The Church of St Peter & St Paul in Fressingfield was built in the 1300s and 1400s and its South Porch dates from c.1420s, with fine flintwork and lovely carvings.
The South Porch (c.1420s), Fressingfield Church
The Church is in the middle of the village, on a hill, and surrounded by a large graveyard, and overlooked by the former Guildhall (dating from the early 1500s), now the Fox & Goose Restaurant.
Inside an elegant single hammerbeam roof surprises you, and there are wonderfully carved pews and benchends.
At the back of the church is a very simple font – no carvings this time.
The font in Fressingfield Church
I wanted to take a closer look at the hammerbeam roof – the care with which the carved decorations were made is extraordinary – after all, no-one would really see them. There was a tiny angel on the tie bar and the ends of the hammerbeams looked as if they had been cut off – I wonder if this had been an angel roof?
The hammerbeam roof in Fressingfield Church, with an angel on the tie bar
The hammerbeam roof in Fressingfield Church, with with the ends of the hammerbeams sawn off
The hammerbeam roof in Fressingfield Church, with with the ends of the hammerbeams sawn off
The bench ends, poppy head, and carved pews really catch one’s attention!
St Paul in Fressingfield Church
St Peter in Fressingfield Church
A beautiful buildings with a peaceful atmosphere, and carvings of real artistry.
Further information
The Church of St Peter & St Paul, and listing
Brief information about the church
Angel Roofs – an absolutely stunning book!
The Churches of East Anglia
Photographs of the Church, and other Churches in Suffolk and Norfolk
The bench ends in Fressingfield Church
I love East Anglian churches – and the details here are astounding – plenty for the parishioners to contemplate at sermon time
Yes, the carvings are quite wonderful, especially when you consider when they were carved, and that they were carved from oak. I felt so strongly that they were ‘human’.
I love your church series!
Thank you – the churches in East Anglia are always interesting and I think the bench ends in this particular church are really beautiful