Trunch, located about 5 miles from the north Norfolk coast, is a small village with a rich history and fascinating landmarks. The oldest building in Trunch is St. Botolph’s Church which dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries. The church is considered one of the most interesting landmarks in the area and features a unique font canopy that is made of wood and is supported by six beautifully carved legs. The carving details are exquisite with fanciful animal figures and foliage, and political commentary in the form of a pig wearing a bishop’s mitre. Of the four surviving font canopies in the entire country, Trunch’s is one of two located in the county.
In addition to the font canopy, Trunch also features a superb 15th-century hammer beam roof, a feature present in many churches in Norfolk and Suffolk. The carvings of angels on this roof are beautifully crafted, and it’s worth bringing along binoculars or a telescope to see them properly. Other features in the church include medieval misericords, grotesque in nature, and beautifully carved pew ends. The painted medieval rood screen is another highlight, which rivals that of many more famous churches in detail and color. Twelve niches in the screen are each painted with a depiction of a single figure, including 11 disciples and St Paul.
Trunch has always been primarily an agricultural community. William Earl Warren had the lordship of the town; three freemen were deprived of their titles, and five freemen of Edric belonged to the town. In the Saxon period, the village was recorded in the Domesday Book, and the church was endowed with land. It was a typical English village, and the industrialization and caravan sites present along the coast did not overwhelm it. It retains many traditional features in the form of a shop, a green, and a pub run by an ex-professional footballer.
St. Botolph’s Church is perhaps the most interesting landmark of the village, and it has all the fascinations of a typical village church, as well as a few unique features. The church was rebuilt in the early 15th century, and it has a tower that is simple and slight with a simple bell stage at the top of the second stage. In addition, the chancel has a door surrounded by a massive priest porch that is very unusual, with the only other similar porch located in neighboring Knapton.
The massive treasure of St. Botolph’s Church is the marvellous font canopy, constructed in the early 16th century right on the eve of the English protestant reformation. The canopy was built with intricate details of fruit and flowers, leopards and lions peeping around the silvery oak of the six octagonal columns, which are fluted with interlocking chains of detail. The whole structure is perfectly in harmony with the west end of the church and is a beautiful example of English Renaissance design, had it been allowed to flourish. Unlike other church furnishings, the font canopy was believed to be beautiful rather than useful—only one other font canopy exists in Norfolk, located at St Peter Mancroft in Norwich.
In conclusion, Trunch is a beautiful small village with a deep history that tells the story of the area’s agricultural past. St. Botolph’s Church is a unique landmark that offers visitors a glimpse into the region’s religious and artistic heritage. The font canopy, in particular, is a treasure that is rarely found in other churches, and is worth seeing for its intricate design and remarkable beauty. A visit to Trunch offers a great opportunity to explore the rich history and rural charm of the area.