St Mary's Church Barking is at the end of the aptly named Parsons Lane, a narrow road a mile from Needham Market, and is Huge, yet the actual village of Barking is over a mile away, set around a large green or Tye and has a population of just 400.
The reason the church is so big is because it once also served Needham Market which has always been a town. Later a Chapel of Ease was built in Needham to save the population the long walk. I wrote about St Johns Needham Market HERE way back in 2019.
A very wide central aisle, side aisles, Clerestory windows and side chapels, both with parclose screens This church has everything you would expect in a large town church.
Including a Rood Screen still standing
and on the other side chapel too, with remnants of colour
The font has a Very fancy carved wood cover
Beautiful stitched altar cloth and interesting reredos set on the window sill of the East window.
It looks as if there was once a window here on the north wall of the Chancel.
Just one stained glass window in the church - in the bell tower, seen through the bell ropes.
Huge old chest for all the parish treasures and records - three locks was quite common, therefore needing three key holders to be present.
It really is a surprise to get to the end of the narrow dead-end lane, turn a corner and find this huge church.
Such an interesting church for all sorts of reasons... thank you
ReplyDeleteIt was the surprise of the size of it when I turned the corner
DeleteWhat was the reason for screens before the alter do you know?
ReplyDeleteLovely photos thanks for your work
Not sure which screen you mean, but they were for dividing the church and Rood screen had a cross and loft with candles back in the day
DeleteSuffolk does have some lovely churches.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness most are still being cared for after more than 1,000 years
DeleteWow, that is a nice big church. The red carpet really does set all that lovely old wood off well.
ReplyDeleteIt really is different to most village churches
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ReplyDeleteThere is such a wealth of history connected to these old churches & Suffolk has so many . On our recent holiday we visited St Mary’s at Hadleigh which we really enjoyed & whilst there we were advised to visit All Saints at Shelley . So we did as we were told & it was a lovely spot . The beautiful little church was sitting in a sea of tall michaelmas daisies & we had it all to ourselves . I expect you have visited these two on your travels . What strikes me in your photos is the drought effect on the grass around the church . I know it will recover but I miss the green grass we used to have in summer .
Wendy in York
Hadleigh -yes . Shelley - no - it's such a long way south from home!
DeleteWhat an amazing church and such a surprise as you say in a small village. Thank you, I always enjoy your church visits. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteI've driven by the end of the lane umpteen times and thought it was about time to visit
DeleteThat really is a large church in such an unexpected setting. The parclose screens are beautiful and the carving on the font cover is phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteSo many things that show how important it once was.
DeleteThat parish chest is huge! Yes, 3 locks - no-one was trusted!!! Lovely that the Rood screen has survived and I love that font. I assume the wool trade paid for such a big church.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest church chests I've seen. The wool trade certainly paid for many churches further south - often around here they had rich manor owners too
DeleteWhat a grand church. I enjoyed reading all about it, thank you
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I'd not done any church visits for months so it was about time I did one!
DeleteLovely post! I do find old churches interesting. I may not have commented before, but I do enjoy your posts every day, thank you for taking the time to write them. What prompted me to finally post are the fires in Suffolk, I do hope you and your family won’t be affected by them. So thankful for all the brave firefighters. Best wishes. PennyL in Dorset.
ReplyDeleteYoungest daughter are in the town about 5 miles from the fire - very frightening.
DeleteFascinating architecture and history. The rich and beautiful details is amazing; to think about the craft that went into building. Our old churches are less than 200 years old. Sad, fakey mega churches now dot what used to be fields in sprawling suburbs. No one will be touring them in 1000 years!
ReplyDeleteA different world of churches!
DeleteSUE are you OK?? watching the news re the fires in Suffolk. Thinking of you
ReplyDeleteI'm nearly 30 miles inland! but Youngest daughter is only 5 miles from the fire
DeleteThe history and size of this church is remarkable. Today sitting proudly in a small village of 400. Multiple side chapels strike me as unusual too. How are the side chapels used? The wood and stone carving is beautiful as well.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a parish chest. Three keys for security says safety was a priority just as it is today.
Many of the churches I've visited have had chests but this one is extra large.
DeleteThat IS a surprisingly large church for a rural area, and quite beautiful. Are the figures in the stained glass window missing their heads? Or can we just not see them because of the bright light? Hope the fires aren't affecting you.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Mid Suffolk a long way inland from the fires on the coast but my youngest daughter and granddaughter are only 5 miles away- worrying
DeleteYou are all in our thoughts and prayers ❤️🙏
DeleteI noticed how crisp brown the grass was in the church yard.
ReplyDeleteHope your daughter and granddaughter stay safe x
The smoke isn't causing problems for them as yet but hope they can get the fire under control sooner rather than later. Praying for rain!
DeleteThat’s a beautiful church
ReplyDeleteI know very little about Christian churches
My late husband and I were born into secular Jewish families -
I have never practiced a religion and don’t feel the need to . My husband was an architect and delighted in coming across churches such as the ones you visit
Miriam
I went to Baptist church as I was growing up and then Methodist church sometimes as an adult and didn't know much about traditional village churches until I started this tour of them in 2018 just before my husband died - but I've learned a lot since!
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