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"A man that looks on glass,
on it may stay his eye; Or if he pleaseth, through it pass, and then the heaven espy.'' |
As we stand in the entrance of the churchyard today we see a large impressive church with a strange truncated appearance and the tower unusually standing at the east end and which is somewhat lacking in height.
This was not always the case as the church in 1100 had a cruciform plan with nave, chancel, transepts and central tower, apart from the tower the churches dimensions would have been more modest than today.
The church was altered and enlarged over the next two hundred years, by 1300 the tower was surmounted by a spire that is said to have been the tallest in the area and is believed to have fallen around 1700.
By 1405 the chancel and transepts had been given over to be used as the College of the Holy Cross, and the church had been remodelled in the Decorated style. The north porch was added in the mid-fifteenth century, it was a gift of Sir John Ratcliff, who died in 1441.
We now enter the church through the north porch, this is Perpendicular in style, note the beautiful vaulted ceiling. On entering the main body of the church that is formed by the Nave and Aisles we become aware of a very large, light area, this is brought about by the large windows and slender pillars that supports the nave roof and clerestory. It is worth comparing these pillars with the massive Norman ones that support the tower.
Standing in the centre of the nave looking east you now become aware of the jewel in the crown of this church, the Rood Screen, built by the Ratcliffe family around 1475 to separate the collegiate from the parochial part of the church and so excluding all but the College of Priests from the east end of the church. The screen stretches continuously across both the nave and aisles and is constructed of oak and is one of the best examples in the Country.
The Screen is not the only thing that makes a visit worthwhile. There are mural paintings on the walls of the Nave, Stained glass windows including ancient glass in the large west window, the pulpit, said to be by Ver Brugen of Brussels, a fine cast-iron lectern and a recent addition are the Stations of the Cross that were completed by the extremely talented artist, Helen McIldowie-Jenkins.
The Memorial Community Hall that was added at the rear of the church in 1994 caters for many community functions and is open to all for Coffee and Chat Saturday mornings.
Guide books are available in the Church to help with a better explanation of the history.
I urge everyone to visit the church as I believe that you will find the effort to be well worth while.
Cliff Amos, pensioner, parishioner and Chairman of the Attleborough Heritage Group.
This was not always the case as the church in 1100 had a cruciform plan with nave, chancel, transepts and central tower, apart from the tower the churches dimensions would have been more modest than today.
The church was altered and enlarged over the next two hundred years, by 1300 the tower was surmounted by a spire that is said to have been the tallest in the area and is believed to have fallen around 1700.
By 1405 the chancel and transepts had been given over to be used as the College of the Holy Cross, and the church had been remodelled in the Decorated style. The north porch was added in the mid-fifteenth century, it was a gift of Sir John Ratcliff, who died in 1441.
We now enter the church through the north porch, this is Perpendicular in style, note the beautiful vaulted ceiling. On entering the main body of the church that is formed by the Nave and Aisles we become aware of a very large, light area, this is brought about by the large windows and slender pillars that supports the nave roof and clerestory. It is worth comparing these pillars with the massive Norman ones that support the tower.
Standing in the centre of the nave looking east you now become aware of the jewel in the crown of this church, the Rood Screen, built by the Ratcliffe family around 1475 to separate the collegiate from the parochial part of the church and so excluding all but the College of Priests from the east end of the church. The screen stretches continuously across both the nave and aisles and is constructed of oak and is one of the best examples in the Country.
The Screen is not the only thing that makes a visit worthwhile. There are mural paintings on the walls of the Nave, Stained glass windows including ancient glass in the large west window, the pulpit, said to be by Ver Brugen of Brussels, a fine cast-iron lectern and a recent addition are the Stations of the Cross that were completed by the extremely talented artist, Helen McIldowie-Jenkins.
The Memorial Community Hall that was added at the rear of the church in 1994 caters for many community functions and is open to all for Coffee and Chat Saturday mornings.
Guide books are available in the Church to help with a better explanation of the history.
I urge everyone to visit the church as I believe that you will find the effort to be well worth while.
Cliff Amos, pensioner, parishioner and Chairman of the Attleborough Heritage Group.