St Mary the Virgin, Pulham St Mary
Open daily dawn to dusk.St Mary's Church is known for its magnificent 15th century porch, arguably the finest in Norfolk. Architectural historian, Nikolaus Pevsner, described it as 'something phenomenal.' It has elaborate flushwork panelling featuring angels holding shields and musical instruments (woodwind on the west side and stringed on the east side) and niches. The Annunciation is carved in the spandrels. A variety of creatures perch atop the shafts amidst a sea of quatrefoils including a wolf guarding St Edmund's head and a woodwose (wild man) with a club. It seems that additional figures were intended as there are plinths on top of the buttresses. Step inside into a bright and airy space. An extensive restoration was carried out in 1886 which saw the tower arch opened, the gallery removed and a new top added to the 15th century rood screen. Thirteen saints once looked out from the panels, and some are still recognisable. Look closely and you will see a dragon in St John's chalice (second from the right of the opening). In 1817 a storm blew out part of the east window and later a scheme of 19th century glass was installed, depicting stories from the Old Testament. 14th century glass survives in a window on the north side of the nave. The stairs leading up to the ringers' floor of the tower are very unusual and were probably part of the 1886 restoration. The war memorial in St Mary's churchyard now commemorates twenty-three servicemen from the parish who were killed in the conflict. However, for over ninety years three names were missing: brothers Herbert, Arthur and Charles Goldspink. Herbert was killed in action in Flanders in 1915. Arthur and Charles were killed on the same day, 19th July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. Their names were added in 2008, after one of their descendants noticed the omission.
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