St Mary’s church in Great Bealings, Suffolk is located in a picturesque rural setting to the northeast of Ipswich, surrounded by open land on all four sides. The tower of this 15th-century church has a well-preserved image niche, and there is a path through an avenue of trees leading to the northeast corner. The church was heavily restored by Victorian and Edwardian architects, and much of the stonework on the south side of the nave and chancel is new. The large early 16th-century brick north porch carries the Seckford family’s iconography, and the inner doorway retains the original door, carved with standing figures, including one holding a rosary. Inside, the nave has a long, narrow, slightly dim design, while the chancel is high above, glowing gently from the range of late 19th and early 20th century glass.
The Works of Mercy in the church’s west window is considered the best of the glass, and the rest of it is mostly attributed to Lavers, Barraud & Westlake. Another window in the chancel, signed by Mayer & Co of Munich, shows the young Christ preaching in the Temple, and there is also a lovely little lancet window dedicated to the Raising of Jairus’s Daughter. The nave houses Henry Ringham’s extraordinary carvings, along with some medieval originals that are so similar to those found in nearby Tuddenham St Martin that they are believed to be from the same carver.
Two grand monuments are present in the church, one in the chancel, and the other in the nave. The chancel monument is devoted to John and Jan Clench, who face us with stern puritan expressions while their kneeling sons beneath are accompanied by two painted skulls. The monument in the nave is for Thomas and Margaret Seckford, descendants of the Thomas Seckford who built the porch. The late 19th-century brass by the north door to Charlotte Allen, grand-daughter of the Edward Moor who carved the chancel finials, is the most moving of all. She died at the Holme, New Galloway in 1891, at the age of 38, and a week later, her remains were laid to rest in the south-east corner of her old home churchyard.
In conclusion, St Mary’s church is an exquisite example of Suffolk’s ecclesiastical architecture, with impressive monuments and stunning carvings. Its stunning location and historic significance make it a must-visit church for anyone keen to explore the region’s ecclesiastical heritage.
Posted by Simon Knott on 2016-10-30 14:05:45