Flordon, Norfolk - St. Michael
Evidence from the building suggests that there was a church here in Anglo-Saxon times, even though there is no mention of one in the Domesday record. What are believed to be the remains of Saxon foundations and two Saxon windows were discovered during the restoration of 1908.
It seems that the church may have been extended during the 12th. century when a new chancel was added at the east end. By the end of the 13th. century, it had been enlarged several times, with aisles to the north and south and a south transept or chapel. By that time, records show that Flordon was quite a rich village, but both its population and wealth declined greatly during the 14th. century, possibly due to the Black Death.
It may well have been Roger of Northwold, rector from 1329 until 1372, who ensured that the church was reduced in size and made more manageable for the remaining villagers to maintain. He may well have been a resident rector, unusual for those days, because his will was written in Flordon in 1371 and signed by three local clergy. He left 100 shillings, a large sum at that time, for repairs and alterations to the church. He asked to be buried in the porch, which seems to have been built when the south aisle, and possibly the south transept/chapel, were demolished. The north aisle may have lasted into the 15th. century, to be replaced by a north wall with stairs up to the rood loft. Remains of the infilled archways can still be seen.
In the early days of the Reformation, inventories were made of all church property. In 1552, Flordon had some silverware, some clergy robes, and two small bells which were hung in openings in the church walls instead of in the round tower. Over 200 years later, the tower was described as 'decayed' with one bell cracked. The tower eventually fell down in 1774. The ancient flint built structure had been shored up for the previous 20 years because of large cracks. The parishioners could not afford to rebuild, so were allowed to sell two of their three bells and build a new strong brick wall at the west end with a cupola for the remaining bell.
The church seems to have fallen further into disrepair during the rest of the 18th. century. The porch, walls and buttresses, roof, and churchyard fences were all in a bad condition. The chancel had a bad crack at the south east corner which may well have been caused by the Gay family vault, which was too deep and too close to the corner. Repairs seem to have been completed by 1801, when it was clearly stated that the rector was responsible for repairs to the chancel and parsonage, with the parishioners responsible for the church and churchyard fence.
There was some restoration work in Victorian and Edwardian times. After the Rev G.F. Whittaker arrived in 1856, the chancel floor was paved, a small vestry built and new pews were added. The bell cupola was replaced and the bell, dated 1775, was hung above the west wall.
The chancel was re-tiled again by Isaac Easton, rector from 1886 to 1923, who also restored the roof and had new false ceilings added in 1908. It was while this work was being done that the builders discovered the Saxon windows and rood stairs.
Repair work on the roof in early 2009 revealed timbers and joints constructed in a way that dates them to the early 13th. century, making this one of the oldest existing church roofs in Norfolk.
The church received Grade: II* listed building status on 26 November 1959. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 226596).
Flordon, Norfolk - St. Michael
Evidence from the building suggests that there was a church here in Anglo-Saxon times, even though there is no mention of one in the Domesday record. What are believed to be the remains of Saxon foundations and two Saxon windows were discovered during the restoration of 1908.
It seems that the church may have been extended during the 12th. century when a new chancel was added at the east end. By the end of the 13th. century, it had been enlarged several times, with aisles to the north and south and a south transept or chapel. By that time, records show that Flordon was quite a rich village, but both its population and wealth declined greatly during the 14th. century, possibly due to the Black Death.
It may well have been Roger of Northwold, rector from 1329 until 1372, who ensured that the church was reduced in size and made more manageable for the remaining villagers to maintain. He may well have been a resident rector, unusual for those days, because his will was written in Flordon in 1371 and signed by three local clergy. He left 100 shillings, a large sum at that time, for repairs and alterations to the church. He asked to be buried in the porch, which seems to have been built when the south aisle, and possibly the south transept/chapel, were demolished. The north aisle may have lasted into the 15th. century, to be replaced by a north wall with stairs up to the rood loft. Remains of the infilled archways can still be seen.
In the early days of the Reformation, inventories were made of all church property. In 1552, Flordon had some silverware, some clergy robes, and two small bells which were hung in openings in the church walls instead of in the round tower. Over 200 years later, the tower was described as 'decayed' with one bell cracked. The tower eventually fell down in 1774. The ancient flint built structure had been shored up for the previous 20 years because of large cracks. The parishioners could not afford to rebuild, so were allowed to sell two of their three bells and build a new strong brick wall at the west end with a cupola for the remaining bell.
The church seems to have fallen further into disrepair during the rest of the 18th. century. The porch, walls and buttresses, roof, and churchyard fences were all in a bad condition. The chancel had a bad crack at the south east corner which may well have been caused by the Gay family vault, which was too deep and too close to the corner. Repairs seem to have been completed by 1801, when it was clearly stated that the rector was responsible for repairs to the chancel and parsonage, with the parishioners responsible for the church and churchyard fence.
There was some restoration work in Victorian and Edwardian times. After the Rev G.F. Whittaker arrived in 1856, the chancel floor was paved, a small vestry built and new pews were added. The bell cupola was replaced and the bell, dated 1775, was hung above the west wall.
The chancel was re-tiled again by Isaac Easton, rector from 1886 to 1923, who also restored the roof and had new false ceilings added in 1908. It was while this work was being done that the builders discovered the Saxon windows and rood stairs.
Repair work on the roof in early 2009 revealed timbers and joints constructed in a way that dates them to the early 13th. century, making this one of the oldest existing church roofs in Norfolk.
The church received Grade: II* listed building status on 26 November 1959. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 226596).