Tuesday 13 July 2021

A Visit to Hopton Church

 Hopton is a small village right on the Suffolk/Norfolk border. Last time I came here would have been in about 1977 when I was working on the mobile library and this was our most far-flung village from our base in Stowmarket.

The reason this church is included in the 100 treasures book is because of the Late Tudor red brick clerestory and the hammerbeam roof


The ermine-collared figures of kings on the hammer-beams are all holding books,chalice and the patens used to hold the bread for the Eucharist. They were repainted by the vicar's daughters in the late C19

 

View down the nave to the altar with  what seems quite a modern font. There are parts of this church that date from every century from the Twelfth to the Twentieth.

This amazingly old metal bound chest which would have held all the registers and the Churches riches.

 

I think the Treasure in this church should be this Medieval door to the tower with original ironwork, locks and hinge.

Painted alcoves each side of the chancel

Unusual to see an empty altar table, usually there are candles
A small door opens off the pulpit going where?

Up to that opening above the pulpit? Perhaps something to do with a rood screen loft separating nave from chancel that was once there 100's of years ago?
There are only 2 stained-glass windows. This is the East window above the altar and dates from the 1890's. The faces are said to all resemble real people from that time.

 

This marble tablet is in memory of Thomas Raymond who died in 1680 and was keeper of the state papers for Charles II " He lived and died very religiously"


This is my 51st church visit finding the things mentioned in a small book "100 Years, 100 Treasures: A Celebration of Suffolk Churches" Published to mark the centenary of the Diocese in 2014. Someone once pointed out that many of the other churches are worth a visit too but as there are well over 600 churches in Suffolk I had to start somewhere!

 
I'd intended to visit another church on the way back cross country but it had taken me extra time to get to Hopton due to a road closure (they are mending potholes everywhere at the moment) then another road closure and diversion and I knew of yet another I had to avoid on the way home too . So only got to 'do' one church after all................plenty of time for the other 49. 

There was NO sport yesterday - I was bereft (that is,of course, a big exaggeration!). A rest day for the cyclists in France and tennis and football all over BUT joy unbounded, it's back to quizzy Mondays on the Beeb with Only Connect and University Challenge both beginning new series.
Instead of sport I met up with Rachel-in-Norfolk for a coffee in Diss and came home to a lovely sunny afternoon ..........despite the Yellow Weather Warning for rain - why the heck we need a weather warning for rain in the UK I have no idea. I suppose Nanny is afraid we might get wet! 

 
Back Tomorrow
Sue


19 comments:

  1. That's a great church. My admiration for the Vicar's daughter who repainted the Kings in the roof. (I repainted a church roof once - on the outside, plain black-that was hard enough for me) I enjoyed getting back to Monday Quizzes on TV.

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  2. What an interesting church. I was tickled that the kings in the roof beams were repainted by the Vicar's daughters - my goodness, those were tall ladders they had to go up!

    Keith will love to see that iron-bound box. He loves anything like that and I always have to take photos for him if there's one in any church we visit. The Medieval strap-bound door is an amazing survivor too. I have never seen a quote like that one - Men ought always to pray and not to faint!!

    Having watched a bit of the Tour de France at the weekend, I can now see the appeal - what fabulous countryside and interesting little villages they race through.

    If I get time, I will do a church post today too, from 8 days ago!

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  3. Great little church. I love that iron clad box. I wonder where that door by the pulpit does go? There doesn't seem to be much room, and it would be severely claustrophobic, I'm sure.
    Glad you got to go and it was open!

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  4. Interesting tour round the church, lots of information and a church that carries its history so well

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  5. Fabulous church and I like the fact that it contains something from every age of the community it serves.

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  6. Yes ue - I had forgotten it was a rest day until I switched on for the resume at seven in the evening. I am absolutely hooked on the race and shall miss it terribly next week.

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  7. The Hopton church certainly holds a treasure trove of history within its walls. Well worth the visit--despite all the road diversions.

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  8. So glad you found the church open for visits. I imagine the candle sticks are put away because the church is open. The mix of brick and stone on the outside is interesting. The brick is a later edition to the church you think? If I was at service there I'd be looking at the ceiling the whole time.

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    1. Yes the bricks of the clerestory are Tudor whereas the body of the church is earlier.

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  9. What an interesting church! I've never seen a clerestory like that.
    It's great that every age has contributed more to the building. That roof painting reminds me of J L Carr's A Month in the Country. Excellent book and there was a dramatisation on TV a while ago.
    I also loved quizzy Monday!

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    1. Now thats a little book I could do with re-reading.

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  10. Hopton church is mesmerizing and beautiful. The old world architecture and treasures inside the church are truly captivating. I would attend church regularly (as opposed to not at all) if I could attend a church like Hopton. Does Hopton offer a Sunday service?

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    1. Most of the village churches in Suffolk will have a Sunday service. Some just once a month but all are open to visit. Things are different in town where many churches have bee put to different uses

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  11. Do you visit on open days or are the churches open to the public all the time? I'm really trying to think of a church around here that we could just walk into but I can't and we have plenty of them, old and new. xx

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    1. Now the churches are all open again everyday. There have only been a few that I've been to and found them closed. The 3 in Ipswich I had to visit on a special open weekend.

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  12. How fun that you are now able to visit more churches! There are so many beautiful things to see in this one. Like you, I love that Medieval door and also the ancient and very large chest. It's nice that you and Rachel were able to meet up again too.

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  13. Thankyou! That church door is fabulous. Was glad of a rest day here as the tour is on very late at night and all of Australia is very proud of Dylan and Ash, not just for their sports prowess but they're very good people! Rainy here too, have a great week

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  14. I'm so glad the church was open and I love that door; the history it must have seen and the people who used it . . .
    xx

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  15. Wow! Do you have any idea how old that chest is? I love getting a glimpse of these wonderful places. Thank you!

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