Great Staughton is about eight miles south west of Huntingdon and close to the Bedfordshire border. The church of St Andrew sits at the western edge of the village. There was mention of a church and a priest here at the time of the Domesday Survey of 1086. This early structure would probably have been a basic wooden structure, of which nothing remains today.

The present structure consists of west tower, nave with north and south aisle, clerestory, south porch. vestry and chancel.  The majority of the church dates from the 14th century, but the chancel and parts of the north and south arcades date from the 13th century. The clerestory  consists of five windows to north and south and dates from the 15th century.

The early 16th century west tower is of four stages, and is buttressed to three quarters of the way up. Elegant double lancet windows are on each side of the upper stage, with the top being battlemented. Crocketed pinnacles rise up from each corner. A frieze dating from the time of the tower being built sits above the lancet windows and a solitary gargoyle looks out to the south. The aisles and clerestory are battlemented and a plaque dating from 1656 can be seen on the chancel. Fabulously carved stone heads are included throughout, of various ages, with some appearing to be fairly modern. One very ancient stone carving shows the top half of a human figure, very fragile and doubtless dating back to the very early days of the present structure.

Six bells hang here, with the first of the ring cast by Taylor of Loughborough in 1919. The second and third are each from Hugh Watts II of Leicester, with each being dated 1633. The second of the ring is inscribed ‘IHS NAZARENVS REX IVDEORVM FILI DEI MISEARERE MEI’, which translates as ‘Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews son of God have mercy on me’.

The fourth of the ring is of considerable age and interest, being cast by William Dawe around 1420. In those days the church bells were often cast in the churchyard or nearby fields and bellfounders would travel great distances, moving from church to church.

Robert Taylor of St Neots cast the fifth of the ring in 1787. Taylor would move to Loughborough in 1821, where they remain to this day. The churchwardens accounts at that time make for interesting reading. Taylor was paid £12 for casting the bell, with a further payment of £5 and 5 shillings the following year.

The final bell of the ring is another from Hugh Watts, but this time it Hugh Watts I, with the bell being dated to 1600.

A memorial plaque by the side of the west door in the tower tells of a sad chapter in the village history. Three people were killed by lightning, with the memorial stating that the three were …’instantaneously killed by a ball of lightning on the 17 July about 4 in the afternoon, in the presence of several persons whose lives were miraculously spared. This stone is erected at the expense of the parish to perpetuate the memory of so awful a catastrophe’

There are five bays on north and south side leading down to the chancel. As mentioned earlier, parts of these date from the 13th century, but rebuilding work happened here during the 15th century. Lots of stained glass here but the church was still bright inside despite that.The church here is notable for some fine monuments and at the end of the south aisle is a memorial to George Wharton, a good friend of Oliver Cromwell, who died in 1606. Wharton is recumbant, dressed in armour, with hands raised in prayer. His head rests on a red pillow and his feet rest on a helmet. The monument is supported by two columns in the shape of figures dressed in Roman costume. The Christian scallop shell symbol is included at the side of each figure.

A fine painted wall monuments to  two generations of the Deyer family. Sir James Deyer, who died in 1582, and his wife Margaret are on one side of the monument, with his Great Nephew Sir Richard Deyer and wife Marie on the other side. Sir Richard died in 1605. Both couples face each other across a prayer desk, hands would have been raised in prayer if they hadn’t been vandalised at some point in history. A bible rests on the prayer desks with a helmet sitting on top of the bible. A pair of gauntlets rest against Sir James’ prayer desk.

The fine east window in the chancel features five panels, with Jesus Christ as the centre piece. He stands with hand raised in blessing, wounds visible in both hands, holding out an open bible with his other hand. The scrips on the open pages reads ‘I am the resurrection and the light’. St Peter and St James stand to Jesus’ left as we look at it, with St John and St Andrew to Jesus’ right.

Stained glass in the south chapel runs along the same lines. Jesus is central holding out an open bible, with Martha and Mary to either side. Elsewhere, Jesus talks to Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazaras, saying ‘Your brother shall rise again’.  On the whole, good quality stained glass

The font dates back to the 13th century, as is plain and octagonal, and stands on a modern base. A screen separates the tower arch from the nave. This is dated 1539 and is inscribed to Oliver Leder and Frances. Leder built Place House, opposite the church, which was a substantial moated manor house which sadly was badly damaged by fire in the 17th century.

The church grounds are large and there are some interesting gravestones dating back to the eighteenth century. The grounds are peaceful, despite the main road through the village being close by. The church grounds lead down to the nearby river Kyme.