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St Mary

St Mary

Mid Suffolk

Suffolk

C14, altered C15, vestry added late C16, C16 tower refaced in late C18 at expense of R. Holt.

Architectural Features

Nave to west has 2 and 3 stage buttresses and signs of slightly narrower C14 roof, moulded kneelers to C15 coped parapet.

C15 nave clerestorey of 10 windows, cusped rectilinear tracery, segmental pointed arched heads, hoodmoulds continued across as a string course below which to south are flushwork panels of varying designs

elaborate C14 inner entrance, double shafted jambs with stiff leaf caps, wave moulded pointed arch with fleurons and lion's heads, mask stopped hoodmould, above a statue niche with an angel corbel to pedestal, flanking king and queen masks.

To east of porch a C14 2- light pointed arched window with trefoiled lights, curvilinear tracery, elsewhere on aisle to south three C15 3-light Perpendicular windows with cusped ogee headed lights.

Straight and angle 2 stage buttresses with moulded bases, gargoyles with a string course to embattled parapet with small quatrefoil panels.

South aisle west end 2-light C14 window, south aisle east end 3-light C14 window with cusped ogee headed lights, crocketed reticulated tracery in a pointed arch, mask stopped hood mould.

North aisle has a blocked door opposite south entrance, a wave moulded pointed arch with hoodmould, 2 C14 2-light windows with differing tracery, towards east a large 3-light C16 Perpendicular window with a depressed arched head, towards west a 3-light C17 window with lancets in a square surround, straight and angle 2 stage buttresses, plain parapet.

North aisle west end 2-light C14 window, north aisle east end 3-light C15 Perpendicular window.

Chancel: large C14 east window of 7 lights, complex curvilinear tracery in a pointed arch, hoodmould, 3 stage angle buttresses with stooled statue niches with trefoiled gablet heads, C19 steeply pitched parapet behind original shallow coped parapet.

To south a low side door, wave moulded pointed arch with a crocketed ogee hoodmould with mask stops, flanking 3 stage buttresses as to east and outer tall 3-light C14 windows with differing curvilinear tracery, mask stopped hoodmoulds.

To north 2 similar 3-light C14 windows and an intermediate buttress.

C15 10 bay nave roof with alternate single hammerbeam and queen strut trusses, posts on mask corbels with carved arched braces to brattished hammerbeams and tie beams, arched braces to cambered collars with short king posts, on tie beams are queen struts with arched struts to collars and principals, double butt purlins, ridge piece

C16 vestry roof has a large central pendant drop, radiating ribs are arch braced at ends with smaller pendant drops.

Chancel south window towards east has lower part blocked by C15 triple sedilia

canted canopies with lierne vaulting, rectilinear tracery, crocketed ogee heads, Tudor rose and brattished cornice with angels

In north aisle: C14 octagonal font, raised on a step, simple stem, masks at bases of bowl faces of which have crocketed gables with varying tracery, intermediate shafts, brattished head

on wall is reset central section of 1709 reredos, Commandments with painted figures of Moses and Aaron, cherubs, fluted pilasters, huge outer volutes, cornice with urn finials

a C17 or C18 long school desk with much graffiti from Chapel of St. Botolph, Botesdale Civil Parish (q.v.), a C19 bier.

In south aisle over entrance are Royal Arms of Charles II, carved wood oval.

In nave an iron bound C15 chest with an early padlock

C19 seating, Gothic pulpit, brass lectern, large organ of 1890 by Casson of Shepherd's Bush.

In chancel a late C17 Communion table with turned legs, patterned top rail, C19 Communion rails.

Monuments: north aisle east end

a large chest tomb to Sir N. Bacon, d. 1624, and wife Anne Butts, 1616 by N. Stone with tomb made by B. Janssen.

On adjacent north wall is a small marble tablet to R Bacon, d. 1652, arms in cartouche and a swag, attributed to J. Stone.

black and white marble paving with a cross fleury on a raised lozenge with 'ELEVETUR' incised, 2 round headed niches with key and impost blocks in walls, 4 black and white marble wall tablets, that to Sir E. Bacon, d. 1685, with a surround in style of Stone, scrolled sides with seraphs, arms in a cartouche with garlands above, that to his wife Elizabeth, d. 1690, is similar, 2 early C17 tablets with plain surrounds.

Chancel north wall: a large and elaborate tripartite monument to Sir J. Holt, Lord Chief Justice, d. 1710, by T. Green of Camberwell.

Seated and wigged effigy in judicial robes with flanking standing figures of Justice and Vigilance, aedicule with paired Corinthian columns and outer pilasters, a draped arch behind, arms above, on cornice are paired and single putti, rising over arms. a segmental headed cornice surmouted by an urn with garlands, flanking cockerel and crane, base steps outward with scrolled volutes to central inscribed panel.

Also on north wall a,tablet to children of E. Bacon, erected 1660, black and white marble, rustic in style of E. Marshall, raised inscribed panel, voluted sides to aedicule, consoles and cherub below, putti with festoon and a segmental pediment.

On chancel south wall an oval black and white marble tablet to Lady Gawdy, d. 1621, by N. Stone, garlands on sides, a cherub below, arms and a segmental pediment above

also a simple tablet to children of E. Bacon, 1683.

Chancel floor: a good figural brass of Anne Butts, d. 1609, a poem below figure, intended for a table tomb

C17 and C18 floor slabs to former Rectors with carved arms.

Hatchments in chancel, nave and north aisle.

Large east window with glass by T. Farrow of Diss, 1853

later glass in aisles.

Cardinal Wolsey was Rector of Redgrave in 1506.