Intwood All Saints

What you need to know about this church

All Saints Church Intwood

Where to find this church

Church Information

All Saints church is located in Intwood, a Norfolk village just to the south-east of the A47 Norwich Southern Bypass road, and only a few hundred yards from Keswick All Saints, another Round Tower Church.

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Intwood All Saints church
Tower and porch from south-east
Intwood All Saints church
View from the gallery

Visiting Intwood All Saints

Intwood All Saints is one of the churches that is usually locked. A display showed a keyholder, who turned out to be a bit suspicious about my wish to obtain the key. Finally, I got it from her, and we were able to see the inside.  Even though it is an old church, the interior has a rather modern look. In 1602 the other local round tower church at Keswick was partly demolished by the Lord of the Manor to provide materials for rebuilding this Church, which had been used as a sheep cote in the previous century!

This seems a tall tower in relation to its modest sized church. The tower shows some 11th century and also some later work in the circular part. Then in the 14th century a tall octagonal belfry was added. Plus the parapet, the total height is 60 feet, so it is indeed taller than many other round towers. There is a 13th century lancet window above the now blocked early west doorway, which has Roman tiles in its arch.

The nave still has all four quoins made of flints, ferricrete and Roman tiles, so it was first built in the 11th century. The tower and the west wall were built at the same time, as the courses of flints run in a straight line along both the walls. The south porch, with its black flints for the front face, was first built by Bartholomew Appleyard in the 14th century, though restored in the 19th century.

There is a gallery across the west end of the nave, cutting across the top third of the round-headed tower arch. The 19th century font, with three sides of detailed carvings and an elaborately carved wooden font cover is in the south-west corner of the nave below the gallery, which houses the organ. On the backs of the rear pews are carvings, which show cherubs, flowers and some grotesque animals. The nave is packed with pews with tall poppy heads, the finials to the bench ends.

The chancel is crowded with choir stalls, again with deeply carved poppy heads, some with shields of families connected to the Manor of Intwood. A19th century richly carved reredos covers the east wall, with tiny heads on the crocketted gables of the buttresses.

Conclusion: old church with modern feeling inside

Intwood All Saints church
View into the chancel
Intwood All Saints church
East window