St. Mary, Great Wymondley.
Approached from the handkerchief of a village green, the little church has not grown much since its Norman nave was built, retaining even its original apsidal chancel. The humps and bumps of a motte and bailey castle probably date from King Stephen's troubled reign. Enough money was found to add a solid little tower during the fifteenth century, and a bit more light was let in as the centuries went by. There's been a fair bit of re-cutting of the stonework around the windows and doors, but a mass dial can still be seen on the south side of the church, and rustic faces still stare from the capitals as we enter the simple nave.
Approached from the handkerchief of a village green, the little church has not grown much since its Norman nave was built, retaining even its original apsidal chancel. The humps and bumps of a motte and bailey castle probably date from King Stephen's troubled reign. Enough money was found to add a solid little tower during the fifteenth century, and a bit more light was let in as the centuries went by. There's been a fair bit of re-cutting of the stonework around the windows and doors, but a mass dial can still be seen on the south side of the church, and rustic faces still stare from the capitals as we enter the simple nave.
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There's a thirteenth century double piscina and a late mediaeval font, and the whitewashed simplicity of the space is well set off by the upturned boat of the wooden roof over the apse, relatively modern as it is. The nave roof is mostly fifteenth century, with some later work: the corbels are splendid lively heads of several dates.
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No one would say that this is one of the most stunning or splendid of the county's churches, there's been too much restoration here, yet even so it still has an important role to play at the heart of its village; it's the cumulative effect of hundreds of such buildings across the country as repositories of the past, the fruits of their communities over hundreds of years, that makes each so irreplaceable and unique. No other village building contains such artworks, such history, such beauty, and yet it's the birthright of everyone here. That's why we've got to find greater use for these wonderful buildings so that they aren't lost to us all.
I visited on Heritage Open Day, and don't know how often the church is open. The vicar's phone number is 01462 457552; might be best to call her first.
All rights reserved for this entire site. Copyright reserved to stiffleaf for all text and images, which may not be reproduced without my permission.
I visited on Heritage Open Day, and don't know how often the church is open. The vicar's phone number is 01462 457552; might be best to call her first.
All rights reserved for this entire site. Copyright reserved to stiffleaf for all text and images, which may not be reproduced without my permission.
