This church is all about the Tollemache family who have owned the huge Helmingham estate for several hundred years and many generations.
This church was built specifically for the family and their tenants in late 15th and early 16th centuries.
Highly carved font
In almost every available space on the walls are painted bible texts. The work of the vicar here during the mid 1800's - John Ryle who later went on to be the first Bishop of Liverpool
And then everywhere you look, there are the many, many memorials to members of the Tollemache family - recent and from long ago
The largest memorial is this one below, and the dormer window was added into the roof to make room for it. Erected in 1615 it remembers 4 generations.
This is the dormer window, from outside and you can see the top of the massive memorial inside
The links at the start of this post give more information and this is the link to Simon Knott's Suffolk churches website for more about the church.
Back Soon
I wonder how many children learned to read from those texts
ReplyDeletePlenty to read during the long Victorian sermons!
DeleteThank you for such good photos. This was an excellent post and really took me on your visit. They were such clear photos. Susan in France
ReplyDeleteThank you. pleased you like the post
DeleteI see what you mean about the Biblical texts everywhere - he must have had a better rate if he bought 50 rather than 5 to be painted all over!! Amazing memorials to the Tollemache family too, especially that Elizabethan one. Sad to see five of their lads died in WW1.
ReplyDeleteVery OTT memorials and so many
DeleteWow-what a lot of texts and all beautifully kept. I wonder who has the skill now to do the maintenance of them? Catriona
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about that - maybe sign writers?
DeleteIt's remarkable that the Tollemache family still lives in the house. The church is impressive and the painted texts are a work of art and dedication.
ReplyDeleteThey used to own dozens of houses all around the estate and all the same style but some have been sold off now
DeleteThat's a very grand church isn't it? Full of interest and almost luxurious compared to some.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
It's very right for an important family
DeleteThe texts amount to a reading tutorial! Very grand, but glorifying the family a bit. Certainly it's an interesting place. I continue to be amazed at the sheer number of churches in Suffolk.
ReplyDeleteIt really is all about the family here.
DeleteI love churches like this. Those painted texts are really quite remarkable, very beautiful and probably rather difficult to paint so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there are any other churches with so many texts on the walls
DeleteThat is an impressive looking church, inside and out.
ReplyDeleteFor the family to show their wealth!
DeleteI was going to ask if the family still existed but you answered that at the end. The name sounds French. I wonder what treasures they have from the past in that house.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the house will one day be open to the public
DeleteThe Tollemache family legacy is historic and prominent. The family carries a strong belief system as shown by all the religious quotes on the walls. The church and grounds are grand.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a very grand house and beautiful gardens.
Delete