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 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.
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 bench ends, poppy head, and carved pews really catch one’s attention!
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
bungay83704
If you add this all up with the history of Archbishop Sancroft who came from the village who was the only Archbishop to refuse to crown a monarch ( William & Mary) because he had crowned Mary’s father James ii four years before it makes the history of this church fascinating along with a War Grave from the end of WW1 – the woodwork, Stone carving and hammer beam work all being truly spectacular as your very good photos show.
Candy Blackham
Thank you! I have lagged behind in my explorations of Suffolk, but hope to put that right in the future! And you are quite right – it is always the mix of events over time, and the way events repeat, that make a place fascinating.
Laura Bloomsbury
I love East Anglian churches – and the details here are astounding – plenty for the parishioners to contemplate at sermon time
Candy Blackham
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’.
sunnydaysinseattle
I love your church series!
Candy Blackham
Thank you – the churches in East Anglia are always interesting and I think the bench ends in this particular church are really beautiful