ST. MARY'S CHURCH

St. Mary's is built in a commading position in one of the Castle Baileys. The south doorway is probably early Norman, surviving from an eariler building. Most of the building is thirteenth and fourteenth century perhaps using building materials from the redundant castle. The chancel stands higher than the nave and could almost be an original separate chapel. The church is noted for its graffiti - windmills, birds, rare mediaeval music and a brass of a priest in Mass vestments dating from 14 C. The church is very prayerful and lovingly maintained with a regular congregation of some twenty souls. It forms part of the Bansfield Benefice linked with the Churches of Wickhambrook, Cowlinge, Denston, Ousden, Stansfield and Stradishall. The Vicar is the Reverend Ian Finn who lives at Wickhambrook.

St Mary's Church - Tower and Nave The Church is approached through a well kept churchyard. The south porch is C 17. The aisles date from the C14 as does the tower from which there are fine views of the surrounding coutryside.

St. Mary's Church - The Chancel The fine C 13 chancel has three C13 lancet windows on the opposite side. Two have been replaced here by C 14 windows. Below is the priest?s door. On the left is a Perpendicular Window installed to enhance the Chantry Chapel.

Original Altar Stone? just inside the porch. In 1550 all altar stones were ordered to be demolished by Parliament. Very often, in those troubled times, they were set in the floor for people to trample on.

The Font dates from C 15 The original door with fittings leads into the tower. This may have been the main W  entance before the tower was built

The Pulpit. is C 17, Jacobaean  and is of unusual design

The Church Interior. This is rather dark as there is no clerestory. The rood screen is C15 and the benches C16. The roof was restored in the C19

Monumental Brass Our only ancient brass.C14 and one only of four in Suffolk. Once thourght to commemorate John of Lydgate it may possibly commemorate Walter Maunsel the first Rector. He is wearing Eurcharistic Vestments - Appareled Amice, Chasuble, Maniple and alb with orphrey.  The head is modern. The brass is at the foot of the chancel steps and under the aisle carpet and so canot be viewed

Mediaeval Windmills Thereare a numberof these graffiti on the aisle arcades. There used to be a windmill along The Belt, long demolished

Former Incumbents The list of incumbents has now been updated with the first Rector appointed in 1302. There may still be some gaps..

The War Memorial has recently been cleaned. Click War Memorial on left to go to details of Lidgate?s War Dead.

Link to -Suffolk Churches

The Vicars of St Marys