Benchmark, St Botolph's Chapel - Botesdale, Suffolk - European Historic Survey Stones, Monuments and Benchmarks on Waymarking.com

Cut benchmark on the North East corner of this little chapel of ease in Botesdale.

"The chapel is set back from the road on a slight rise, with a small grassed area in front. Intriguingly, it is semi-detached from a contemporary house on the west side. The juxtaposition of flint and Suffolk pink wash is an attractive one. The most interesting thing about the church is an inscription above the south doorway, a survival from a dramatic epoch in English history. The Black Death, which visited and revisited East Anglia in the middle years of the 14th century, radically altered the political and economic complexion of the country. It also altered the priorities of the Church. The rising Middle Classes, who had come to prominence in the consequent boom years which were a legacy of the Black Death, became obsessed with ensuring a swift escape from purgatory after their own deaths. The best way of making this happen was that the living would say prayers for the souls of the dead, and this was achieved by those rich enough to do so by the foundation of chantries. A chantry is a type of bequest, usually in the form of land, the income from which was to pay for a Priest in perpetuity, who would lead Masses and devotions for the health of the soul of the dead donor. That one was established here at Botesdale is immediately apparent as you walk up the path, because above the door, and still discernible despite a later window having been cut through it, you can read in Latin Pray for the Souls of John Shrive and Juliana his wife. Pray for the soul of Margaret Wykys. This was probably set in place in the 1470s."

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