St Lawrence

Carstone and Sandringham sandstone with dressings of Barnack limestone, very large undressed blocks of Sandringham sandstone at base of nave, plain tiles to roof.

central semi-circular headed west doorway with two shafts to each side renewed, carved capitals

Chancel: limestone pilaster strips to north and south and at angles, cornice of figure corbels, south wall with 2 C12 semi-circular limestone arch heads with indented decoration, both blocked, one behind pilaster strip

3 C13 lancets to east with shafts and figure stops, string course with indentations as south chancel blocked openings.

altar recesses either side to nave with renewed slabs, that to north under semi-circular headed recess having detached column at angle with nave and remnants of painting to jamb, recess to south with pointed C13 arch having nail head moulding and slender shafts with stiff-leaf capitals, that to left detached, right jamb of recess with squint to former chapel, now link of 1883 to south transept.

deeply moulded C13 arch, part renewed, to south transept from tower, of 5 orders with slender shafts

arcade of 2 arches to south broken by insertion of C13 arch, passageway within tower below vault having single semi-circular headed openings from north, west and east and double opening from south part blocked by C13 arch below, a taller opening above is part blocked by gable of 1883 south transept.

Chancel: Three C13 lancets to east each with 3 orders of nail head decoration above slender shafts with stiff-leaf capitals, outer shafts renewed

C14 banner stave locker to left with crocketted and cusped ogee head to niche

rest of chancel in C13 style restored from ruinous state in C19: blank arcade to reredos and east wall with black marble shafts and nail head mouldings as east lancets, arcade to piscina and 3 step sedilia to south in plain C13 style, piscina to north with nail head mouldings.

South transept of 1883 in C13 style, the previous transept having long since been lost, stiff-leaf capitals to west lancet.

C11 font at nave crossing probably from earlier church now within ramparts of the castle (q.v. 6/1), square with plait rim and figure heads at angles, west and south face decorated, that to south with 3 cats. (St. Felix, died 648, by one tradition is said to have started his mission to East Anglia c630 at Babingley 1.5km to north).

The font is situated in a prominent position within St Lawrence's Church, Castle Rising. This church is in essence Norman. However, it is generally believed that the font was originally located in a much earlier village church that was lost during the building of the earthworks of the nearby medieval castle. That older church was dedicated to St Felix - hence the feline imagery. The font may well be 1300 years old, dating back to Saxon times.

© Neil Theasby