Rood Screen, Bramford
Our first church of a day cycling out into the countryside to the west of Ipswich with Simon who had planned a most enjoyable itinerary and was an excellent guide (and was very patient whenever I started flagging, which is usually at the merest sight of a hill, not something I was expecting too many of in this part of the world, so this trip taught me not to trust the stereotype that East Anglia is flat terrain!).
St Mary's at Bramford is designed to impress, its northern face greets the visitor and includes and array of carved ornament in the carved bestial figures standing proud upon the parapet (the less prominent southern side eschews the carved embellishments) It is a most handsome church, complete with the fine late lantern-like medieval clerestorey that always seems to be such a hallmark of larger East Anglian churches, thought the lead-covered needle-spire is a less typical feature, there being rather few churches with spires in this region (with the main building material being flint and therefore unsuitable for such structures, spires were either constructed of lead-covered wood, or avoided altogether. Many other timber spires have long since been removed).
Within the church is light and airy with the eye drawn immediately to an even more unusual feature, a stone rood screen formed by three arches spanning the chancel, a delicate 14th century structure with pierced quatrefoils (apparently inserted more recently during the Victorian restoration). The chancel beyond was furnished by W.D.Caroe at the turn of the last century and Kempe glass inserted in the east window. The most notable furnishing however is at the west end under the tower, a late medieval font surmounted by a beautiful 16th century wooden canopy (Gothic in form but with Renaissance detailing) which hinges open to give access to the holy water rather than require lifting or raising as so many others do. Another remarkable feature is the late 16th century poor box gouged into the side of a pillar on the south side of the nave, complete with carved inscription to serve as a reminder.
This is a great church to visit though it has usually been kept locked outside of services; fortunately Simon had made prior arrangements so the vicar met us at the church and opened up to show us around. She was also very good company and her welcome and time spent with us was hugely appreciated (there was talk of possibly opening the church more often in future though I think she may have since moved to another parish).
For a more complete impression of the church I couldn't recommend anyone more than my own travelling companion below:-
Rood Screen, Bramford
Our first church of a day cycling out into the countryside to the west of Ipswich with Simon who had planned a most enjoyable itinerary and was an excellent guide (and was very patient whenever I started flagging, which is usually at the merest sight of a hill, not something I was expecting too many of in this part of the world, so this trip taught me not to trust the stereotype that East Anglia is flat terrain!).
St Mary's at Bramford is designed to impress, its northern face greets the visitor and includes and array of carved ornament in the carved bestial figures standing proud upon the parapet (the less prominent southern side eschews the carved embellishments) It is a most handsome church, complete with the fine late lantern-like medieval clerestorey that always seems to be such a hallmark of larger East Anglian churches, thought the lead-covered needle-spire is a less typical feature, there being rather few churches with spires in this region (with the main building material being flint and therefore unsuitable for such structures, spires were either constructed of lead-covered wood, or avoided altogether. Many other timber spires have long since been removed).
Within the church is light and airy with the eye drawn immediately to an even more unusual feature, a stone rood screen formed by three arches spanning the chancel, a delicate 14th century structure with pierced quatrefoils (apparently inserted more recently during the Victorian restoration). The chancel beyond was furnished by W.D.Caroe at the turn of the last century and Kempe glass inserted in the east window. The most notable furnishing however is at the west end under the tower, a late medieval font surmounted by a beautiful 16th century wooden canopy (Gothic in form but with Renaissance detailing) which hinges open to give access to the holy water rather than require lifting or raising as so many others do. Another remarkable feature is the late 16th century poor box gouged into the side of a pillar on the south side of the nave, complete with carved inscription to serve as a reminder.
This is a great church to visit though it has usually been kept locked outside of services; fortunately Simon had made prior arrangements so the vicar met us at the church and opened up to show us around. She was also very good company and her welcome and time spent with us was hugely appreciated (there was talk of possibly opening the church more often in future though I think she may have since moved to another parish).
For a more complete impression of the church I couldn't recommend anyone more than my own travelling companion below:-