Suffolk Churches
 

We spent several days in March this year visiting some of the churches in Suffolk from a base near Stowmarket. My write up is here:
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...olk/index.html

We found some beautiful churches. There were the great wool churches like Lavenham
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ham/index.html
Long Melford with its beautiful medieval glass,
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ord/index.html
Framlingham with the Howard tombs
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ham/index.html
and Blythburgh with its angel roof.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...rgh/index.html

At the opposite end, are small chapels like those at Gipping
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ing/index.html
and Shelland.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...and/index.html

Medieval wall paintings survive in some of the churches and there are particularly good examples at Brent Eleigh,
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...igh/index.html
Thornton Parva
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...rva/index.html
and Wenhaston.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html

Wilby has the best collection of carved pew ends in the county.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...lby/index.html

I really enjoyed reading about these churches, with the carefully researched descriptions, and the photos are wonderful. I was especially taken by the carved pew ends at Wilby.

I have just taken a quick look and saved the rest for a more leisurely read. Looking forward to another trip to England and churches are of interest to me, so will save this. thanks for sharing!

My father was a choirboy in Southwold church. Suffolk is certainly a beautiful county, but mercifully not on the main tourist track,

Now our days of serious walking are over, we spend a lot of time on holiday visiting churches. They are the forgotten part of our heritage. There is always a sense of excitement when you open a church door as you never know what to expect. We'd passed Theberton church many times but this was the first time we'd stopped to go in - what a surprise too, as the pillars of the south arcade have been painted to give an impression of what a medieval church might have looked like.
http://wasleys.org.uk/eleanor/church...ton/index.html

This is, most certainly, a truly wonderful report and thank you for sharing it. The pictures and commentary are remarkable; some of them bring back warm memories of places loved dearly.

I spent a very pleasant hour and more reading this report. As a result, I ended up going to bed at 1 AM! It was worth it. The amount of careful research and organization to produce this is impressive, and I'm glad more people have seen it. When I found it, it was down on page 3.

ESW,

"This is, most certainly, a truly wonderful report and thank you for sharing it. The pictures and commentary are remarkable ..." I agree with DUKEY1 - well said, what a great report!

Loved Theburton church with its mediaeval trimmings. Do you plan to do a book on the subject? Thanks again.

Of course, Blythburgh church wasn't struck by lightning. It were Black Shuck, bor!

"Of course, Blythburgh church wasn't struck by lightning. It were Black Shuck, bor!"
And you can still see his claw marks on the inside of the north door...

No plans for a book. I'll stick with my website.

And thank you for not including any local jargon and other idiomatic phrases most of the people reading the material might not understand.

Thank you Dukey1. I appreciate those comments about style of writing. I'm just pleased that so many people have enjoyed it. I enjoyed writing it as there were so many good churches in Suffolk.

I do have one question: are all of these churches now Anglican? I know you mentioned at least one as having a "Lady Altar" and I realize those things "happen" in non-Roman Catholic churches. In fact, the Episcopal Church I used to attend before I moved to Florida has one; and I am very familiar with the Anglican shrine in Walsingham having visited there several years ago.

Best wishes for continued good travels.

ESW:

Thank you sharing this wonderful report. It is one of a kind and very enjoyable. Beautiful pictures.

I liked the comments following each church pertaining to the time the church opened and where to park. Sorry that Shelland was so unwelcoming. As you said they are not keen on visitors.

Sandy

Dukey1 - all the churches we visited were Church of England. The medieval churches were originally Roman Catholic, but that all changed with Henry VIII when he proclaomed himself Head of the Church of England.

I specifically included information on opening and parking as this is the sort of information it isn't easy to find on the web. Suffolk is lucky as most of the churches are open. I emailed the churches before visiting to check if they were open. A church near You website has a contact email for most of the churches or a phone number.
http://www.achurchnearyou.com/

Thank you very much for that additional info.