Font - St Mary's Church, Helmingham Road (B1077), Helmingham, Suffolk, IP14 6EQ - Stone Church Artefacts on Waymarking.com

This estate and parish church is Grade I listed and is medieval with major alterations in the C19th. The rubble walling of the in-line chancel, nave, west tower and the south porch was mainly refaced in C19 with flushed flint rubble, there is much freestone dressing. The roofs are paintiled with parapet gables and a large gabled plaintiled dormer with traceried window was added in the early C17th to accommodate the head of a large monument.

There are a number of interesting features in this church, a good early C13th south doorway with square moulded imposts and reveals, a door of c.1500 with deep moulded ribs and traceried panels, and the north doorway also of early C13th design but copied or introduced in the restoration of c.1845. The fine west tower designed by Thomas Aldrych of North Lopham has a contract dated 1488 with an inscription around the base saying: "SCANDIT AD ETHERA VIRGO PUERPERA VIRGULA JESSE", translating to "Climbing to the sky Virgin Mother ROD JESSE", a reference to the Virgin Mary being the 'rod of Jesse's stem'. The nave roof of c.1530 is in 7 bays with 2 half bays, arch braced collar beams and pendant posts beneath arch braced purlins, the principals are also arch-braced from moulded shafts and a deep moulded cornice. There are texts painted to all of the walls.

The font is good quality and C15th, the octagonal bowl having alternate lions and shields on each face, the under chamfer of the bowl has alternate angels and flower heads, and the stem has buttresses and supporting lions above human heads. It is at the west end of the nave in front of the tower arch screen.

The coordinates are for the south porch.

Approximate Age of Artefact: C15th Relevant Website: Not listed

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