Great Witchingham Norfolk
Looking east down the 13c chancel , the oldest part of the building
In the 16c it would have been viewed through the rood screen where 24 candles blazed on the beam above .
The altar would have been richly decorated with 4 lighted candles and many more surrounding it, The blessed sacrament was reserved on it for the sick in silver pyx. At mass time on Sunday the whole population of the village thronged in the nave, people chatting to each other from time to time. Latin phrases would be heard from the chancel, lights flicker, stained glass glimmered, incense ascends and bells ring.
The rood loft was "pluked down" in 1561. Later in 1674 Oliver Le Never gave another screen inscribed "Christ eates the pascall lambe, a sign to bee, of the new covenant's most sacred tie. His flesh He gives us t'eate and bloud to drinke and when we do it, bids us on Him thinke" That screen is also long gone.
The east window is plain except for the arms of New College Oxford, the patrons of the living. - Church of St Mary, Great Witchingham, Norfolk
Great Witchingham Norfolk
Looking east down the 13c chancel , the oldest part of the building
In the 16c it would have been viewed through the rood screen where 24 candles blazed on the beam above .
The altar would have been richly decorated with 4 lighted candles and many more surrounding it, The blessed sacrament was reserved on it for the sick in silver pyx. At mass time on Sunday the whole population of the village thronged in the nave, people chatting to each other from time to time. Latin phrases would be heard from the chancel, lights flicker, stained glass glimmered, incense ascends and bells ring.
The rood loft was "pluked down" in 1561. Later in 1674 Oliver Le Never gave another screen inscribed "Christ eates the pascall lambe, a sign to bee, of the new covenant's most sacred tie. His flesh He gives us t'eate and bloud to drinke and when we do it, bids us on Him thinke" That screen is also long gone.
The east window is plain except for the arms of New College Oxford, the patrons of the living. - Church of St Mary, Great Witchingham, Norfolk