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

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Sue