Nettlestead is one of those villages that is very small, just scattered houses and farms along small lanes with a population of around 100 and tucked away a few miles south-west of Needham Market. I'd certainly never been there before.
There is a plaque in the church marking the night of 12th August 1940 when the church was seriously damaged as German bombers, returning from bombing raids on the industrial Midlands, unloaded their remaining bombs over the Suffolk countryside
The font is the only thing inside that has survived from the medieval period and has some unusual carvings and many cracks. ( I have no idea what those things are, poking out from behind the font . I didn't notice them when I took the photo)
Very strange animals and creatures on each face of the font
There is no stained glass - it was destroyed by William Dowsing in 1644 on his journeys around the east, ridding churches of anything the Puritans considered too decorative. He wrote a journal of all his journeys around Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
When you read of his instructions it's a wonder anything survived in any churches. Often items were plastered over or removed and hidden before he got to the churches.
In December 1643 the Earl, as their captain-general, appointed him "Commissioner for the destruction of monuments of idolatry and superstition".[2][6] He was to carry out a Parliamentary Ordinance of 28 August 1643[7] which stated that "all Monuments of Superstition and Idolatry should be removed and abolished". These were specified as "fixed altars, altar rails, chancel steps, crucifixes, crosses, images and pictures of any one of the persons of the Trinity and of the Virgin Mary, and pictures of saints or superstitious inscriptions." In May 1644 the scope of the ordinance was widened to include representations of angels (a particular obsession of Dowsing's), rood lofts, holy water stoups, and images in stone, wood and glass and on plate.
A 17th century memorial was destroyed by the bombs and just the top half remains and was put on a shelf in the Sanctuary. It remembers Samuel and Thomasina Sayer
Brass memorials on the floor have often been removed but there is one remaining here
Another unexpectedly interesting church, thank you
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to find out about the bombs - it happened in several places in Suffolk
DeleteA very plain church , sparse but elegant . I like the effect of the light on the lovely encaustic tiled floor & the contrast of the dark wood beams . The exterior has the look of three buildings stuck together , the bomb I guess , but it works . Lovely , thank you .
ReplyDeleteWendy in York
Thank goodness this church was restored as the roof was blown off and walls cracked as well as the inside things damaged
DeleteI love the simplicity of the church interior and the unusual porch. It looks like a wonderfully cool place to wander around on a hot day. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThe porch is interesting, I wonder if they used original bricks when it ws rebuilt as they look small and old
DeleteThe second picture from the font is St Catherine on her wheel (you can see what looks like a bicycle tyre behind her left leg!) I think the church received a huge grant a few years back to pay for the font to be restored.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness someone was able to put all the pieces of the font together again after the bombs damaged so much
DeleteWhat a very small village. The font in the church is most interesting and set off very well by the tiled floor.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea where 100 people live as all there seems to be is a few farms - very small lanes too
DeleteA very elegant church, the carved font is very interesting. In fact the whole restored church is worth every penny spent on it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the church was restored in the 1950s - in some places it might have been just left in ruins
DeleteThe font is really interesting. I love all the little lanes and villages. There are some interesting looking houses and usually a good church!
ReplyDeleteI wondered where on earth I was going through tiny lanes, high hedges and few houses
DeleteGoodness, that church has taken a battering from Puritans and German bombs!
ReplyDeleteInteresting creatures on the font.
Penny
The dictated devastation/bombing is very sad. The restoration is nicely done. The small stately church is lovely. Hopefully the villagers attend the church and have built a nice church community.
ReplyDelete