Stratton Strawless, Norfolk - St. Margaret
St. Margaret's dates back to the 13th. century with a broad tower from 1422 that was probably never finished. The churches oldest feature is a Norman doorway leading to the chancel.
The church is full of tombs and memorials of the family most strongly associated with this church, the Marshams.
In the south aisle, on the south wall, is the monument to Henry and Anne Marsham and their family. Henry died in 1678, and is dressed in the full splendour of the Restoration. Teenage son Henry kneels between his mother and father. Down in one corner is another child, a baby, rigid and upright, but bound tightly in swaddling clothes. He shares an inscription with his mother, who died in childbirth.
At the east end of the aisle is the monument to Thomas Marsham, lounging in his graveshroud on a cushion, head raised. He passed away in 1638 and he had the memorial made before he died.
Also in the south aisle is the life-sizes 13th. century effigy of a woman wearing a wimple. She lies on her back, and the stone of the memorial is black, she is known as the Black Abbess. She is holding a heart in her hand, which suggests that her husband died abroad, probably on a crusade. She was found walled up in the tower during the 19th. century renovation.
In the centre of the nave is the great brass chandelier which holds 25 candles. It is one of the county's largest chandeliers, said to be Russian in origin and thought to date from the late 17th. or early 18th. century. The chandelier is lit every fourth Sunday for Evensong.
St. Margaret's received Grade: I listed building status on 10th. May 1961. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 228036).
Stratton Strawless, Norfolk - St. Margaret
St. Margaret's dates back to the 13th. century with a broad tower from 1422 that was probably never finished. The churches oldest feature is a Norman doorway leading to the chancel.
The church is full of tombs and memorials of the family most strongly associated with this church, the Marshams.
In the south aisle, on the south wall, is the monument to Henry and Anne Marsham and their family. Henry died in 1678, and is dressed in the full splendour of the Restoration. Teenage son Henry kneels between his mother and father. Down in one corner is another child, a baby, rigid and upright, but bound tightly in swaddling clothes. He shares an inscription with his mother, who died in childbirth.
At the east end of the aisle is the monument to Thomas Marsham, lounging in his graveshroud on a cushion, head raised. He passed away in 1638 and he had the memorial made before he died.
Also in the south aisle is the life-sizes 13th. century effigy of a woman wearing a wimple. She lies on her back, and the stone of the memorial is black, she is known as the Black Abbess. She is holding a heart in her hand, which suggests that her husband died abroad, probably on a crusade. She was found walled up in the tower during the 19th. century renovation.
In the centre of the nave is the great brass chandelier which holds 25 candles. It is one of the county's largest chandeliers, said to be Russian in origin and thought to date from the late 17th. or early 18th. century. The chandelier is lit every fourth Sunday for Evensong.
St. Margaret's received Grade: I listed building status on 10th. May 1961. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 228036).