St Faith's Church, Little Witchingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Faith's Church, Little Witchingham |
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St Faith's Church, Little Witchingham,
from the southeast |
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| OS grid reference | TG 115 203 |
| Location | Little Witchingham, Norfolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Faith |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 22 July 1983 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint with stone and brick dressings |
St Faith's Church is an old Anglican church in the small village of Little Witchingham in Norfolk, England. It is no longer used for regular church services. This historic building is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building and is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. The church stands in a quiet, isolated spot, surrounded by country lanes. It is about 14.5 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of Norwich and 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) south of Reepham. St Faith's Church is especially famous for its amazing medieval wall paintings.
Contents
Discovering the Church's Past
When Was St Faith's Church Built?
St Faith's Church first started being built in the 12th century. However, most of the church you see today was built later, in the 14th century. The tall tower was added even later, in the 15th century.
From Ruin to Restoration
By the 1930s, the church was no longer used and had become a ruin. It was falling apart. Then, in 1967, something exciting happened. A person named Eve Baker climbed through a window and found something incredible: old medieval wall paintings!
These paintings were a huge discovery. After they were found, the Norfolk Churches Trust and the Council for the Care of Churches worked together to fix up the church. They repaired the building and carefully restored the wall paintings. Today, the Churches Conservation Trust looks after St Faith's Church.
Visiting the Church Today
Since 2008, the church has been kept locked. This is because many of its old floor tiles were stolen. But don't worry, if you want to visit, you can usually get a key from a nearby location.
Exploring the Church's Design
What is St Faith's Church Made Of?
The church is built mostly from flint stones, which are common in Norfolk. It also has special stone and brick details.
The Church's Layout
The church has a main area called the nave. On the south side of the nave, there is a smaller section called an aisle. There is also a chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is. At the west end of the church, there is a tower.
Details of the Tower and Windows
The tower does not have buttresses, which are supports often seen on old buildings. The top of the tower has a battlemented parapet, which looks like the top of a castle wall. This part is decorated with a fancy border called a frieze and special patterns made from flint and stone called flushwork.
Along the south side of the aisle and chancel, you can see windows with two sections, called two-light windows. The large window at the east end has three sections. On the north wall, there is an old doorway that has been filled in.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, the south arcade is a row of arches. These arches are supported by eight-sided pillars, called piers. The arches themselves have a zig-zag pattern. The roof of the nave and chancel was built in the 18th century.
On the south wall of the chancel, there is a small piece of a stone cross. This piece shows a carving of the Crucifixion, which is a scene from the Bible.
Amazing Wall Paintings
When Were the Paintings Made?
The beautiful wall paintings inside St Faith's Church were created in the middle of the 14th century. Over time, some of them have been damaged, but many are still visible.
What Do the Paintings Show?
In the arches of the arcade, you can see round pictures. These pictures show the Four Evangelists, who wrote the Gospels in the Bible.
Along the top of the south wall, there is a painting of the apostles standing around the risen Christ. Below this, there is a series of paintings that tell the story of the Passion of Christ, which are events leading up to the crucifixion. Underneath these scenes, there are decorations of vines and scrolling patterns.
Other Paintings to Discover
Some other paintings in the church are not as clear, but they are still interesting. One painting shows parts of Saint George fighting the Dragon. Another is believed to have shown Saint Christopher. There is also a painting that might show "The Three Living and the Three Dead", which is a popular medieval story.
See also
