Framlingham was maybe my most expected target of the working day, a person of the ‘big three’ of my itinerary that I knew I’d require a lot more time for, and acquiring later in the afternoon I was significantly anxious about not arriving in this article far too late. St Michael’s is justly renowned for its great tombs, actually exclusive and pretty one of a kind, and is an amazing creating in its very own correct. I was fortuitously right here a while right until closing time, and the women on responsibility I satisfied kindly checked I would acquired all I wished before locking up and even gave me entry to the organ gallery for some good closing views of the interior.
The church announces its presence with its handsome 15th century west tower, poking proudly above the rooftops in the oldest aspect of the city. The churchyard is set back again from the streets and reveals a grand, rather sprawling building, all evidently late medieval but some of it later nonetheless. What strikes the observer most is the way the chancel with its aisles has unfold outwards, currently being of significantly increased width than the nave, which while of good proportions by itself appears rather slender by comparison. The reason for this discrepancy gets very clear within just.
Entry is by the south porch and it is straight away clear what an amazing space this is, quite considerably the significant city church. The nave is gentle and crowned by a fine medieval roof and opposite the entrance the eye is drawn to a 15th century mural of the Trinity. At the west finish in the gallery is the handsome Baroque organ case of the cherished 17th century Thamar organ, its pipes painted with swirling foliate patterns. In the north aisle is the medieval font subsequent the vintage East Anglian design but fewer properly preserved than some.
Stepping outside of the nave the chancel seems like a individual setting up, with its aisle split into a few vessels of equivalent peak like some wonderful pillared hall. It is light-weight and roomy and at to start with sight appears a small austere right up until just one notices the cluster of tombs at the east finish on both facet, which are the motive for this aspect of the building’s existence which was completed only in 1554 in order to household them. The Tudor tombs belong to the family of the Dukes of Norfolk who at the time owned nearby Framlingham Castle and produced this church a relatives mausoleum as a immediate consequence of shedding their prior chosen resting location, Thetford Priory, to the Dissolution and consequently the before tombs have been transferred from there shortly after they had been at first erected.
The tombs are a remarkable expression of English Renaissance style and design on the cusp of the Reformation and hence nonetheless informed as a lot by medieval precedents as the extra common varieties of the adhering to a long time. The oldest is that of Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and illegitimate son of Henry VIII who married in to the Norfolk relatives. His tomb has no effigy but is adorned with some fetching small-scale reliefs. Significantly grander is the tomb of the wives of the 4th Duke close by with recumbent effigies, but for me the most major tomb below artistically is that of 3rd Duke Thomas Howard to the south of the altar. This amazing monument is the finest case in point we have of how English Renaissance church art could have blossomed without having the Reformation, for the tomb chest is adorned with with a sequence of carved apostles in the medieval structure but in element wholly Renaissance, the figures in a nonetheless acquainted on the continent but very unusual over here. Award for the most vibrant tomb having said that goes to that of Henry Howard on the north facet (erected quite a few a long time right after his execution under Henry VIII) and adorned with richly painted effigies, heraldic beasts and kneeling progeny.
Framlingham church would be truly worth a take a look at even without the need of its fantastic tombs but these monuments make it unmissable, specifically as they seize these a snapshot of 1 of the most turbulent periods of English record. I was duly relieved to have obtained in this article just before they shut, but the church is commonly stored open up and welcoming in regular periods so individuals having significantly less distracted than me en route right here should not have to worry so much about finding in.
For more on this wonderful church see its entry on the Suffolk Church buildings internet site underneath:-
www.suffolkchurches.co.united kingdom/framcofe.html
Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2021-03-20 15:31:56
Tagged: , Framlingham , church , Suffolk , roof , medieval , woodwork
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