History
THE PARISH CHURCHES
Houghton
and
Wyton
each
possess
a
medieval
church
only
a
quarter
of
a
mile
apart,
but
that
in
Wyton
was
closed
in
1974.
Domesday
Book
1086
makes
mention
of
both
and
states
that
there
was
a
priest
at
Wyton,
but
no
reference
is
made
to
any
at
Houghton.
It
is
probable,
therefore,
that
one
priest
served
the
two
parishes,
a
practice
which
continued
until
1847
when
individual
incumbents
were
appointed.
The
parishes
remained
separate
until
1961.
From
quite
early
times
it
appears
the
two
churches
were
treated
as
if
they
were
one
being
referred
to
in
ancient
documents
as
“the
church
of
Witton
and
Hocton".
Incidentally,
as
Wyton
is
usually
named
first,
this
indicates
that
it
was
the
more
important
of
the
two.
As
is
so
frequently
the
case
in
Huntingdonshire,
the
churches
of
villages
bordering
the
Ouse
are
placed
close
to
the
river
bank
but
exactly
why
this
should
be
so
has
not
been
definitely
explained.
Houghton
church
is
no
exception
to
this
rule,
a
glance
at
a
large-scale
Ordnance
map
will
show
an
old
water
course
by
the
south-west
corner
of
the
churchyard.
Wyton
church, on the other hand, has never been on the river bank.
By
chance,
both
churches
have
developed
almost
identical
ground
plans
over
the
centuries
by
changes
which
took
place
at
different
times.
Thus,
each
has
a
long
chancel,
a
nave
to
which
has
been
added
a
north
aisle
of
four
bays,
a
south
porch
and
a
western
tower
and
spire.
How
they
arrived
at
their
present
plan
will
be
briefly
explained
in
the
accounts
which follow.
T H E CHURCH OF ST. MARY O F H O U G H T O N
We
know
from
Domesday
Book
1086
that
there
was
a
church
in
Houghton
at
that
time.
There
are
no
traces
of
any
earlier buildings on this site.
The
earliest
work
now
standing
is
the
chancel
which
was
rebuilt
and
probably
lengthened
in
the
second
half
of
the
13th
century,
the
middle
window
of
the
three
in
the
south
wall,
of
lancet-shape,
together
with
the
chancel
arch
being
of
this
period.
Early
in
the
next
century
the
lighting
of
the
chancel
was
improved;
a
new
east
window
was
inserted
and
another
with
net-like
tracery
of
two
lights
was
placed
near
the
west
end
of
the
north
wall.
At
the
same
time
a
small
doorway,
a
short
distance
east
of
the
latter
was
formed.
This
is
an
unusual
position
but
perhaps
it
was
for
the
priest's
use
as
there
is
no
sign
of
the
usual
door
on
the
south.
Some
years
later
another
two-light
window
was
placed
in
the
south
wall
west
of
the 13th century one.
About
1350
an
extensive
rebuilding
was
undertaken
and
a
north
aisle
of
four
bays
was
added
to
the
nave.
Above
the
aisle
arches
a
clerestory
of
four
quatrefoils
enclosed
within
square
openings
was
included.
On
completion
this
was
followed
by
the
erection
of
the
present
tower
and
spire,
completed
before
the
end
of
the
century.
The
church
then
assumed
the
shape
it
has
today
which
has
not
been
materially
altered
since.
A
south
porch
would
normally
have
formed
part
of
the
rebuilding
but
it
has
disappeared
and
the
existing
one
has
the
date
1664
in
large
figures
on
the
western
jamb
of the entrance arch.
Minor
improvements
connected
with
better
lighting
were
made
in
the
15th
century.
A
new
two-light
window
east
of
the
central
lancet
was
inserted
in
the
south
wall
of
the
chancel
to
give
more
light
to
the
altar.
The
tracery
of
the
east
window
was
taken
out
and
replaced
by
new
of
“Perpendicular”
character,
and
two
windows
of
three-lights
were
inserted
in
the
south wall of the nave.