The Church
A big, rich, grey stone church with a tall broach spire. The church is known as one of the 'Northamptonshire spires' despite actually being just over the border in Cambridgeshire
Inside, the church is lit up by stained glass, mostly Victorian but with some medieval survivals in the north transept. The roof is finely carved, particularly in the south transept which is decorated with carved faces, roses and a green man.
The rarest item in the church is a wooden cadaver, originally part of an early 15th century tomb and possibly depicting the cleric William Stukeley. This is one of only two surviving examples in the country.
Our Work
Keyston is heavily affected by bats, with all the interior of the church covered with plastic during the summer.
The church was fully surveyed in summer 2021, which located a roost of around 100 Natterer's bats in the north transept and small day roosts of Common and Soprano pipistrelles in the church and churchyard.
The church is now fundraising for bat mitigation to confine the Natterer's bats to a small section of the church. They have also been able to plan much needed repairs to windows as we can prove these are not used as major bat access into the church.
Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust has funded a full professional conservation clean and the Bats In Churches project has funded a new bespoke, breathable oak and glass case to protect it from any further damage. The cadaver has now been moved back to pride of place in the chancel.
We have also funded two bat nights at the church when the church sold sponsored bat boxes to raise funds for the church.
In summer 2023 the church were visited by the local Brownies who explored the church using the Bats In Churches Challenge Badge.
Keyston Case Study Poster
Keyston Two Page Case Study Narrative
Keyston Fact Sheet
Keyston Bat Management Plan 2021
Keyston Cadaver Conservation Report
Upcoming events
If you’d like to contact or find out more about the church, visit their page on A Church Near You