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.
The Church of St. Mary at Houghton
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.