St Denis’ church photo gallery

NB – please see the note at the bottom of the page

"Love the silence. Peace. Craftsmanship. Simplicity. Colour. No cars.” Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Cambridge, 11th February 2024.
"Such a lovely, calm, peaceful place” Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Bury St Edmunds, 2nd March 2024.
"Cycle here for times a year. It is well worth if." Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Great Gransden, 9th March 2024.
"Wonderful restoration of such a peaceful place.” Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Barrington, 6th May 2024.
"Amazing church and restoration. Bravo!” Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Eaton Socon, 26th October 2024.

Click on the first photo – and GDPR

Click on the first photo to bring up the gallery – then use the arrows to scroll through the other photos. There's a caption under each photo.

Not happy with a photo? Please refer to Hatley Parish Council’s General privacy policy – especially the second paragraph headed ‘Hatley website’ – and if necessary e-mail the Parish Clerk.

Visiting St Denis' church

St Denis’ is open every day from around 8.30 am to dusk for anyone to look round, for quiet contemplation and (at some point) for events – see St Denis’ church: it’s future.

The address is

     St Denis’ church
     East Hatley
     Cambridgeshire
     SG19 3JA

Grid reference

     TL 28522 50513
     Easting 528522
     Northing 250513
     Latitude 52.137977
     Longitude -0.123484
     Grid reference link

Plus code 4VQG+5H

What three words slightly.beanbag.pins

There's also...

General leaflet – the church of St Denis, East Hatley / A5, 4 pp, August 2024.
Visitor guide leaflet – 39 things about St Denis' / A5, 4 pp, August 2024.
Cave spiders under St Denis' – A5, PDF of an article for the Friends of Friendless Churches' magazine, June 2024.
A new east window for St Denis' – leaflet / A5, 2 pp, August 2024.

_{Page created 28th December 2018.

More photos added in 2019, 2021 and on 3rd September, 31st October and 15th November 2024.

Other than where noted, all the photographs were taken by Peter Mann.}

St Denis’ church photo gallery

NB – please see the note at the bottom of the page

"Love the silence. Peace. Craftsmanship. Simplicity. Colour. No cars.” Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Cambridge, 11th February 2024.

"Such a lovely, calm, peaceful place” Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Bury St Edmunds, 2nd March 2024.

"Cycle here for times a year. It is well worth if." Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Great Gransden, 9th March 2024.

"Wonderful restoration of such a peaceful place.” Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Barrington, 6th May 2024.

"Amazing church and restoration. Bravo!” Comment about St Denis’ church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire, by a visitor from Eaton Socon, 26th October 2024.

Signpost to St Denis' church East Hatley, Cambridgeshire – the graveyard is a Local Nature Reserve.

Plan of St Denis' church in East Hatley – this 1968 drawing is from 'An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the County of Cambridgeshire, Volume 1, West Cambridgeshire'.

The notice board in the churchyard. Photographed 18th April 2019.

St Denis' church East Hatley from the south west on 14th July 2018, six months after the Friends of Friendless Churches had finished its first phase restoration work, including new windows in the nave.

St Denis' church from the south west. The Friends of Friendless Churches has completed two phases of restoration work since taking ownership of the building in 2016 – including (in 2018) new windows in the mediaeval nave and (in 2021) new windows in the chancel William Butterfield built in 1874.

St Denis' from the north west on 14th July 2018, six months after the Friends of Friendless Churches had finished its first phase restoration work, including new windows in the nave.

St Denis' from the north east – now (in 2021) with a new window in the chancel William Butterfield built in 1874.

Aerial view – south side of St Denis'. Photo: Ben Greenhalgh on 15th July 2018.

Aerial view – north side of St Denis'. Photo: Ben Greenhalgh on 15th July 2018.

One's first view of St Denis' – from the east end one sunny spring morning in April 2019. A handsome building now in the care and ownership of the Friends of Friendless Churches.

A favourite flint of Rachel Morley, Director of the Friends of Friendless Churches – it's on the outside of the-porch.

A selection of photographs of the interior of St Denis' – this is work in progress for the Friends of Friendless Churches, which owns and cares for the church.

The restored nave floor, looking towards the chancel. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

The restored chancel floor, looking towards the nave. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

The north wall in the nave and chancel – in 2022 the walls in the nave were replastered and (at the far end) the reredos restored. Photo: Peter Mann / Buzz Associates.

The sanctuary, awaiting restoration by the Friends of Friendless Churches. Rachel Morley photo on 16th May 2018....

In 2022 the walls in the nave were replastered and (at the far end) the reredos restored. Photo: Peter Mann / Buzz Associates.

The south and west walls in the nave and chancel of St Denis' church, East Hatley, with William Butterfield's 1874 font. In 2022 the walls in the nave were replastered. Photo: Peter Mann / Buzz Associates.

14th century niche, south side. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

14th century niche, north side. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

Inspection hatch in the tongue and groove floorboards; it is one of six in the nave and chancel enabling us to see the medieval timbers from the roof which Butterfield reused as part of his 1874 restoration project. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

Inspection cover removed; it is one of six in the nave and chancel enabling us to see the medieval timbers from the roof which Butterfield reused as part of his 1874 restoration project. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

The nave with new and salvaged tiles after restoration by the Friends of Friendless Churches. Rachel Morley photo on 16th May 2018.

Stove and base of the pulpit. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

The ‘Tortoise’ stove with its ‘Slow but Sure Combustion’ motto. It was installed as part of Butterfield's 1874 restoration project.

Graffiti on the on the north wall. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

The William Cray Say (1696-1751) tablet in the west wall. He was rector of St Denis' and Hatley St George church for 29 years. It is one of only two memorials still in the church.

The Francis Say Clerk (1647-1705) tablet in the vestry. He was rector of St Denis' for 16 years. It is one of only two memorials still in the church.

The beautifully chamfered threshold inside the porch after restoration by the Friends of Friendless Churches. Rachel Morley photo on 16th May 2018.

The beautifully chamfered threshold inside the porch after restoration by the Friends of Friendless Churches. Photographed 18th April 2019.

The newly cleaned Downing plaque, 13th April 2018. It's in the porch, above the door. Above the date is a cartouche of the arms of Sir George Downing, then owner of the estate of East Hatley.

While the windows in St Denis are new, they sit in 13th or 14th century stone surrounds.

The 14th century Y-tracery mullion with 21st century window and black, powder coated metal guards installed on the outside by the Friends of Friendless Churches in spring 2018 as part of its initial restoration project. Photographed 18th April 2019.

Same window from the inside – 14th century Y-tracery mullion with a 21st century window installed by the Friends of Friendless Churches in spring 2018 as part of its initial restoration project. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

The 14th century Y-tracery mullion on the north side of the nave. It has a 21st century window and black, powder coated metal guards installed on the outside by the Friends of Friendless Churches in spring 2018 as part of its initial restoration project. Photographed 18th April 2019.

The north wall in the nave and chancel arch – in 2022 the walls in the nave were replastered, enabling the church to be opened every day from 8.30 am. Photo: Peter Mann / Buzz Associates.

The 14th century lancet on the south side of the nave. It has a 21st century window and black, powder coated metal guards installed on the outside by the Friends of Friendless Churches in spring 2018 as part of its initial restoration project. Photographed 18th April 2019.

Same window from the inside – 14th century lancet on the south side of the nave with a 21st century window installed by the Friends of Friendless Churches in spring 2018 as part of its initial restoration project. Photographed 23rd July 2018.

The original east window dedication – now cleverly incorporated in the new chancel windows of St Denis’, East Hatley. Mary Anne was the rector’s wife.

The design for a new east window by the stained glass artist Aidan McRae Thomson. 'I have done my best to pay homage to the style of Butterfield and Gibbs, in form, colouring and layout without strictly copying any particular work,' he said. Installation is expected to be in mid-2026.

The east window with stained glass artist Aidan McRae Thomson's design as it may look when it is installed in mid-2026.

The 19th century south porch archway. The metal gates and grille were cleaned and repainted as part of the restoration of St Denis' by the Friends of Friendless Churches in spring 2018. Photographed 18th April 2019.

14th century arch, 19th century south door – the main entrance to St Denis, East Hatley. Photographed 18th April 2019.

The other side of south door – while the entire wall was replastered in 2022, the area immediately above the door was left unlpastered to show the fieldstones and rubble used to construct the church sometime around 1217. Photo: Peter Mann / Buzz Associates.

The 14th century doorway, on the north side of the nave. It was probably blocked up by William Butterfield when he restored the church in 1874. Photographed 18th April 2019.

19th century steel door (since stolen) for the Charles Portway ‘Tortoise’ stove where ash from the furnace would have been scraped out. Above it is the flue inspection hatch. The stove was installed by William Butterfield when he restored the church in 1874. Photographed 27th February 2019.

By 1999 St Denis' was in a dire state of repair – as the following photos show.

The north side of St Denis' in 1999 – totally covered in ivy.

2002 – still covered in ivy. Practically everything on the inside had been ripped out – there was no glass in the windows and the whole building was in great danger of collapse.

South side in the late 1990s / early 2000s [1], with the mountain of ivy already clambering over part of the roof. Photo by Sebastian Kindersley.

South side in the late 1990s / early 2000s [2], with the mountain of ivy already clambering over part of the roof. Photo by Sebastian Kindersley.

South side in the late 1990s / early 2000s [3], with the mountain of ivy already clambering over part of the roof. Photo by Sebastian Kindersley.

West side in the late 1990s / early 2000s [4], under a mountain of ivy and trees. Photo by Sebastian Kindersley.

South side in the late 1990s / early 2000s [5], with trees as well as the ivy causing significant damage to the building. Photo by Sebastian Kindersley.

West side in the late 1990s / early 2000s [6], under its mountain of ivy. Photo by Sebastian Kindersley.

South side in the late 1990s / early 2000s [7]. What appears to be a white headstone is no longer there. Photo by Sebastian Kindersley.

February 2003 – as the ivy was removed, the shocking state of repair became very obvious.

February 2003 when it was in a very sad state and before all the ivy had been removed.

February 2003 after all the ivy had been removed and showing what a terrible state it was in.

February 2003 after all the ivy had been removed and showing what a terrible state it was in.

February 2003 after all the ivy had been removed and showing what a terrible state it was in.

The Friends of Friendless Churches first came to look at St Denis' in 2013 – nearly four years later they came again for a party. But, first...

After the Taizé service on 7th September 2011, everyone gathered outside for a glass of wine. It the first service to be held in St Denis, East Hatley, since the church was closed in 1959.

The first visit by trustees of the Friends of Friendless Churches on 26th November 2013.

The crowded marquee listening to Margot Eagle, chairman at the time of Hatley Parish Council, who organised the celebration handover of St Denis' to FoFC by South Cambridgeshire District Council, the previous owners of the church, on 11th July 2017.

Roger Evans, chairman of the Friends of Friendless Churches, left, speaking at the handover of St Denis' to FoFC by South Cambridgeshire District Council, the previous owners of the church – 11th July 2017.

Open evening on 20th July 2018 hosted by Rachel Morley, Director of the Friends of Friendless Churches (in the white dress at the back). It enabled everyone to see inside the church for the first time since the FoFC had put in new floors and windows in the nave.

Rachel Morley, Director of the Friends of Friendless Churches, gave a talk about the church at the open evening on 20th July 2018.

Rachel Morley, Director of the Friends of Friendless Churches at St Denis' church, East Hatley, Cambridgeshire on 20th July 2018.

Although not ready for being open permanently, St Denis' has been opened for special occasions – most notably for the Heritage Open Days in September 2018.

The Rev Hilary Young, centre, with East Hatley residents Nicola Jenkins and Joyce Denby, when Hilary visited St Denis’ church, East Hatley for the first time on 20th September 2018. She was licensed and installed as Priest-in-Charge of the Gamlingay diocese on 29th July 2018.

Open for Heritage Open Day weekend, 13th September 2018. Over 70 people came to look round.

The 2018 Heritage Open Day. Joyce Denby and Margot Eagle chatting while awaiting visitors – 15th September 2018.