St Andrew the Apostle Melton
and
St Mary of the Assumption Ufford
Standing
within the parish of St Andrew Melton and almost on the edge of Ufford
parish
is the ancient church of Melton now owned by a charitable trust.
We know that the Saxon Manor of Melton belonged to the Abbott of Ely and it is believed that a church has stood here since those times.
The
first recorded Rector was William, son of Theodwine, in 1146.
There is a rare triple brass in the Nave,
which depicts a Priest in academic dress with his parents, dated 1436.
The Tower
was added in 1446, having originally had four bells, only one remains.
The other three bells, and the baptismal font were installed in the
new St Andrew's Church.
As the village
grew, the church in what is now called Old Church Road on the border
with Ufford, was too small for the congregation,
and from 1800 onwards proposals for enlargement were put forward,
but were never adopted.
Hence in 1865 it was decided to build the present St Andrew’s in the centre of the village.
A full history
can be obtained of the Old Church, and membership of the Old Church
Society can be yours for a small annual fee.
Each year
the Society host concerts, lectures and worship in these fine and
beautiful surroundings, as well as an art class.
No regular Sunday services take place these days but there are open days through the year.
The Churchyard remains vested in the Rector of the parish and is the responsibility of the St Andrew's Parochial Church Council [PCC]. Although closed for burials except in existing graves ad graves reserved by faculty, cremated remains are still interred, either in the area with stone memorials, or a new option is a 'green' burial of ashes under existing tress in other parts of the churchyard.