Description

TM 38 SW RUMBURGH GENERAL

1/2 Church of St. Michael & St. Felix.(formerly listed as 1-9-53 Church of St.Michael)

GV I

Parish church, originally built as the church of a Benedictine Priory, founded c.1065 from Hulme, Norfolk and given in the later C12 to St. Mary's, York. C13 and C15. Nave, chancel, west tower and south porch; random flint, part rendered, part red brick repaired with freestone dressings; shallow-pitched lead-covered roofs. Unusually-proportioned C13 west tower, as wide as the nave, with low angle buttresses and a timber-framed and weatherboarded top stage with a hipped, plaintiled roof. The small west door has a continuous double chamfer, and above are 3 tall lancet windows, the middle window taller than others. Inside, the tower arch is very high. Early C16 south porch with early C19 Gothick exterior: ogee-headed doorway; panelled double doors; timber roof inside with embattled cornice. 2-centred arch to south doorway with simple chamfer and Gothic panelled door. Continuous mid C15 nave and chancel with 2-light traceried windows along the south side. Fragments of old glass, and bullseye glass in the tops of the lights. There were no original windows along the north wall, which was backed by the conventual buildings, but 2 2-light rectangular windows with diamond-leaded panes were inserted into the nave, probably C17. Nave roof in 11 bays: arch-braced, the collars triangular in form, extending into the apex. Cavetto moulding to braces, collars and purlins, and large flowers, somewhat damaged, at the intersections of purlins and principal rafters; embattled cornice. 3 later tie-beams with king-posts have been needled and bolted through the walls. The 11th bay, at the west end, is different from the rest, being quite plain, with the purlins at a different level and no cornice, and seems to have been fitted in at a later stage. Font, on a low octagonal base, with panelled shaft, replaced bowl and simple Jacobean cover with spike finial. A set of good poppy-head bench-ends, some replacements, all with different designs; later benches and panelled backs, 2 with a Jacobean frieze of formalised leaves. A very fine high chancel arch screen: 8 one-light divisions with applied tracery to the panels at the base and ogee heads with drop tracery; intricate carving to the tops of the lights. A small, simply-panelled Jacobean pulpit dated 1637 on a single shaft with supporting scroll brackets. The nave floor is of old floor- bricks, and there is a row of C18 black ledger slabs commemorating members of the Davy family. Victorianised chancel. Restored east window. In the north wall, a C13 doorway and a narrow squint with a grated watching-window above: these all related to the conventual buildings adjoining.

Listing NGR: TM3464881871

External Links

• Wikidata Q17527415

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