The church of Saint Mary and Saint Andrew Whittlesford sits in seclusion on the edge of the village. A largely Norman foundation with various ancient additions, it’s charming, but unexceptional architecturally. What makes it worth a visit is the striking new window commissioned, ‘In gratitude for 1000 years of our church and village 2022’. It’s called the Caring Window and depicts multiple interpretations of the idea of caring, from motherly protection to nursing during the Covid pandemic and love within families to valuing the natural environment. It was designed by Benjamin Finn.
In stark contrast to this 21st century devotional is the Sheela-na-gig carved in flat relief above the window in the crossing tower. Pevsner describes it as ‘a naked woman in a very compromising position, with a human headed creature, a goat or bull approaching her’. According to Wikipedia: ‘A sheela na gig is a figurative carving of a naked woman displaying an exaggerated vulva. These carvings, from the Middle Ages, are architectural grotesques found throughout most of Europe on cathedrals, castles, and other buildings. … The carvings may have been used to ward off death, evil and demons.’ Looks very pagan and rather misogynistic.