Standing on the edge of the village of Lavenham, Suffolk (see previous post) is the magnificent church of St Peter and St Paul.. Built between 1485 and 1545. Due to the wealthy wool making families at the time it was built it has an unusually tall, large tower which can be seen for miles around.
The wonderful gargoyles and carvings edging the roof.
Standing beneath the tower
Inside the church is the christening font which dates back to the 14th C.and predates the present church. There would have been a church built on this site dating back to the early cemturies.
Thomas Spring, Lavenham's wealthiest inhabitant, died in 1523 and asked to be buried in this church and to have a parclose built around his tomb. In his will he left money to the church for the completion of its steeple and chapel. His devoted wife, Alice, consoled herself by carrying out his wishes. She commissioned the best craftsmen she could find to build this parclose with its intricate carvings which you can still see today. She also made sure that the steeple was finished just as her husband had wanted.
This is a Baby Brass. A memorial to Clopton, the ten day old son of Sir Symonds D'Ewes, the lord of the Manor. Clopton died in 1631 and is shown swaddled in his christening robe.
The nave of the church is an impressive 48 metres long and 43 metres in height.
The church is beautiful and impressive. And so ancient.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! Thank you so much for taking these pictures and sharing this amazing place with me. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is a amazing looking church, must visit when I get a chance
ReplyDeleteThat is a spectacular church. Reminds me some of the ones we saw in the Cotswolds.
ReplyDeleteWow! Very cool! Love all your close up photos of the church's details.
ReplyDeleteParclose. Just had to write that first in my comment before I forget -- as it is my new word of the day! I went to the dictionary, but really your pictures define it perfectly.
ReplyDeleteBreathtakingly beautiful church! And fascinating history. (Both the history and the vocabulary stretched my mind and your pictures delighted me. What a lovely way to learn!)
Wow what a wonderful and old church. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteamazing place
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking me along for the stroll
The church is also built on a hill, so it must really dominate the local horizon.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very impressive church so high up the hill.
ReplyDeleteHi! Nice captures. I feel weight of the history. The last photo is very impressive for me. Thanks for sharing.
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