Except where shown, this description is reproduced from the Parochial Church Council's booklet, which is on sale in the church. Editorial changes and additions are shown thus [...].
The list of rectors, which appears in the published booklet, is not included on this page. Since the three benefices are now united, it seemed more appropriate to produce a consolidated list for the three parishes, Rectors of the Pulhams and Starston.
WELCOME to Pulham St. Mary the Virgin Church and Village.
The late Rev. John Huggins prepared the original booklet and wrote of his
indebtedness to the notes left by previous clergy, as well as the help given by
the Rev. M. R. Peacock, Mr. R.P. Andrew, Mr. Dennis King F.S.A., Miss Laureen
Chapman, and the Librarians of the Norfolk County Library for their assistance.
The guide was prepared for the Festival of Friendship which was held in 1973 for
the Restoration work on the Church.
The work of restoration continues as with all old buildings as John Huggins wrote: "Perhaps the reading of this brochure will make clear why we wish to do all that is in our power to preserve, both for ourselves and for future generations, this lovely old place of worship which is associated so intimately in its history with this gracious Village." The 19th century solicitor, George Ranson, of Pulham Market compiled a history of both the school and church, further information can be obtained from Blomefield's History of Norfolk, and Peter Le Neve's choreography of Norfolk. I trust that you will find the information contained here of interest as you visit Pulham St. Mary Church and Village.
GERALD EPPS Rector
There was an Anglo-Saxon Church in Pulham which is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1080, but of this there is no trace. The present Church may be said to date from about 1253, and is built chiefly in the Perpendicular Style (1370-1550 AD). The Church Registers date back to 1538. There is seating accommodation for about three hundred people.
[In their Popular Guide to Norfolk Churches 2: Norwich, Central and South Norfolk D.P. Mortlock and C.V. Roberts say:
"Take time to study the early C15 porch before going in - it is one of the most lavish examples in Norfolk and the facade is a beauty. ... truly a porch that was meant to be noticed!"
They can almost be forgiven for getting the name of the village wrong!]
The porch is thought generally to have been built about the year 1478 with the assistance of John Moreton, Bishop of Ely. There are some, however, who think that it was constructed by William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, who held the living in the middle of the fourteenth century 1357-1361 but it is considered by many that the architecture is too late for this to have been the case.
The sides of the Porch are panelled with flint and stone flush work. The front is mostly stone with flush work at the base.
- THE ROOF INSIDE THE PORCH
- is very beautiful and well preserved.
- THE PRIEST'S CHAMBER
- above the porch can be reached from the inside of the Church by a steep staircase, at the top of which is the original door. In the wall there is a block-up window which once looked into the interior of the Church.
This is made of stone and is octagonal in shape. It stands on two steps and it is thought that the upper step has been carved round the lower. There is flushwork at the base. Probably the font is 15th /16th century in structure. There are gold angels with various symbols, also angels in red, blue and gold, under the bowl. Around the base are the four Latin Doctors of the Church, Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome and Gregory, and also the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gilded oak cover (Restoration Work 1886-1887) has eight arches round a central pinnacle. The font is said to have been covered up with plaster to avoid mutilation from the soldiers of Cromwell during the 17th century.
[Mortlock and Roberts refer to the fact that the tower once had a spire as well. In his book Waveney Granville Baker states that the spire was lost in 1738, but does not say how it happened.]
It is thought that the tower dates from the 15th century. A new parapet and larger windows were added later. It contains a clock and eight bells. In the ringing chamber there are boards which record past peals and ringers. The screen which divided the tower from the body of the church is made of oak from timber grown locally. There is a fine linenfold panelling on the exterior of the west door. The tower arch is not in proportion to the nave. It stands not in the centre of the nave's west end, but in line with the chancel arch. Perhaps the tower and the chancel were built either both at the same time, or, at least, they were built before the present nave.
There was a ring of six until the two Trebles were added at the end of the last [19th] century by the late John Warner of Cripplegate, London, to complete the octave.
The two Trebles. September 1895.
The Tenor. 1739. Thomas Newman of Norwich. [Bell Inscription:] "Thomas
Newman made me Mr. John Simpson and Mr. Thomas Horn C.W. 1739".
7th
Bell 1708 John Goldsmith of Redgrave. [Bell Inscription:] "John
Goldsmith made me St. Margaret Mr. I.S. Mr. E.F. Mr. R.H.C. 1708"
6th Bell Mediaeval. [Bell Inscription:] "0:DVS BARBARA"
on crown three shields.
5th Bell 1828. Wm. Dobson of Downham, Norfolk. [Bell Inscription:]
Richard Webb and John Wake Churchwardens. Wm. Dobson. Founder 1828.
The
5th Bell was recast in 1963;
Bell Inscription: The name of the Rector (Rev. Crichton John Francis
Huggins) together with the names of the then Churchwardens (Thomas Manby Wilby &
Frederick Arnold Levell) were placed upon the Bell together with the mark of the
founders, John Taylor & Co. Loughborough.
4th Bell 1611. Alice & Wm. Brend of Norwich. [Bell Inscription:]
"Anno Domini 1611" on crown three shields. 'Brasyer and A.B. W
3rd. Bell. 1717. John Thornton of Sudbury, Suffolk. [Bell
Inscription:] "John Thornton, Sudbury. ,e. Fecit. Mr. I.F. C.W. 1717.
Mr. I.S."
In the reign of Edward VI (1547-1553) there were only four
bells of six, nine, twelve, and thirteen cwts. The Bell appointed for the Parish
use by the Commissioners was the one "whereupon the clkk (clock) smyte".
This depicts Moses being taken out of the water, and the prophetess, Miriam, the sister of Aaron leading the dance, after the destruction of the pursuing Egyptians in the Red Sea. There are early fourteenth century fragments in the 'heads' of the window.
This is a most interesting window. It is a large, well proportioned 3- light perpendicular window with a fine set of apostles in the two-tiered tracery. Top row i. St. James the Great with a Staff in his hand, and a large shell on a book in the other. ii St. John with a chalice in his hand. iii St. Peter with keys. lv. St. Andrew with a cross. v. St. Thomas with a spear. vi. St. James the Less with a fuller's hat. Bottom Row; vii. St. Philip with loaves in a basket. viii St. Bartholomew with knife & book. ix St. Matthew with a tall cross. x St. Jude with a boat. xi. St. Simon with a fish. xii St. Matthias with a balbert. There is a single upper light in which is found the head of Christ. The only colour, apart from stain, is blue.
contains scenes from the life of Esther. The glass in the two outer heads is late fourteenth century. There are remains of the "Coronation of the Virgin" in the two large traceries, and censing angels in the smaller openings.
Three Lancet Windows which contain in sequence, the marriage at Cana, St. Michael and St. Mary Magdalene. Old glass is to be found in tops of windows and tracery with a splendid late roundel of St. Lawrence in top centre.
The original glass was destroyed by a violent storm on 14th March 1817. The present glass was inserted during the eighties of the last century. There is to be found: - The Four Joyful Mysteries- The Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity and the Presentation in the Temple. The Four Sorrowful Mysteries. The Way of the Cross, the Crucifixion, the Taking Down from the Cross, the Entombment. The Glorious Mysteries. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, amid angels with harps and censers. Our Lord in Majesty in the Heavenly Court. 9. South Window over Sanctuary. St. Columba, St. Edmund and St. Felis. Old Glass. 3rd quarter of the fifteenth century. 1. St. Mary Magdalene with a large 'box'. 2. St. Barbara with a palm and a tower. 3. Fragments, 4. Fragments with the head of a female saint. 5. St. Cecilia with a wreath of roses. 6. St. Catherine with a wheel and book. 10. South Window over Choir Stalls. St. Anne, the Blessed Virgin and St. Margaret. Old Glass in Traceries. 1. St. Peter with keys. 2. St. Andrew with a Cross. 3. St. James the Great with a shell in one hand, and a staff in the other, 4 & 5 Fragments. 6. St. James the Less with a fuller's bat. In the central tracery light there is a fragmentary St. Christopher.
This portrays the Flight into Egypt from the wrath of King Herod, Christ among the Doctors in the Temple, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
These, the oldest of which probably belong to the fifteenth century, obviously, at one time had no backs. The old benches have 'poppyheads' (from the French word 'poupee' meaning a puppet or figurehead) and also have double arm rests The soldiers of Cromwell are said to have cut off the heads of some of these figures. Notice the benches at the back of the church with tracery panels.
Is situated near to the Belfry Screen. It is thought to be the work of G.F. Bradley who supervised the Restoration Work of 1886-1887.
Which is also near to the Belfry Screen, is that of King Charles 1 (1625-1649). It hung, at one time, in Pennoyer's School.
Is probably the oldest part of the Nave; the windows which are perpendicular and therefore of a later period must have been inserted subsequently.
Is obviously older than the window above it, for it stands out of perspective. The Architect, who was responsible for the windows in the North Wall has however managed to arrange them in a satisfactory manner. The North Door has some most beautiful linenfold carving on the outside.
The arches of the aisle are well proportioned and Perpendicular in style with plain mouldings.
(Part of wall of the church with series of windows above the aisle roof). The Clerestory in this Church is of a simple construction.
The roof of the Nave is probably all quite modern. A new roof was erected in 1886-1887 for the sum of £900. Notice, however, the traces of old colouring on the curved brace at the east end of the Nave. The roof of the Aisle belongs to the fifteenth century braced with traceried panels in spandrels, which are the triangular spaces left by the curve of the arch against the rectangle in which it is set.
Which is in use is very old and has been restored by the kindness of Canon Alan Mullenger who was born and spent his boyhood in this Parish. There is also another Lectern made during the Restoration of 1886-1887.
Was erected during the nineteenth century Restoration and replace[d] an earlier one.
Was restored in 1928. There is placed above the Altar a triptych (a picture in three panels side by side), which was brought from the Continent about the time that the Lady Chapel was restored.
This is quite certainly one of the oldest parts of the Church and contains
some very interesting features. Some of the architecture may belong to the
Decorated Period 1280- 1350.
There is a fine DOUBLE PISCINA (a perforated basin for carrying away
water after the rinsing of the Chalice etc.) It consists of a round arch with
three moulds rising from side pillars and intersecting two half arches from a
central box pillar, forming a double opening. The whole is within a square
frame. It is considered To belong to the thirteen century. Double Piscinas are
very unusual.
was built 1886-87 on the site of the old Guild Chapel (see under Pennoyer's School). On the outside near to the east end of the Church is the original Chapel wall in which is situated a piscina.
Cupboard in the North Wall. Some think that here was a Squint or Hagioscope (a hole in the wall of a Church was common during Mediaeval times, through which people suffering from contagious diseases such as leprosy were able to watch from a distance the priest celebrating Mass at the High Altar.
on top of the High Altar was given by Mr. William Ewart Gladstone, who was related to the famous Victorian Prime Minister, who was a relation of the wife of the Rev. W.H. Cleaver (Rector from l885-95).
was presented by Miss Harriet Bond in memory of her father during the Restoration 1886-87 the Rev. Richard Bond who was Rector from 1858-85.
were executed during the incumbency of the Rev. Cleaver.
These it is thought were also placed in the Church during the 19th century Restoration.
The Screen possibly dates from about 1450. The original frame still survives but the arches the vaulting and the tracery gilding, also the Great Cross are all Victorian restoration. The panels, which are large by Norfolk standards, are alternatively red on green, or green on red. There were thirteen saints on the panels originally. These can be recognised. St. John with a cup. St. Andrew with his cross. St. James as a pilgrim. Above the screen can be seen the marks on the box wall where the Rood Gallery used to be. The hooks and the staples in the Chancel wall show where the cords and pulleys were attached in order that the Great Cross might be lowered for veiling at Passiontide. The Niche in the North Wall just west of the Screen indicates that there may have been staircase at some time leading to the Rood Gallery.
[Further reading:
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© Last updated on 19 February 1998 by John Halliday