St Andrew

Wellingham was a settlement in Domesday Book, in the hundred of Laundich and the county of Norfolk. It had a recorded population of 21 households in 1086. There is no precise date for the founding of St Andrew's, but experts believe that the narrowness of the church, the tower without buttresses, the chancel and the nave walls being continuous, and the northwest quoin built entirely of large flints, are all signs of an early church.

It is thought that the nave was built by the Normans and the chancel was added in the 13th century. The first firm date in St Andrew's history is 1304, when its first rector is recorded. Blomefield calls him William de Holm, but Bryant gives him the grander title Ralph de Hulmo de Wysinguete This 13th to 15th century church was much altered in the 19th century but retains the dado screen dating to 1532. There are several large lancet windows dating to the 13th century in the chancel, and in the south wall of the nave are a number of Perpendicular style windows in blank arcading.

Apparently, a medieval hermitage was situated next to the church. This, in many ways, is a typical small parish church, similar to hundreds in Norfolk. But it has one outstanding treasure, the extraordinary dado to the roodscreen. The panels are painted with Saints and Christ as the Image of Pity; but instead of each figure being set formally against a background, each is part of a scene, as if this was a narrative. So, the court watches from the castle battlements while St George dispatches the dragon, St Michael weighs souls while the Mother of God uses her rosary to push down the balance in favour of sinners who have prayed to her, St Sebastian is punctured to excess while onlookers gaze in wonder. The screen was the gift of Robert Dorant and his wives, and the dedicatory inscription dates the screen at 1532.