It's a few weeks since I drove down to the Suffolk/Essex border to visit this church that I knew would feature in the 100 treasures in 100 Suffolk Churches book even before opening it.
It's unique because of this....the C16 Bell Cage.
The information board explains it all.
Inside - the bells are huge.
Here's a youtube clip of them being rung
This is as far as they got with the tower in the 1520's
Enter through the double height porch, with it's lovely sundial
Then through some more modern oak doors
Into this wide, light and much visited church
Almost all the windows are stained glass and beautiful
The pulpit is well carved
and the lectern is just as interesting
One of several war memorials
A model of both the church and the bell-cage are there for visitors to see in close up
There are side chapels at each side of the church
Several large brick tombs in the churchyard show the wealth of those who attended the church in previous years......with a good show of early aconites.
Lots more information and photos of the things I forgot are on Simon Knott's Suffolk Churches Website
What a beautiful old church to visit. The bells sound lovely, but what a lot of hard work for the ringers :)
ReplyDeleteThey don't need to go to a gym do they!
DeleteThat's a really lovely church, a lot of hard work went into that. The old carved wood and the stained glass windows are just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wealthy area in the past - lovely to see so much stained glass
DeleteWhat an amazing place! I love the carving
ReplyDeleteThe lectern was so unusual
DeleteWhat an unusual church from the design point of view and a totally different way of bell-ringing since they never got around to the tower! Stunning stained glass as well.
ReplyDeleteIt does look odd but the bell cage makes it special
DeleteI love to hear church bells rung, but that is an unusual way of doing it. Hopefully the bystanders wore ear protectors too.
ReplyDeleteHope so - otherwise deaf in no time at all!
DeleteBeautiful church - I like the intricate patterns and shapes on the outside.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of the very welcoming churches I've visited
DeleteThe outside looks a bit like a monastry. x
ReplyDeleteYes I guess it does a bit. I'm cross that I forgot to find out about the little turret on top
DeleteI've never seen a bell cage like that. How interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly unique in Suffolk
Deletelovely
ReplyDeletecathy
Thank you
DeleteThe workmanship on that lectern is amazing. And don't bells just look so weird when they are upside down!
ReplyDeleteThank you for a lovely church visit.
ReplyDeleteThe bell cage is unique. The sound of the bells is strong and lovely. This church looks well loved. The stained glass is quite beautiful and the wood carvings are nicely done. Lots of care and attention signals strong fellowship. I'd like attending this church.
ReplyDeleteI think that those bells tell you an awful lot about people. There would be absolute fits if you tried to finish the bell tower now (sort of rightly). It looks like a beautiful church.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place.
ReplyDeleteThanks for recommending Devorgilla Days a while ago. I'm in the middle of it and thoroughly enjoying it.
xx
Thank you. This place is lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tour of the church. The bells sound lovely.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless.
Hang on a minute!! It's all very well in today's world of acoustic-insulated earmuffs ... but how on earth were they rung "back in the day"??? Unless being totally deaf was a normal state back then? As a person with very little hearing I was horrified!
ReplyDeleteLovely church. Thanks for the tour!
ReplyDelete