All Saints, Runhall, Norfolk
Peter Stephens, with whom I experienced formerly visited this church in 2006 and with whom I was listed here again now, noticed that All Saints appears to be as if a huge experienced squashed it between his fingers ahead of it had established. It is of program the lacking chancel which offers it this physical appearance, together with the substantial perpendicular home windows at the east stop of each the south and north walls.
A lot of chancels fell into disuse following the Reformation. There could however be a sacramental use for them in the form of the quarterly communion service some chancels, Tilney All Saints for case in point, were being equipped out in the 17th century for this quite purpose. But the communion ceremony could be as very easily done in the nave if there was a will or will need to do so. If a chancel fell into disrepair it was usually blocked off and authorized to ruin, not least simply because the maintenance of the chancel was the obligation of the rectory, not the parish the beneficiary of the rectory profits looks typically to have shrunk from this responsibility.
At Runhall, the chancel experienced a fireplace in the late 16th century, and was demolished, the arch loaded in. Two piers even now venture marginally from the east conclude they are the western edges of the window tracery. What seems to be a stuffed-in doorway is a 19th century memorial.
The location is lovely. The churchyard is along a slim lane in a maze of other slim lanes to the south of Mattishall, with only a pair of residences for business. When I’d final come this way in 2006 I would assumed the church was locked, but on that event I learned that you have to change the handle the other way, and it opens. I did this today and it continue to wouldn’t open – but by pushing hard I acquired it to transfer – the base of the door has swollen up and is pressing into the stone beneath.
As you would expect, the church is fairly sq. within. The previous chancel arch is marked by a recess in the east wall, and a uncomplicated altar and curtained reredos is established in it. But the most noteworthy characteristic of the inside is at the west conclude of the church, behind 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 recognized as 12th century. The woodwork of the door has been repaired, but it is almost certainly present-day with the earliest ironwork, and offered that the tower is Norman at the base, it is in all probability the authentic doorway to the tower, an extraordinary considered.
A lengthy environmentally friendly curtain serves as a reredos in entrance of the blocked chancel arch, with an equally lengthy 19th Century enamelled signal over proclaiming that as normally as ye consume this bread and consume this cup ye do shew the Lord’s loss of life until he occur.
Behind the pulpit in the east wall is an graphic specialized niche that will have to as soon as have served a nave altar, another ghost of the earlier. Its colouring looks first, likely 600 yrs previous. These days, the cheery kneelers and practical organ are marks of a generally loved and utilised English region church. Even on a cold day it feels a pleasant put.
Posted by Simon Knott on 2014-11-01 17:48:00
Tagged: , Runhall , Norfolk , church , church buildings , East Anglia
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