Bacton – St. Andrew’s Church

Overlooking the sea and Bacton Gas Terminal, this church was originally constructed in the fourteenth century, although was remodelled in the fifteenth century.

The church was heavily restored and faffed about with in 1847 and it was partly reroofed in 1895. What was discovered during the Victorian restoration were numerous wall paintings, some half an inch thick, which displayed stories relating to St. Christopher. Some of these wall paintings, thought to be from the late fifteenth or early sixteenth centuries, are still visible inside the church. And, as a reminder that crime has always been a problem for churches, in the 1840s someone pinched lead from the roof.

The sign said that the church was open. The church was shut.

The four-stage tower is from the mid to late fourteenth-century.

I understand that sometimes creativity is needed with historic buildings when elements such as air conditioning, heating or ventilation are added. But this is bloody ridiculous.

I’m not sure that we were entirely aware when we were at the church how dark it had become.

Below is a photo of the church in 1955, those neat bush things leading to the porch have now gone.