This was another church from the 100 treasures in 100 churches book, but if I hadn't had the book and walked around the church I wouldn't have seen anything different to many other churches in the County.
A very typical Suffolk church from the outside
This church earned it's place in the book because of the altar table which dates from the 1500's and still in use. In the reign of Edward VI, Nicholas Ridley, the reforming Bishop of London ordered the removal of all stone altars - which were often not inside the church, replacing them with wooden altar tables that worshippers could stand or kneel around to receive for Holy Communion. In 1550 the Privy Council ordered all Bishops to follow Ridley's example to replace a churches stone altar with a 'decent table'.
This cross was returned from France as Memorial for a WWI soldier Captain Walter.E.Day, who never actually lived in the village but his father inherited Blyford Hall in 1910.
This small niche is called a banner-stave locker - I wonder if it once had a door.
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Another interesting visit to a church. I was thinking of you last week when we visited Grace Darling’s resting place in Bamburgh. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI think we went to the Grace Darling museum many many years ago, I know I had a postcard of the boat for ages - postcards were one of my collections!
DeleteThe little village churches often hold references to our history in the furnishings and fabric. Thank you for the post.
ReplyDeleteSome of the churches in the 100 treasures book aren't as interesting as others that are Not in the book -- this is one of those I thought
DeleteThat's a pretty decorative front porch.
ReplyDeleteLots of flushed flint work - looking very smart
DeleteIt looks a plain and unadorned church.
ReplyDeleteNot the most interesting of the 127 I've now been too!
DeleteI really like the last photo. I think that's probably the best thing about the church!
ReplyDeleteIt is rather a good looking porch.
DeleteI never knew that about the use of tables being made to replace stone altars . . . The porch is so pretty with the inset flints.
ReplyDeleteIt does look rather austere in places but the table makes up for it.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
The church entrance and porch are grand.
ReplyDeleteThe stone to wood dictate seems like a very big demand. Although the wood table replacement is beautifully made. I also like the tile floor under the table.
I too was struck by how nice the entryway looked. Very different from the rest of the outside so it must have been added later.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite an impressive Gothic doorway, with the flint ornamentation. Seems a bit unusual. And yes, the altar table is interesting too!
ReplyDeleteNow that is an impressive entrance. A very interesting altar table as well.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Have you heard of TILTs? They are 'Things I Learned Today', and I often find them in your blogs! I didn't know about the removal of stone altars. Apparently the order only lasted for a year, as it was removed by Queen Mary, who wanted the country to return to Catholicism, which is probably why we have some left.
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