Thursday 4 April 2019

Gislingham Church

Gislingham St Mary  has a brick tower which was built to replace one that fell down in 1598.

According to the 100 treasures book the reason this church gets included is because of it's very old glass "some of the earliest illustrations of English wild flowers" is what the book says. I tried to get a better photo than the one below but the light wasn't good.There are all sorts of fragments of older glass used to make up this window. Much better photos HERE
The three-decker pulpit is surrounded by box pews, which still have numbers on their doors - not sure why they needed numbers.

Behind the altar is this painted design

and up above to each side are the 10 commandments.



The remains of the medieval rood screen are displayed
The kneeling figure clutching his white gloves is a London merchant who was a Lord of the Manor called Anthony Bedingfield who died in 1652.  Did he take his name from the village of Bedingfield which is about 10 miles from Gislingham or did the village take it's name from him?


The font dates from the C15

Until I spotted the British Legion flag I had forgotten that Colin played in the Gislingham Silver Band (which was started as The British Legion Band) for a few years before we got together. I'm guessing the  flag is in church as there is no longer a British Legion branch in Gislingham


The coat of alms is for George 3rd

As it was Lent there were no flowers in church, but I spotted where the flower arrangers keep all their vases.........in a pew at the back of the church, along with a tray of things found during restoration of the church. Renovations are ongoing and if I remember correctly this church was in such a bad state of repair 30 years ago that they did think about declaring it  unusable.




Back Tomorrow
Sue


11 comments:

  1. I love the stained glass and the old font is fascinating. However, I don't get a 'welcome' feeling as I do from some of the churches you have told us about. Is that just me?
    xx

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    1. It was nice and light so felt OK certainly better for me than some I've visited which I just wanted to get out of ASAP!

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  2. What an unusual pulpit and pews in this quaint country church.

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  3. What an interesting church. I particularly liked the painted design behind the alter and the 10 commandments also. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  4. The grave yard is very tidy. I love to see the box pews the first time I had seen box pews were in a very small church in Petersham, Surrey and I was a very young child. An interesting church again.
    Hazel c uk

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  5. Thankfully it wasn't declared unstable, it is such a beautiful Church with so much history. It was a delight to see the ten commandments. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. What a lovely church. I especially like the text behind the altar and the 10 commandments on the wall. So elaborate and well done.

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  7. Love the visits round the churches. So interesting.

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  8. pews had numbers on them as people paid to sit in them. Some churches have things were a name could be put in. I have a friend with the surname of Bedingfield - wonder if they are related.

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  9. Love these church visits.

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  10. Such a beautiful church. Thank you for sharing the pictures. I loved the commandments!

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