St Peter & St Paul
Clare, Suffolk
Clare's church, built in the centre of the little town with handsome house on all sides, is a large building in the Perpendicular style, reflecting the prosperous times in which it was built.
The church's prominent tower and turret staircase date from about 1300, as does the porch, which still has its original door, complete with sanctuary ring.
The 14th century south aisle is plain flint, but rising above it is a fine 15th century clerestory with excellent flushwork and battlements.
The interior is especially light, with exceptional late 15th century arcades and elegant slender piers. On the wall of the north aisle is a great treasure, a 16th century Flemish alabaster reredos of the Crucifixion given to the church in 1953. It is set in an elaborate 20th century frame made by Sir Ninian Comper. The chancel dates from the 1380s, with a magnificent window filling the east wall.
Unusually, the ground floor of the tower has a vaulted ceiling with a large central boss depicting a Green Man. Displayed on the rear wall of the tower are World War I battlefield crosses brought back from the Western Front.
St Mary's has an ancient brass lectern in the shape of an eagle, one of only 50 medieval lecterns of this type to have survived the Reformation. There is another just along the road at Clare.