Aspall is a tiny village (population approx 60) just north of Debenham and you may have heard of it because this huge collection of factory buildings is where Aspall Cider and vinegars are made. The company belonged to the Chevallier family of Aspall Hall, but after 290 years it's now owned by the people that make Coors Lager.
The church is on the other side of the main Debenham to Eye road down a small dead end lane and has always had a lot of input from the Chevallier family who as Lord of the Manor did much restoration here as well as providing the vicars for many years.
The porch has interesting timber frame and brick patterns
Down the nave to the altar, a very typical small Suffolk church.
But there are a couple of more unusual things, like this large memorial, a terracotta relief made in 1966 by Edwin Russell. It remembers Raulin Guild, son of a Chevellier daughter. He lived in North Rhodesia, contacting an illness and come back to die here, just 26 years old.
Another plaque is to Lord Kitchener. One of the Chevallier women married into the Kitchener family and her son became Lord Kitchener - secretary of state for war at the beginning of WWI and responsible for sending to war three of the young boys on the war memorial.
These memorials are all to members of the Chevallier family
There are some interesting bench end carvings
The font and cover are also carved and decorated.
Despite the few services held here and small population there were lots of flowers around the church
This is the sad sight of the lych gate - falling to pieces - hopefully to be repaired soon.
I found the leaflet about the church with lots more details is HERE
Back Soon
Sue
Those carvings are a delight, both the ones you show and the ones in the leaflet. Some people love cathedrals, and there is something rather wonderful about the soaring spaces and the work of stonemasons, but I much prefer these small churches. Oh, and that porch! Thank you for the tour, I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThat porch is really special
DeleteWhat a lovely place. I like the explanation of the name and, of course, I have some Aspall vinegar in my cupboard . . .
ReplyDeleteI hope they do repair the lych gate. It's delightful in the photo. xx
The odd thing is that the Lych gate is now at the other end of the churchyard to where people come in - and so few houses
DeleteIt is a small picture of how craftsmen worked in these churches, I wonder who had the last word on what to carve there seems a feminine element. Sad sight of the lych gate with the septic tank at the back.
ReplyDeleteI hope they can get the Lych gate repaired and soon
DeleteOne of those places that often catches my eye when I'm looking at maps of the area - mainly I think because of the relative isolation of the church. The porch is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThere are so few houses around but somehow the church keeps going
DeleteThe Chevellier/Kitchener Memorial is interesting. Her great granddaughter is Emma Kitchener, wife of Sir Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey writer) because the Earldom was due to die out - no sons - about 35 years ago the Queen issued a special warrant granting Emma the rights of an Earl. They changed their surname and became Lord&Lady Kitchener-Fellowes. Their son (Peregrine Charles Morant K-F) will inherit and become the next Lord KF.
ReplyDeleteThank you for added information on the family
DeletePretty little church. The carvings are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteVery special bench ends
DeleteA lovely little church.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you can smell the vinegar brewing in the air near the Aspall factory. I wouldn't mind being able to smell the cider, but I hate the smell of vinegar.
I don't think there is a smell from the brewing. I visited once years ago when they had a little museum on site and were open for people to visit - but its big business now
DeleteAspall's Cider - lovely stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful Church, the carvings and memorial plaques, I loved seeing all this ,Thank you.
Alison in Wales x
It's nice to know there are a few local things still made in Suffolk even if they are owned by a huge company now.
DeleteWhat a charmer. The sanctuary is very narrow but then with so few parishioners it's probably big enough. Thanks for attaching the brochure. The carved pew ends are very unique - woman washing something - and add to the charm of the place.
ReplyDeleteThe bench ends are certainly very special
DeleteSuch lovely pew carvings. I do hope the lynch gate is fixed soon.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Lovely little church. The flowers show it is much loved. The porch is beautiful with wood and brick in a herringbone pattern. The pew wood carvings and the isle to the nave with tiles that look like an oriental rug are very well crafted. Cider and Coors are both products in demand. Good business for the community.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great visit, I did enjoy myself! I was much taken by how consistently influential the Chevallier family has been. How fortunate for the community to have such generous support.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the church tour! I love the doorway detail. It's beautiful
ReplyDelete