St Mary’s is not the easiest church to find and once located it would be fair to say that externally it is not Norfolk’s most attractive church, however, inside it offers a range of both beautiful and interesting features. These start in its early 15th century porch which has an outstanding set of roof bosses and continue inside to its 14th century arcade and decorated 19th century chest. The highlight must be the East window which is an eclectic mix of stained glass some of which dates from the 15th century. Described by Birkin Haward as being “one of the most impressive collections of 16th / 17th fragments remaining in East Anglia”and by David King as being “the most exuberant and in some ways the most interesting” patchwork of miscellaneous fragments to be found in Norfolk, it is well worth investigating further
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Tracery lights (pictured above) depict the emblems of two of the evangelists namely : St Matthew represented by the “divine” man and St Mark represented by the winged lion.
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Tracery lights (pictured above) depict the emblems of two of the evangelists namely: St Luke represented by the winged ox and St John represented by the rising eagle.
The window designed by Ward & Hughes c1855 is an early example of the newly designed Victorian “Antique” coloured glass (see Making Glass for details). The designers have depicted The Crucifixion, The Ascension, The Nativity and Christ in the Garden of Gethsemene in a late 14th century style.
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Other than some small detail in the tracery there is no stained glass of interest in this window
The East window is an eclectic mix of stained glass some dating from as early as the 15th century. Described by Birkin Haward as being “one of the most impressive collections of 16th/17th fragments remaining in East Anglia” and by David King as being “the most exuberant and in some ways the most interesting” patchwork of miscellaneous fragments to be found in Norfolk.
Although subsequently refurbished in the 19th century it was originally set in 1716 – 19 and is believed to be the earliest such arrangement in the county. The early glass was collected by the Rector John Postelthwaite who left £200 for it to be installed. This was done by Joshuah Price a well know glass painter whose work can be seen at Queen’s chapel Oxford.
The earliest glass is located in the heads of the main lights, It consists of canopy work of c 1320 - 40 and is likely to have originated from the chancel side windows. The 15th century is represented by roundels featuring: two birds playing trumpet and harp, St Christopher, St John, The Virgin Mary and St Edmund. The numerous heads which are placed indiscriminately throughout the window mostly originate from the 16th century whilst most of the heraldry dates pre 18th century.
In the 19th century four of the panels at the base of the window and one in the central light (depicting the Trefori Triangle) were installed and are believed to be the work of Ward and Nixon.
The attached plan (which can be printed) gives further detail on each panel. To see pictorial details place your cursor over the highlighted panels in the window.
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Other than the small detail at the very top of the window there is little of interest here
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Although there is no stained glass of interest in the main lights the roundel in the apex is 15th century and depicts a man slaying an ox. This is a representation of the month of December and would originally have been part of a set of twelve roundels all depicting the" labours of the month"
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Other than this small detail at the very top of the window there is little of interest here
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This c1863 window dedicated to the memory of C & F Umphelby was designed by Ward & Hughes. It depicts Good Samaritan scenes together with two angels carrying banners which proclaim: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord…sorrow not as those which die with no hope”