St Germain, Wiggenhall St Germans, Norfolk
In 2005, I would written: The setting of this gorgeous church is very diverse from that of its in close proximity to neighbours Wiggenhall St Mary and Wiggenhall St Peter, for in this article the starkness of the fens is softened by a rather village, the pub standing to the north of the church and a village sq. with a store and previous houses over and above that. The proximity of the church to the river is again disguised by the levee banking institutions developed up to defend the land now that the river degree is so substantially better than that of the region via which it rolls. Even so, various of the homes have markers to show how high the floods have occur, greater than I am as just lately as 1953.
In numerous approaches, St Germain is a normal East Anglian church with aisles, a clerestory and an before tower the tower would be very inconspicuous if it was not for the most elegant prime phase with battlements and enchanting spires like a fairy castle. These are echoed by the sanctus bell turret at the other stop of the nave.
The aisles extend into the chancel, and that to the north has a gabled roof, culminating at the east end in a cross on the prime. The look at of St Germain from the east is extremely satisfying. This church is as feminine as St Mary is masculine, but she is a alternatively shabby old woman, propped up by big 18th century buttresses on the south aspect, and the pink brick Tudor south porch crumbling to destroy.
The Wiggenhalls are synonymous with some of the greatest late medieval woodwork in England. Throughout the Ouse at St Mary, there is range soon after assortment of benches of the best quality, but I experienced felt it fairly sombre and museum-like. St Germain is quite distinctive here, the carvings are quirky and comprehensive of existence, which suggests that they are by various arms. In the medieval merchant ports of the Ouse delta, it is quite very likely that services like carving ended up purchased in from exterior, so what we have in this article are probably two neighbouring parishes competing to outdo just about every other.
The medieval benches kind the two central ranges in the nave. Most of individuals in the aisles are Victorian copies, but fantastic kinds. The most important bench finishes deal with into the central walkway. As at St Mary, they consist of a huge determine in a niche, two more compact figures or scenes on both side higher than, and the complete good deal surmounted by an classy poppyhead.
On the south aspect, the higher matter is the 7 Deadly Sins. The sin is depicted on the still left hand side, with an angel on the proper hand side indicating the sin. Each sin scene is set in the mouth of a large fish symbolizing the jaws of hell. The surviving scenes, from the west, are Lust, Gluttony, Avarice, Anger and Satisfaction. Sloth and Envy are destroyed, whilst just one survives as a stump. Pride is destroyed, but the many others are in superb situation. The figures in the niches are Apostles.
On the north aspect are incomplete components of a number of sets. Firstly, the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. The Sins and the Sacraments had been common subjects in the 14th and 15th centuries, at a time when the Church was hoping to strengthen Catholic orthodoxy in the facial area of nearby superstitions and abuses. The vital for this experienced been the climbing to prominence of a new center-class after the old estates experienced been damaged up in the wake of the Black Dying. They have been most involved that their souls need to be prayed for, in particular in the occasion of a unexpected death. Their bequests that made their mark on the imaginations of their parishes transformed the church buildings of japanese England. In time, this require for manage would direct to an embracing of the new big notion starting to get condition on the continent – protestantism. But that was still in the long run.
Also on this aspect are seated figures that are likely the Evangelists. There is also a tiny assortment of carved animals, most of which are quiet, neighborhood images of everyday creatures, though there is a tremendous pig-like dragon.
There are two fonts a instead sturdy 19th century stone one on marble pillars, and its medieval predecessor relegated to the floor in the south aisle. The north chancel aisle is pleasingly cost-free of muddle, making it possible for that white Fenland gentle to spill across it in just about a Dutch way. The rood stair turns within the chancel arch, and yet again is pleasingly shabby. The Jacobean pulpit still has its hourglass stand, and a pair of evangelical banners (we are in the Diocese of Ely, after all) increase a contact of color.
I started this account by commenting on the gloom of the chancel, but I should say that there is a darkish richness below, absolutely Victorian with colored wrought-iron altar rails and hefty wood panelling. I’m glad the entire church is not like this, but it offers an interesting contrast with the medieval glories of the nave. St Germain was Bishop of Paris, and this is the only church in East Anglia that has him as its determination. It is fitting that it should really be this kind of a special place.
Posted by Simon Knott on 2016-09-11 23:53:35
Tagged: , Wiggenhall , St , Germain , Germans , Norfolk , East Anglia , church , churches
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