St Benedict's Church, Norwich

Last updated

St Benedict's Church, Norwich
St. Benedicts Church Tower, Norwich - geograph.org.uk - 177707.jpg
St Benedict's Church, Norwich
St Benedict's Church, Norwich
52°37′52″N1°17′10″E / 52.63115°N 1.28614°E / 52.63115; 1.28614
Location Norwich, Norfolk
Country England
Denomination Church of England
History
Dedication St Benedict
Architecture
Heritage designation Grade I listed
Closed1942

St Benedict's Church, Norwich is a Grade I listed Anglican former parish church in Norwich, Norfolk, England. [1] The church is medieval and probably dates from the 11th century. It was badly damaged in an air raid in 1942 and the only part still standing is the round tower.

Contents

History

The church was the most westerly of the five medieval churches along St Benedict's Street, [2] and stood just within the city walls. [3] The patronage of the church belonged to the priory of Buckenham until the dissolution of the monasteries. It was later purchased from the Crown by the parishioners. [4]

As it stood in the early 19th century, the body of the church consisted of a nave and chancel, with an aisle on the north side only. Philip Browne, writing in 1814, said that, despite its ancient foundation "the present building has a modern appearance", adding that "the inside is very neat, but has no monumental inscriptions. The communion plate is all of silver, and is modern and elegant. Instead of a communion table, the East end is fitted up with a real altar." [4]

Excavations in 1972 revealed the sequence of the development of the building from the 11th century to the 16th century. The earliest structure found on the site was an 11th-century nave with an apsidal east end. This was later extended eastwards with a square-ended chancel in the Early English style. The date of the tower is obscure; it seems to postdate the original nave, but may still have been built during the Norman period. The whole church was later rebuilt in the Perpendicular style, except for the tower, which was refaced and increased in height at the same time. [5] Finally the church was enlarged with the addition of the north aisle. Further restorations and alterations followed up until the end of the 19th century. [5] These included the reconstruction of the north aisle arcade with cast iron columns in 1896. [2]

The body of the church was largely destroyed in an air raid in January 1942. [2] All that now survives of St Benedict's is the tower, surrounded by a residential development built in 1976. [3] The appearance of the church before its destruction is recorded in a series of photographs taken by George Plunkett in the 1930s. [2]

The font from St Benedict's is now in the church of St Mary at Erpingham. [6]

Organ

The church contained an organ dating from 1860 by Ward. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Julian's Church, Norwich</span> Medieval church in Norwich, Norfolk

St Julian's Church, Norwich, is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Norwich, England. It is part of the Diocese of Norwich. During the Middle Ages, when the city was prosperous and possibly the second largest city in medieval England, the anchoress Julian of Norwich lived in a cell attached to the church. The cell was demolished during the 1530s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Prestbury</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Peter's Church is the parish church of Prestbury, Cheshire, England. It is probably the fourth church on the site. The third, the Norman Chapel, stands in the churchyard. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. The Norman Chapel, the lychgate and west wall, the Hearse House, and the sundial in the churchyard are listed at Grade II. It is a Church of England parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield, and the deanery of Macclesfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Oswald's Church, Winwick</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Oswald's Church, is in the village of Winwick, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Liverpool, the archdeaconry of Warrington and the deanery of Winwick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Alphege Church, Solihull</span> Church

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Elsing</span> Church in Norfolk, United Kingdom

St Mary's is an Anglican parish church in Elsing, a small village and civil parish in the Breckland district of Norfolk, England. The 14th-century church was built to a single plan in Decorated Gothic style by a local knight and has remained largely unaltered to the present day. The church contains a brass monument of national importance, a tall medieval font cover and rood screen paintings. The chancel retains some stained glass contemporary with the construction of the building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, East Bradenham</span> Church in Norfolk, England

St Mary's Church, East Bradenham, is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Bradenham, Norfolk, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The church stands at the east end of the village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Augustine's Church, Norwich</span> Grade I listed church in Norfolk, England

St Augustine's Church is a redundant Anglican church building in the city of Norwich, Norfolk, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The church stands to the west of St Augustine's Street, the A1024 road, to the north of the Norwich inner ring road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint John the Baptist, Maddermarket, Norwich</span> Church in Norfolk, England

The Church of St John the Baptist, Maddermarket, is a redundant Anglican church in the city of Norwich, Norfolk, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Laurence's Church, Norwich</span> Church in Norfolk, England

St Laurence's Church, or St Lawrence's Church, is a redundant Anglican church in St Benedict's Street, Norwich, Norfolk, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It stands on a sloping site between Westwick Street and St Benedict's Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Nicholas, Blakeney</span> 13th century Church in North Norfolk, England

St Nicholas is the Anglican parish church of Blakeney, Norfolk, in the deanery of Holt and the Diocese of Norwich. The church was founded in the 13th century, but the greater part of the church dates from the 15th century when Blakeney was a seaport of some importance. Of the original structure only the chancel has survived rebuilding, perhaps owing to its link to a nearby Carmelite friary. An unusual architectural feature is a second tower, used as a beacon, at the east end. Other significant features are the vaulted chancel with a stepped seven-light lancet window, and the hammerbeam roof of the nave. St Nicholas is a nationally important building, with a Grade I listing for its exceptional architectural interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John's Minster, Preston</span> Anglican church in Lancashire, England

Preston Minster, formally the Minster Church of St John the Evangelist, is in Church Street, in the centre of Preston, Lancashire, England. From its origin it has been the parish church of Preston. It is an active Anglican church in the deanery of Preston, the archdeaconry of Lancaster and the diocese of Blackburn. Its benefice is united with that of St George, Preston. St John's is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Magdalene's Church, Clitheroe</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Mary Magdalene's Church is located in Church Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire, England. It is the Anglican parish church of the town, and is in the deanery of Whalley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church, dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene, is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Martin of Tours Church, Detling</span> Church in Kent, England

St Martin of Tours is a parish church in Detling, Kent. Dedicated to Martin of Tours, the building was constructed in the 12th century with 13th and 15th-century additions and restoration carried out in the late 19th century. It is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Lynn Minster</span> Medieval minster in Norfolk

St Margaret's Church, King's Lynn, entitled King's Lynn Minster since 2011, is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in King's Lynn. The building dates from the 12th to 15th centuries, with major restoration of the nave in the 18th century. Five of its ten bells and its organ also date back to the mid-18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calthorpe, Norfolk</span> Village in Norfolk, England

Calthorpe is a small village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Erpingham, in the North Norfolk district, in the county of Norfolk, England. The village is located 0.5 miles (0.80 km) west of the village of Erpingham, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) north of the nearest town of Aylsham and is 15.8 miles (25.4 km) north of the nearest city of Norwich. The nearest railway station is at Gunton for the Bittern Line which runs between Sheringham, Cromer and Norwich and is 7.8 miles (12.6 km) from the village. The nearest airport is Norwich International 14.2 miles (22.9 km) south of the village. In 1931 the parish had a population of 143.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael Coslany, Norwich</span> Church in Norfolk, England

St Michael Coslany, Norwich is a Grade I listed redundant parish church in the Church of England in Norwich. The building is located on Coslany Street, between Oak Street and Colegate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Gregory's Church, Norwich</span> Church in Norfolk, England

St Gregory's Church, Norwich is a Grade I listed redundant parish church in the Church of England in Norwich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's Church, Colegate, Norwich</span> Church in Norfolk, England

St George's Church, Colegate, Norwich is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Norwich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Clement's Church, Norwich</span> Church in Norfolk, England

St Clement's Church, Norwich, also known as St Clement Colegate, is a Grade I listed redundant parish church in the Church of England in Norwich. It is dedicated to St Clement, a popular Danish saint and patron of seafarers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Forncett</span> St Peters Church, Forncett St Peter, Norfolk

St Peter's is one of seven churches in the parish of Upper Tas Valley All Saints in south Norfolk, ten miles south of Norwich, UK. The full name is St Peter's and St Paul's, commonly known as St Peter's, and this was formerly the parish church for Forncett St Peter. It is an active place of worship and a nationally significant Grade I listed building. Its Anglo-Saxon round tower, built about 1000 AD, is considered one of the best in the country. There are other Anglo-Saxon features. Much of the main building is of later, mainly 14th and 15th century, date. Significant features are: the 1485 Drake tomb, a unique ancient staircase in the tower, carved pew ends, fine ledger slabs in the chancel and nave, good examples of Victorian coloured glass windows, and the ring of six bells. There is a comprehensive modern guide to the church. There is a connection with William Wordsworth: his sister, Dorothy, lived at the rectory from 1788 until 1794 with her uncle, the rector, William Cookson.

References

  1. ↑ Nikolaus Pevsner The Buildings of England; Norfolk; p. 238. 1962. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books
  2. 1 2 3 4 Knott, Simon. "St Benedict, Norwich". Norfolk Churches.
  3. 1 2 David Luckhurst (1983). Norwich: An Architectural Map. Norwich: Centre for East Anglian Studies, UEA.
  4. 1 2 Browne, Philip (1814). The History of Norwich from the Earliest Records to the Present Day. Norwich. p. 158.
  5. 1 2 "St Benedict's Church Norwich". Norfolk Historic Environment Service. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "St Mary's Church Erpingham". Norfolk Heritage Explorer. Norfolk Historic Environment Service. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  7. ↑ "NPOR [N06495]". National Pipe Organ Register . British Institute of Organ Studies . Retrieved 2 February 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.