St Andrew’s church at Westhall was not one I was familiar with on my prior pay a visit to to the region, if I experienced realised what I was lacking on that occasion I may have adjusted my itinerary to incorporate it. Subsequently learning of it alongside with the tips of all those who know it certain me that my up coming vacation to Suffolk had to by some means incorporate it, so my designs for this tour had been mostly developed close to generating absolutely sure I did not skip it once more.
A person can see why this church isn’t really as very well regarded as it need to be, it is just not the simplest one to locate and stands some length from the compact village of Westhall by itself, hidden away down a leafy lane. It is still fairly elusive after a single has even entered the churchyard, currently being beset by so significantly foliate protect that I could only get a comprehensive see of the making from the north facet. It by now promises great points, a fairly substantial 14th century making of chancel, nave and south aisle with the tower at the west conclude of this beside a wonderful Norman doorway. The tower was really designed in front of the first Norman facade and its primary doorway which is nonetheless preserved within just, so just one shouldn’t neglect the small room at the west close of the south aisle when exploring within.
Just one enters even so by means of the north porch and finds in just a spacious interior with that pleasant sense of antiquity that churches spared by around-zealous Victorians posses. Earlier mentioned is a wonderful outdated roof which springs from carved angels, nonetheless with their original color although alas iconoclasts have sadly deprived us of their wings and heads (why is it iconoclastic zealots so embrace beheading?!). Forward the east window retains some non-figurative 14th century glass in its reticulated traceries, whilst on both equally sides of the church important sections of medieval wall-painting survive.
The finest characteristics here on the other hand are the medieval fittings that remain, most notably the 7 Sacrament font, one particular of the pretty very best survivors unfortunately it much too has suffered from a frenzy of iconoclasm, even though it may be the circumstance in this article that the projecting specifics of the figures were being hacked away to enable them to be additional simply plastered in excess of, which might also account for how perfectly preserved the authentic colouring is (very exceptional on any font) and the outstanding smaller figure reliefs used in gesso inbetween each individual panel (possibly a one of a kind survival). The base of the rood display screen also survives with its painted iconography, which includes yet another rarity in the depiction of Christ’s transfiguration among the figures of saints.
Westhall church is a actual deal with and definitely deserves to be improved known, a spot of considerably appeal and excellent curiosity that was happily typically open up and welcoming to visitors in pre-Covid days. For extra on the church see Simon’s entry on his Suffolk Churches site underneath (it is generally many thanks to his recommendation that I arrived here, and substantially appreciated it was as well).
www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/Westhall.htm
Posted by Aidan McRae Thomson on 2021-02-08 16:40:55
Tagged: , Westhall , church , Suffolk , pulpit , woodwork
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