BENCH ENDS AND GREEN MEN

IN SUFFOLK AND NORFOLK CHURCHES

W LOCATIONS. More will be added as they are discovered.

ST. MARY MAGDALENE

WITHERSDALE, SUFFOLK

Described in the church guide as a humble church, St. Mary Magdalene is apparently one of Suffolk's smallest churches. One can drive past without noticing it, standing as it does some way back from the road and on rising ground. The guide calls it rustic, simple and unspoilt by restorers.

I found it all of this, and charming.

The weather-boarded belfry chimes Essex, for there are several to be seen in that county whereas they are comparatively rare here in Suffolk. One of the two bells is thought to be mediaeval, and the other 17th century. The oldest part of this little church - internal measurements approximate 51 feet by 15 feet - is its Norman nave. Much of the furniture is Jacobean, possibly Elizabethan according to some experts and below is one of the bench ends with an interesting notice produced from a comment in the visitors' book.

The comment at the right says "The pew ends are earlier than Jacobean, and almost certainly originally formed the base of the rood screen. The stiles having been cut down to present height when adapted as pew ends."

The picture at the left shows a mediaeval bench with a poppyhead at both ends, although the linenfold panelling is later. Just behind it against the wall is the very old bench seen at the right - well used, one could say!

A humble church - maybe.

But it has so much to be proud of. Do go and see it if you are in the area.

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Copyright Ivy Collins 2009