Quidenham St Andrew
St Andrews Church Quidenham
Where to find this church
Church Information
St Andrews church is located in Quidenham, a Norfolk village.
This church is usually open to visitors
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Visiting Quidenham St Andrew
St Andrew’s in Quidenham is one of the churches we have to visit again, as the quality of the exterior and interior photos is far from what I would like to have on my website. It is an interesting church, as a tall spire dominates this tower. Not many Norfolk churches have spires, and this one was made in 1857, replacing a more modest late 14th century one. The round tower is basically 12th century with its octagonal belfry added in the 14th century to replace an earlier one. There is no sign of an earlier belfry in the circular part, though there are four blocked circular windows, shown up by dark ironstone pieces in their frames, at about 23 feet. The dummy windows in the alternate panels to the belfry openings are filled with proudwork, cut black flints set back into the stone frames. The parapet had short crocketted pinnacles added in the 19th century. The nave and tower were built together, and then a south aisle was added in the 13th century. The north doorway has a simple 12th century arch, with rolls mouldings and volute capitals, enclosing a door covered with iron work with C hinges and barbed straps. There have been many 19th century restorations and improvements, and most of the windows date from that century. The buttresses on the south side of the Church have some flushwork panels, showing instruments of the Passion, and the crowned MR symbol for the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven. The chancel is 14th century, with a stone string course all round. The south porch has a 17th century sundial above the entrance, on a decorative plate with lions supporting the gnomon, and the 13th century doorway has headstops on either side.
Much of the interior is the result of 19th century restorations. However the tower arch is rounded, from the 12th century. It is now filled with panels from the old 15th century Rood screen, with bird and angel carvings in the spandrels. Nearby is a very plain octagonal font, which could be of any era. At the back of the south pews there is a carved poor box standing on a turned pillar, with three locks, dated 1639.
The chancel has a matching set of piscina and three-seated sedilia, with cinquefoiled arches, dating from the early 1300s, as does the string course going round at sill level. There is also an aumbry in the north wall, with a simple ogee arch above the opening. Set into the wall in the north-east corner are three shafts with volute capitals, possibly from an earlier font.