All Saints church in Runhall, Norfolk is a small church with a unique appearance due to the missing chancel and disproportionately large windows. Chancels fell into disuse after the Reformation, and if they fell into disrepair, they were often blocked off and allowed to ruin. At Runhall, the chancel was demolished after a fire in the late 16th century. The setting of the church is charming, situated in a narrow lane in a maze of other lanes with only a couple of houses nearby. The interior of the church is almost square, and the former chancel arch is marked by a recess in the east wall. The most noteworthy feature of the interior is the doorway into the base of the tower, which has ironwork from various periods, including some that date back to the 12th century. Behind the pulpit is an image niche that must have once served as a nave altar. Today, All Saints church is a well-loved and used English country church with cheery kneelers and a functional organ.
Posted by Simon Knott on 2022-11-03 11:00:02