St Martin

There has been little change to St Martin’s church since it was rebuilt in the mid 15th century. It is thought to have been built on the site on an earlier church using the original walls.

This magnificent church is found in the middle of Fincham on the main road between Swaffham and Downham Market. The south side of the churchyard is framed by a listed wall, both an early cross base and war memorial can be seen in the southeast corner. The well proportioned tower has a fine stepped and panelled parapet. The buttresses have various designs in flint including 'M' for Mary, 'IHS' and the arms of the Fincham family, who were the principal donors for all the Perpendicular period work in this church.

The south porch confuses people with the date of 1852 on the parapet which is the date of repair, the original seats are still present and there is evidence of the holy water stoup which was broken during the reformation. The south aisle which is visible from the road has four big 3 light windows with stepped transoms, and an elaborate parapet with flushwork panels and tall crocketed pinnacles. The north side of the church is does not have this finery. There is a two storey vestry on the north side of the chancel, built by Sir Nicholas Fincham, who was buried beneath it in 1503. There are a number of interesting gargoyles.

Once inside the church take time to see the carved Norman font which came from a second church in the village which was demolished in 1744. The hammer beams in the roof have carved angels and grotesques. The rood screen is mostly original and the base panels still have the original painted designs. The walls are hung with a selection of painted boards with bible texts dated 1717 in addition to various memorials. The squint or hagioscope, cut through from the north aisle to east of the arcade gives sight of Communion Table from the Lady chapel. There are several fine windows, one of which has medieval angels playing instruments.