Tacolneston – All Saints Church

This is All Saints Church in Tacolneston and I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t open, but rather more disappointed to read in numerous places on-line that this parish has been, shall we say, perhaps slightly overly keen to keep their building closed to visitors over the last few years.

On this, I’d add:

“Our churches belong to everyone. Each stone marks the location where history happened and tells of a significant event in our nation’s story. They are steeped in history. And their architecture will inspire you. Few historic buildings are as easy to visit as a parish church. They are open and welcoming to all. During the week, many churches are unlocked during daylight hours, and those that are not have details on display of where a key can be found.”

This is the Church of England policy on opening churches, and pandemic aside, I hope there’s more progress in this area over the next few years.

Why does one church need three scratch dials (or mass dials for those who prefer that)? I have a theory that it’s because one might have been rendered over or just not seen as accurate as it needed to be. There’s something rather quite lovely though that these have likely been here since the medieval period, and were once really useful ways of knowing when the next service was going to be.

Old graffiti inside the porch.

The south aisle and the south porch. The building itself mainly dates from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, although these was a previous church here on this site before then. Francis Blomefield, the reliable Norfolk historian noted in the mid-eighteenth century that this church had been reconstructed in 1503 and he mentioned that the church was thatched when he visited.

Why is there a kitchen sink at the base of the tower? I don’t know…. For those whose eyes aren’t drawn to this eyesore at the base, the tower itself was built in stages between the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries.

The north doorway, with some random lump of metal by its side.

The priest’s door.

A rather pretty little churchyard. The rear section of the church was partly covered by ivy until recently, fortunately now removed.

And, I have no idea. The random bits and pieces around the church made it feel like something of an art installation.

Inside the church there is an historic section of the rood screen, an old font and numerous other interesting items of note, and hopefully I’ll get chance to go back when the building is open to see them.