There are just a few villages south west of Stowmarket that basically are in the midst of nowhere and I discovered my means down some slim lanes to 2 of them on Wednesday morning.
St Mary’s Kettlebaston is likely one of the early Norman church buildings constructed round 1180. It’s one other church that options within the 100 treasures in 100 Suffolk church buildings e-book which was revealed to mark the centenary of the Diocese in 2014.
This Norman font under is the explanation for the church getting a point out. Norman fonts are uncommon in Suffolk though there’s one other at close by Preston St Mary – which is the opposite church I visited on the identical morning.
The doorway is between two historic yew bushes
Inside is a beautiful gentle and ethereal church with some very particular options courting from each century because it was constructed.
There’s an uncommon trendy rood display designed in 1890 and richly embellished in C20
These panels of holy males are very vibrant, details about them is within the third photograph down.
A lot of the ornament is there due to Father Harold Butler who got here right here in 1930 on the top of the Anglo Catholic Motion. Kettlebaston turned a spot of pilgrimage following the emergence of the Oxford Motion which had it is focus at Hadleigh just a few miles away. Father Butler continued to maintain the Catholic traditions till he retired in 1964.
The piscina and seats to the correct of the altar
This embellished area of interest was rediscovered in 1930
One of many corbels beneath the roof beams
The doorway to the slim stairs that may have led as much as the rood loft so candles may very well be lit
Additionally remaining from the Excessive Church Catholic interval are two aspect altars . The Woman altar
and the Sacred Coronary heart Altar
Throughout the church partitions are candle sconces and there are a number of hanging paraffin lamps as this church has no electrical lighting.
Beneath are images of alabaster panels courting from C14 which had been discovered right here in 1864 and are within the British Museum. Sorry concerning the photograph high quality.
Exterior on a buttress a statue of the Coronation of the Queen of Heaven is behind glass and an iron grill. It’s a copy of one of many alabaster panels discovered beneath the floorboards.
So many uncommon issues on this village church hidden away within the small lanes of this a part of Suffolk.
I will write concerning the different church I visited subsequent week.
Again Tomorrow
Sue
