Cycling Route from Felmingham

The first thing you’ll notice about St Andrew’s Church is its massive bulky tower. The tower dates to the 15th century and houses a ring of nine bells but the rest of the church was rebuilt in the 1740s on a smaller scale following a fire. Imagine the size of the original church! The tower arch has a glass and wood-framed screen completed in the 2000s which depicts scenes from nursery rhymes and the life of St Andrew. The font is made of Purbeck stone and dates from the 13th century. The modern glass in the east window came from St Philip’s Church in Norwich, which was destroyed during the Blitz, and depicts Christ prior to his Ascension. The communion table dates from the early Stuart period (c.1600). The earliest gravestone still visible in its original position dates from 1719 and is the grave of William Talman. He lived at Felmingham Hall and was Royal Architect to the court of William and Mary and the  architect of some of England’s finest houses, including Chatsworth in Derbyshire. It is sited in the area to the east of the chancel.

There are toilets in this church.

All Saints’ Church occupies a commanding position overlooking the surrounding fields. Apparently on a clear day you can spot the spire of Norwich Cathedral. The village of Skeyton comprises a handful of scattered farms. All Saints’ Church dates from the 13th century and has been subject to sympathetic 19th century restoration. The box pews were removed in 1846 and replaced with benches. The font and tiled floor also date to this time. Notice the cast iron Victorian Royal Arms.

Oxnead Church is a hidden gem, nestled next to Oxnead Hall just north of the River Bure. The hall was the principal home of the Paston family, famous for the Paston Letters which form an important collection of correspondence between 1422 and 1509. The large buildings you can see today comprise the east service wing, north wing, cellars and barns which puts the scale of the original estate into perspective. At its peak the hall had 79 rooms. The church houses Paston monuments in its chancel, including the splendid effigy of Sir Clement Paston (d. 1597), who built the hall, with his wife Alice kneeling below. The adjacent monument commemorates Lady Katherine, wife of Sir William Paston, with a serene bust and epitaphs in Latin and English.

St Peter’s Church is one of Norfolk’s 124 round tower churches. It sits a short distance away from its village on a small promontory above the River Bure. The round tower dates back to late Norman times (1066-1088) although the thickness of tower walls seems to indicate that the tower may have Saxon origins. The church has been the centre of religious life in the village for over 900 years. The simple interior is bright and airy. An elaborate memorial in the nave states that the body of Margaret, wife of Thomas Beevor, lies beneath the aisle.

The tower of St Peter & Paul’s Church was probably built soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The upper section was altered in the early 13th century. The spire was built in 1740. Inside by the main door is a doorway to the staircase leading to the room over the porch, known as a parvise. Lions, roses and the Instruments of the Passion adorn the 15th century font. Fragments of medieval glass can be seen in the tracery of the nave windows. Notice the hour glass stand by the pulpit! Of particular interest are the medieval pew ends which include carvings of an elephant and howdah, a woodwose, a cat, a fox with a goose, and a griffin attacking a man.