St Mary's, Hinderclay
St Mary's at Hinderclay was one of my main priorities for visiting this day, but being late in my itinerary (and having got distracted a few times earlier in the day) it was getting closer to 5pm by the time I arrived here. I found the church locked, but a keyholder address was given that I duly made use of, and was kindly lent the key, being told it had not long been locked up since the church is normally open.
This church hides away in its own leafy enclosure of a churchyard with only the tall and handsome tower alerting visitors to its presence. The tower with its flushwork parapet is the main feature of note outside, the rest of the building appearing fairly plain.
Inside the church the sense of simple humility continues in the plain plastered ceilings and white/cream-washed walls. The furnishings are mostly post-Reformation and lack the sort of frills and ornamentation I'd seen elsewhere earlier in the day, the nave and chancel being quite homely and rustic in general with refreshingly little evidence of Victorian restoration. However the glowing colours in the south aisle draw the eye from the moment of entering by the south door, and this was my reason for coming here.
The windows of the aisle are filled with glass designed by stained glass artist Rosemary Rutherford and her stylistic hallmarks are immediately recognisable, the flowing semi-abstracted stylised figures rendered in pure flat colours and leadlines with only a few of the faces showing any painted definition. Their presence here is the result of her brother, Reverend John Rutherford being vicar of this church from 1975, however the artist herself died three years eariler, meaning that all these windows had to be adapted to this setting and made posthumously by others following her death, the final window at the west end (executed by Rowland and Surinder Warboys) not being installed till 1994. The resulting windows are however a great success and a remarkable tribute to this sadly short-lived artist. The colours bathe the interior in a warm, glowing light that adds real magic to the atmosphere.
Hinderclay church is therefore a must for any fan of modern stained glass. I was told it is normally kept open during the day, but if one finds it locked (as I did) a friendly keyholder can be sought nearby.
www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/hinderclay.htm
St Mary's, Hinderclay
St Mary's at Hinderclay was one of my main priorities for visiting this day, but being late in my itinerary (and having got distracted a few times earlier in the day) it was getting closer to 5pm by the time I arrived here. I found the church locked, but a keyholder address was given that I duly made use of, and was kindly lent the key, being told it had not long been locked up since the church is normally open.
This church hides away in its own leafy enclosure of a churchyard with only the tall and handsome tower alerting visitors to its presence. The tower with its flushwork parapet is the main feature of note outside, the rest of the building appearing fairly plain.
Inside the church the sense of simple humility continues in the plain plastered ceilings and white/cream-washed walls. The furnishings are mostly post-Reformation and lack the sort of frills and ornamentation I'd seen elsewhere earlier in the day, the nave and chancel being quite homely and rustic in general with refreshingly little evidence of Victorian restoration. However the glowing colours in the south aisle draw the eye from the moment of entering by the south door, and this was my reason for coming here.
The windows of the aisle are filled with glass designed by stained glass artist Rosemary Rutherford and her stylistic hallmarks are immediately recognisable, the flowing semi-abstracted stylised figures rendered in pure flat colours and leadlines with only a few of the faces showing any painted definition. Their presence here is the result of her brother, Reverend John Rutherford being vicar of this church from 1975, however the artist herself died three years eariler, meaning that all these windows had to be adapted to this setting and made posthumously by others following her death, the final window at the west end (executed by Rowland and Surinder Warboys) not being installed till 1994. The resulting windows are however a great success and a remarkable tribute to this sadly short-lived artist. The colours bathe the interior in a warm, glowing light that adds real magic to the atmosphere.
Hinderclay church is therefore a must for any fan of modern stained glass. I was told it is normally kept open during the day, but if one finds it locked (as I did) a friendly keyholder can be sought nearby.
www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/hinderclay.htm