Tuesday, 18 July 2023

St Mary the Virgin Church, Yaxley.

 This was one of the churches I tried to visit earlier this year but found it locked. A question to the local Facebook page told me it was open in the summer only, so I called in on my way home from Diss last week to have a look. 



This church didn't feature in the 100 treasures in 100 churches book but it ought to have been included due to this below which is known as a Sexton's Wheel. It is one of only two surviving in East Anglia, the other is in Long Stratton in Norfolk. Originating in the Middle Ages this was a device for deciding which day to begin fasting. The church Sexton would spin the wheel and randomly catch one of the six strings which are attached to the spokes - each spoke representing one of six Lady Days (is there only one remaining Lady Day on March 25th?)



Apart from all the information from the Suffolk Churches website, HERE, Yaxley have their own booklet for visitors to buy.



Like many village churches it is right beside the "big house" - Yaxley Hall. This is the Coat of Arms for a vicar who died in 1786 who lived at the hall with his half brother who was lord of the manor.


A board inside the door has information about repairs that have been done over the years and the fundraising needed for continuing work.


And this large crack under one window is something that will soon need sorting.







View down the Nave



The remains of a doom painting are just visible and an explanation of the rood screen and it's possible size, shape and position are  commented on by Simon Knott in the Suffolk Churches index. The window opening above would have once looked outside as the chancel roof was raised much later.
 





The Jacobean Pulpit is huge and magnificent even more fancy than the one at Great Ashfield which was my last church visit.



Another crack in the wall above the East window which has lots of fragments of stained from early years. Including some thought to be from the 13th Century



There is one remaining brass memorial on the floor (often they have been removed or stolen over the years) In Latin it remembers Andrew Felgate., who died in 1598 and his daughter Margaret who had been married to her cousin Robert Felgate and had died in childbirth two years earlier - her figure is missing.



This book below has photos and information about all the people mentioned on gravestones in the churchyard - must have taken years of research .


Ballet Dancer and Choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton  frequently visited his mothers grave here and he himself is buried here after moving to Eye in Suffolk later in his life. The hedgehog on this kneeler remembers his film of the ballet Beatrix Potter.



This gravestone says it was erected by five motherless and grateful children in memory of their Kind and Faithful Servant Emily Ablett





Back Tomorrow
Sue



27 comments:

  1. That church packs a lot of history and many more questions. Thanks for the tour

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  2. The woodwork in that church is amazing. Thank you so much for the tour.

    God bless.

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  3. I really love walking through cemeteries and piecing the stories together. The saddest story I ever worked out was a man who died in a quarry accident, crushed by a boulder. Buried next to him was a little boy who had been born a few months after he died. The boy lived for a couple years and died. Buried next to the child was the young mother (and wife) who died just a few months after her baby.

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    Replies
    1. So many stories can be found from gravestones

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  4. What a beautiful church. There's so much to admire about it including the stained glass window and the wonderful pulpit.
    Granny Marigold

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  5. Gosh, lots of interest in that church - the Sexton's Wheel is something else indeed. It sounds like Emily became a proxy mother to those poor children.

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    1. Have you come across a Sextons wheel anywhere before?

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  6. The other 5 days dedicated to Our Lady still exist in the church, they haven't
    ceased to be celebrated. The 25th March has the importance of being the Annunciation and has particular significance.

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    1. I expect the High Church in my village still marks all the days

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  7. There is so much history within our churches. I never tire of visiting them. Thank you for showing us round this one.

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    1. I need to get to some more while the weather is good

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  8. What lovely photos of the church. Stained glass is something that always interest me and it’s amazing how long it survives. Catriona

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    1. I love that they always kept fragments to re-use - nothing thrown away

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  9. Restoration of church buildings is very expensive. It seems as if every other church is raising funds.

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    1. Most of those I've visited are raising money for ongoing repairs

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  10. That's a lovely old place - such a shame about the cracks, etc.
    I've never heard of a Sexton's Wheel before. So interesting. Thank you. xx

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    1. A Sextons wheel was new to me too - very unique

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  11. That one is on my list to visit. I want to see the doom painting. So many churches to see.

    I think Simon Knott’s website is wonderful. I have the Mortlock books on Suffolk and Norfolk (he describes every church). Unfortunately Mortlock didn’t get as far south as Essex.

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    1. The doom painting isn't very visible - not as good as some churches I've been to

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  12. What an interesting church, so much history in there. I loved the motherless children leaving that grateful message on their servants headstone.
    Alison in Wales

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  13. Wonderful church and the Sexton's Wheel is new to me. It is always interesting to know more about church architecture, beliefs and practices. The differences between Reform and High Churches are always fascinating. I hope the fund raising is going well and the cracks will be repaired soon.

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  14. Those old churches are beautiful, but they must take a lot of maintenance to keep them going. It can be a poignant exercise wandering around reading headstones - they can tell so much about the life of people.

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  15. Thank you for the tour around the church. How many have you been to now? Do you keep a list?

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  16. I remember the beautiful ballet movie of Beatrix Potters characters. Maybe it was in the 70's.

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