This is no shrinking violet of a church, lost among trees or in solitude down a side lane. It stands impressively within and yet somewhat above the community around of houses and school.

Enter the Church via this lovely side gate.

St Mary's Church is said to be one of the most interesting and beautiful in East Anglia. It is mostly Perpendicular, with a long Decorated chancel. There is much richly carved medieval woodwork, with some benches dating back to 1525 and some notable highly decorated screens.

In the chapel at the top of the south side aisle stands the tomb of Lord Bardolph who was Henry V's Treasurer and fought at Agincourt; his chapel is one of the treasures here with rich internal stonework, dating to the mid 15th century. His peerage came from his marriage to the heiress of the Bardolph title and fortune and for this reason his wife lies in alabaster splendour on his right side instead of his left, as was usual.

 

The Rectory is south of the church and dates from 1780.

The village church has some very unusual features none more so than the hanging pyx canopy above the altar. A pyx served as a receptacle for the Reserved Sacrament which would be kept under a canopy attached to weights and pulleys so that the whole thing could be lowered when the sacrament was required for the sick and the dying.

The church also has many interesting carvings the most remarkable being that of a skiapod the only known representation in this county of a mythical creature of the African desert, humanoid but with a huge boat-shaped foot with which he could cover himself against the sun. This curious beast was 'known' to Herodotus and to Pliny who remarked that it had 'great pertinacity in leaping'.

This cone-shaped cover was made in the 15th century and coloured red, green and gold. It hovers above the alter like a gigantic candle-snuffer.