet from within which the octagonal spire (14^th century). On each corner of the tower is a pinnacle.

Within the tower, eight bells are presently hung. The second and tenor are dated 1616. The fourth was cast by Thomas Norris of Stamford in 1662. The fifth was cast by Taylor's of Oxford in 1839 and the treble and third were cast by Taylor's of Loughborough in 1913. The Treble was a new bell being added to the former ring of five in 1913.

During re-hanging in 1913, new cast iron frames were also installed. The old wooden frames having been in position since 1886, when dismantled were used to make pieces of furniture. During September 2000 two further treble bells were added to the bell frame completing a job started some 87 years before.

Most people are drawn to the church not to look at the medieval glass in the north aisle, the 13^th century font or the painted panels (which resemble stained glass windows) above the north altar, but to see a small glass panel in a pillar in the north aisle. Behind the glass is some coarse cloth containing a human heart found in 1867 during restoration. Record as to whom it belonged to have never been found but it usually attributed to a former lord of the manor from some 700 years ago who probably died on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It could have belonged to Roger Maufe, a Peterborough Knight. It is known that three of his sons in law were buried at Woodford, dates and locations are not known. There is a also legend that it belonged to John Styles, a Rector of the Parish in 1550. However, due to his Catholic beliefs he was forced to quit the parish and flee to a Belgian Monastery, taking with him an expensive chalice from the Church. He died soon afterwards and a new vicar, Andrew Powlet supposedly brought both the Chalice and John’s heart back to the village. Both relics became lost. In 1862, Powlet’s ghost was seen in the hallway of the Rectory by a man who lived there. (There have been four Rectories (two of which were in use at the same time), Rev Smythe describes how one one was demolished in the early 1800’s, the other three remain standing).  Close scrutiny of the area revealed a secret cavity containing the chalice and a letter. The letter lead to the discovery of the heart in the pillar it is now within, on view behind a glass panel. (A good story – but unlikely, as an account by Rev Smythe describing the discovery of the heart is on record).

The church's other claim to fame is the ghost. Some schoolboys visited the church on 30 July 1964, and when having some photographs developed that they had taken in the building, found the image of a person kneeling at the altar on one of them. They had been in the church alone. The camera and film were examined for evidence of  malpractice but none found. An unsolved mystery to this day. Stories suggest it may have belonged to the owner of the heart, or former Rector who was often found praying at the High Altar. Yet another story relates to a former Lady of the Manor – Lady St. John, wife of Andrew St. John who was laid to rest in the Church, presumed to have died – until the sexton cut her fingers to remove her rings!!.

In the chancel is a brass portrait of Simon Mallory, an Elizabethan knight who died in 1580.

Between the Nave and North Aisle at the front of the church lies a wooded effigy of Sir Walter Trailli who died in 1290 and Eleanor who died in 1316. He wears his helmet and sword, and his lady a tight fitting hood with attached robe.  Their heads are on pillows and feet on dogs.