Tuesday, 23 September 2025

Wenhaston St Peter

 This is one of the churches that's featured in the '100 Treasures in 100 Suffolk Churches' book that started this whole church visiting thing.


It's the Doom painting that is the quite spectacular treasure here.

Doom paintings were once common, and would have been over or under the Chancel Arch showing the Judgement Day for all the congregation to see.

This is thought to have been painted around 1500 by a monk from Blythburgh Priory - just a few miles away.

There is lots of information about the Doom in the church but I found this youtube video which describes it better than I can.



Information about the finding of the doom from a history feature the local newspaper



More information about the Doom painting.


View down the Nave to East window and altar showing where the doom painting would have been situated under the chancel arch.


Stained glass in the East window


There are a couple of large memorials each side of the altar for the Leman family in the C18


Coat of Arms for the King of the time would have replaced the doom over the chancel arch. This is for George III from the C18 



The font would have been carved and painted on each side, just a little colour remains at the foot of the pedestal


This stoup or stone bowl that would have held holy water for the congregation to use on the way into church.


I had to take a photo of this huge Holly tree on my way out as it was absolutely covered with berries.


Here is the link to Simon Knotts Suffolk Churches website for more photos and information.

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2 comments:

  1. I enjoy your photos and commentary of the churches you visit. They are amazing structures. It is fascinating for me to sit in one and ponder the people who built it, decorated it, and worshipped there through the centuries, and those who still take time to care for it and worship.

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  2. Wow! I can see why that one got into the book. Just amazing that the Doom screen survived (thank heavens it rained). The video you included was so interesting too. The painted font is a rare beast. Just goes to show that churches really did have SO much colour in the past. Not the plain white interiors we are used to today.

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