All Saints, Runhall, Norfolk
Peter Stephens, with whom I experienced beforehand frequented this church in 2006 and with whom I was below yet again these days, noticed that All Saints seems as if a giant had squashed it among his palms just before it had set. It is of system the lacking chancel which provides it this overall look, alongside with the massive perpendicular windows at the east conclude of both the south and north walls.
Quite a few chancels fell into disuse after the Reformation. There could even now be a sacramental use for them in the form of the quarterly communion assistance some chancels, Tilney All Saints for case in point, ended up equipped out in the 17th century for this extremely purpose. But the communion rite could be as effortlessly executed in the nave if there was a will or want to do so. If a chancel fell into disrepair it was frequently blocked off and allowed to ruin, not minimum for the reason that the upkeep of the chancel was the duty of the rectory, not the parish the beneficiary of the rectory income appears generally to have shrunk from this responsibility.
At Runhall, the chancel endured a fireplace in the late 16th century, and was demolished, the arch filled in. Two piers still undertaking marginally from the east end they are the western edges of the window tracery. What seems to be a filled-in doorway is a 19th century memorial.
The environment is lovely. The churchyard is together a narrow lane in a maze of other slim lanes to the south of Mattishall, with only a few of residences for company. When I would previous arrive this way in 2006 I might assumed the church was locked, but on that situation I discovered that you have to convert the tackle the other way, and it opens. I did this now and it nevertheless would not open up – but by pushing tricky I obtained it to move – the base of the door has swollen up and is pressing into the stone beneath.
As you would expect, the church is relatively sq. inside. The previous chancel arch is marked by a recess in the east wall, and a straightforward altar and curtained reredos is set in it. But the most noteworthy aspect of the interior is at the west conclusion of the church, driving the 14th century font with its quatrefoil designs. This is the doorway into the foundation of the tower. The ironwork is from numerous periods, but some of it has been determined as 12th century. The woodwork of the door has been repaired, but it is in all probability modern with the earliest ironwork, and provided that the tower is Norman at the base, it is most likely the initial doorway to the tower, an amazing believed.
A extended eco-friendly curtain serves as a reredos in entrance of the blocked chancel arch, with an similarly long 19th Century enamelled indication higher than proclaiming that as typically as ye take in this bread and drink this cup ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Driving the pulpit in the east wall is an picture market that ought to after have served a nave altar, yet another ghost of the earlier. Its colouring appears to be like original, likely 600 a long time aged. Currently, the cheery kneelers and purposeful organ are marks of a normally loved and applied English place church. Even on a cold working day it feels a welcoming location.
Posted by Simon Knott on 2014-11-01 18:01:56
Tagged: , Runhall , Norfolk , church , churches , East Anglia
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