It often puzzles me when I go to visit churches how difficult they are to find. Often the tower can be seen from a long way off but then once I get into the village actually finding the church is sometimes quite difficult. Trees, houses and small lanes and the church vanishes. Bardwell was a case in point. The tower is 87 feet tall and I could see it all the way across the fields as I approached the village but when I reached a junction there was no way of knowing which way to turn. I got there in the end!
It's surrounded by trees - impossible to get a good photo
The reason for this church being included in the 100 treasures in 100 churches book is because of the age of this stained glass. It dates from C15 and is one of the earliest and most complete in Suffolk. It is a portrait of Sir William Berdewell (giving his name to the village) who is thought to have built the tower,the hammerbeam roof and the south porch
The 100 treasures book says "Look closely to see his gold-rimmed glasses" but even zooming in I coudn't see anything.
The hammerbeam roof still has some of the paintwork which would have decorated it in the past. It has been dated to 1421 from a book held by one of the wooden figures on the brackets - about halfway down on the right hand edge.
View down the Nave
It isn't a bicycle on the right of the photo above! but a coffin bier, now used to display leaflets about the church.
The other stained glass windows in the church are more recent and more colourful than the one from the C14
Elaborate tomb in the chancel
The remains of a wall painting, which would have been painted over in later years
The 100 treasures book also says to look at the colourful modern kneelers depicting scenes of modern life in the village but the kneelers were all stacked upside down on some of the pews which were taped off (can you really catch covid by kneeling on a tapestry kneeler?! or sitting on a wooden pew?)
All except the one below which was on the bench by the war memorial on the north wall at the back of the nave. If they are all as colourful then it must be wonderful to see them spread out around the church.
The porch is huge and decorated with flintwork panels, small carvings of flowers plus the saints
I'm not sure what these remnants of stonework are, I guess ancient stones from the graveyard, they are on the bench in the porch.
As usual there are more photos and information on Simon Knott's Suffolk Churches Website
What a fascinating church. I googled and found this story from 2019 https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/bury-st-edmunds/news/villagers-relive-the-history-of-bardwell-9084934/
ReplyDeleteThank you for digging deeper and finding this - very interesting
DeleteI went to your link and Angela's (bet they enjoyed dressing up and the horses had a different day of work too, in the pageant). Close-ups of the early glass make it very precious indeed - so little survives from that period. The later glass is stunning and the church a fascinating place. Your link tells of the young men who went a-soldiering and died so young -often from illness not connected with conflict.
ReplyDeleteTime for us to find another church (and walk) to explore.
I'm having to go further afield for the 100 churches in the book now - but it's still interesting
DeleteYou have some wonderful churches around you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure churches in North Lincs are just as wonderful
DeleteAnother interesting post. The church at Harlington, Middlesex was called St.Peters and st.Pauls and was small and very, very old. I worshiped there for plus 30 years before I moved.
ReplyDeleteI really love reading about the churches.
Thank you Sue.
Hazel 🌈🌈🌈
I enjoy visiting and writing a bit about these churches
DeleteI love those old remnants of stone Sue - they have such stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly do
DeleteThe stained glass windows are just beautiful. I find there is always something fascinating to be found in an old village church … we often pop in for a look when we are out and about. I did do a double take when I saw the ‘bicycle wheels’ in your first photo 😃
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't until I put the photo on my post then realised it looked like someone had left a bike in church!
DeleteThanks for taking me along on your church exploration. It is all so fascinating to see.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome
DeleteLovely to see all the historic churches. It's all so interesting. The windows here are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSuch glorious colours
DeleteI like that ceiling! I can't imagine how the builders accomplished that so many years ago. Will you visit all 100 treasures? You have done a great job sharing this with us - explanations and photos are terrific! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've done over 50 now but Some of the churches are right down on the Suffolk/Essex border and others almost into Cambridgeshire so I'm not sure I will get to them all
DeleteIt's so interesting seeing your tour of old churches.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteThere's always something new to discover in a church. Even from the few I managed to see in your part of the world I could see you had some lovely ones. Have you visited any of the Churches Conservation Trust ones? Arilx
ReplyDeleteI looked them up to see where they were but as the ones I'm visiting are in a book published by the diocese I've not been to any of the Churches Conservation Trust churches yet.
DeleteFascinating. I bet the kneelers are all just as colourful as the one you saw.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
A shame they were hidden away
DeleteThe history of early churches is fascinating. The construction, stone work and stained glass is amazing. The hammerbeam roof is unlike anything I've seen before. This church reminds me of the fact that people were once very religious and dedicated to their church. Thank you for taking me on this church tour.
ReplyDeleteWe have some amazing churches in this part of the world. They built the roof using skills learned in shipbuilding. Church going was compulsory during many times in history
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