All Saints
Ixworth Thorpe
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A little of our history
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A LITTLE OF OUR HISTORY AND CHURCH
Visitors to the church will find an attractive little building with an unusual
combination of features both inside and out. It dates from the 11th century, but the plain south doorway with its rounded slightly skew arch is the only visible feature of that period today. There were considerable changes in the 13th century, including the reconstruction of the chancel, and again in the 15th century, almost certainly linked with one or other of the important local families which owned and controlled the parish during the Middle
Ages, although none of them actually lived here.
On a first glance the church has a humble and almost domestic air, with its
low plastered walls, thatched roof and modest two-light windows. But, by
contrast, the early Tudor brick porch, which is crenellated and has flint
flush-work panels and diaper patterning, is considered by Professor Pevsner to be one of the finest of its kind in Suffolk.
Plainer brickwork of the same early Tudor type is used for the base of the
little bell-turret, combined with some re-used stone which has led to the idea
that there was an earlier stone tower which fell down. It seems more likely, however, that the stonework came from other parts of the building during alterations. Above the brick base weatherboarding covers the 15th-century timber bell-frame which once contained two small bells, but now has only
one. This is inscribed "EDMUND WHAITES, JOHN HOWLET
Churchwardens, JOHN STEPHENS fecit 1723." In the early 19th century the weatherboarded top was raised and re roofed.
The north side of the church has two 13th-century lancet windows and a small blocked doorway. A projection in the wall marks the position of the former rood-loft stair. The window at the east end is an early 19th-century replacement in 13th-century style with wooden tracery.
Most likely to catch the visitor's interest on entry are the omately-carved
bench-ends - the chief glory of the interior and a continuing source of delight. There are 28 of them altogether, divided into two sets: 20 have poppy-heads and figures carved on the arm-rests; the remainder have poppy-heads alone, The figures include a mermaid, a thatcher with his rake and knife, a woman walking with her little dog, and a unicorn. All have been re-set as part of a 19th-century reordering of the seating: a closer look will reveal that 14 of them were designed to be set against the walls and are carved only on one face. A number of Suffolk churches have carved
bench-ends, and those at Ixworth Thorpe fit into a group which includes nearby Honington and, on a much grander scale, Stowlangtoft.
Although the bench-ends take pride of place, the interior has interesting
features of many different periods, some of them of high quality. Although there is evidence that there was once a chancel arch with rood screen and loft, we do not know what it was like or when it was removed, though this was probably during the 19th century. Several medieval coffin-lids, some of them wedge-shaped, have been re-used as part of the stone
flooring of the nave. The two-light windows on the south side are all slightly different from each other and seem to have been put in in succession, rather than at the same time, during the later 14th century.
There is a modest Jacobean pulpit, and the simple font has a Jacobean cover. The fine three-sided late 17th-century altar rails have turned balusters. The lectern is a particularly well carved eagle with
beautifully detailed plumage .
Over the west tower arch are the Arms of George III, and in the chancel
are several memorials to former lords of the manor, including two small 17th-century wall monuments to members of the Crofts family.
The Church is opened regularly in the spring and summer months under
the auspices of the Open Churches Trust.
We are glad that this gives visitors an opportunity to see the many
features of interest and beauty it contains, and we hope you have enjoyed your visit.
Sylvia Colman
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