The church of All Saints at Thorndon isn't one of those featured in the 100 Treasures in 100 Suffolk Churches book so despite it being so close to home I'd not visited until the Saturday the village had a garage/yard sale event.
Most villages in Suffolk (and many other counties) have fascinating village signs .......maybe I should start another new hobby!
I couldn't get a good photo because of the trees but the tower of the church is on the south side rather than at the west end. So the bottom of the tower forms the entrance porch
The Lych Gate is very large and doubles up as the village war memorial
The church was open as they were doing refreshments while the garage sale event was happening. I didn't really need a cuppa - being only 10 minutes from home - so as my donation to the church I bought a couple of cup-cakes to take home.
The church is unusually wide compared to many others in Suffolk yet only has a centre aisle. Just one stained glass window which is also unusual.
This magnificent reredos wood carving of The last Supper behind the altar was lit up from inside, which made it really stand out on a gloomy morning. I looked at the Suffolk Churches website which says the carving was done in Belgium and paid for by the Poet Laureate(1913-1930) Robert Bridges which is odd as I didn't know he had any connections with this area.
Before the church visit I went round most of the houses that were selling stuff - probably about 15, spread out through the whole length of the village, but didn't find much of interest. Came home with just a brand new window bird feeder and this basket with lift up lids on each side for £2 each.
Seems I've decided I will be feeding the birds here after all! and I thought the basket would do for one of the Christmas Hampers but I'd rather keep it myself!.......need to find a really good use for it to stop the guilt (although at £2 there isn't an awful lot of guilt!)
Ooh, what a bargain with that basket. I just HAD to look up the price new and a similar one (two handles) is £94!!! Perhaps you could use it for craft items? The bird feeder was a bargain too. I've always wanted one that fits on the window but no good here as the back kitchen windows are the same height as the lawn as the ground level is high outside. I need to get another squirrel baffle and another squirrel-proof nut feeder before the winter. Without the baffle the other "squirrel-proof" feeder had the wire nut holder bitten right through. Little hooligans.
ReplyDeleteWhat a broad church - and sideways pews too. The Reredos is beautiful. Did you find out the Poet Laureate's connection to the area?
The sideways pews would be for the choir I guess although so far apart they wouldn't sound very 'together'
DeleteYou should have seen how quickly i picked up the basket when I saw the £2 sticker on it!
I'd keep that basket like a shot - it is beautiful. With those lift up lids, I could see myself using it for some sort of garden think - gloves, seed packets, etc. Or as a knitting basket, maybe.
ReplyDeleteMy parents had a bird feeder like that but took it off because the birds left little thank offerings down the window pane.
It's a very attractive church despite not being in your book.
There are some very attractive street signs around, aren't there? It would make a fascinating study, I think.
xx
I thought there was abook about Suffolk village signs but seems not.
DeleteNow need to buy seed and peanuts - i kept one peanut feeder just in case
Oh keep the basket for yourself - it is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIf only I had a big farmhouse kitchen to display the basket!
DeleteLove the basket, what a bargain. Definitely a keeper.
ReplyDeleteYes Definitely
DeletePhotos of village signs could be good for a post now and then. I was visiting Great Ashfield when they had just received their newly painting sign (probably 12 or more years ago). The gentleman responsible for putting it up showed it to me ahead of time since I wouldn't be there when it went up. A beautiful sign. Has a B-17 on it in remembrance of the old air base located there...it was where my father served in WWII. The church has a beautiful stained glass window memorial to the group. In fact, we held my father's memorial service there in 1984.
ReplyDeleteI will take photos of more village signs - difficult sometimes to work out why they depict certain things. Interesting to find out.
DeleteI'm not all that far from Gt Ashfield - I'll go and take a photo of it sometime for you
Yes but it is something else to deal with.
ReplyDeleteDeal with?
DeleteI wonder who designs the village signs and how they decide what will be depicted. Maybe the village took a vote or villagers gave suggestions. Have you seen the windmill that is pictured on the sign?
ReplyDeleteInteresting visit!
The windmill in Thorndon is long gone as they are in most villages - yet lots of village signs have windmills on them. And so many villages have a 'Mill Road'. Many of the village signs were designed years ago
DeleteEach church you write about has interesting and unique features. The "Last Supper" carving is amazing. I also like the unusual tile floor and the sole stain glass window. Your new basket is a great find. I use baskets to create custom themed gifts or to display seasonal items in my home. The window feeder will be easy to fill and provide a close look at the birds.
ReplyDeleteThe carving is amazing isn't it.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to keep the basket if I can find a good use for it
I understand why you like village signs. I took a photo of one of the ones very near here, but couldn't decipher. By looking it up I learnt a bit of history that I hadn't been aware of before. Arilx
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a great bargain on the basket... Let us know what you decide to use it for.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Another lovely and interesting church. The Last Supper carving is so detailed. And how nice to combine garage/yard sales on the same day! Could you keep your cross stitching and needlework supplies in it?
ReplyDelete