St Peter & St Paul

St Peter’s is a beautiful church which has a vibrant spiritual life, and we welcome visitors with open arms. Much of the main building is of later, mainly 14th and 15th century date. It has been at the centre of village life for over 1000 years.

Special things to look out for are;

Alabaster tomb of Elizabeth and Thomas Drake

This shows the couple in carefully depicted medieval dress. The tomb incorporates unusual niello work, a type of engraving that uses a black mixture to fill out the engraved lines, which may be unique in Norfolk.

Intricately carved pew ends

These were carved in the 15th century and heavily restored in the 19th century, representing saints and apostles (St Peter and St Paul, to whom the church is dedicated), as well as the Seven Sacraments of the Church (look for Extreme Unction, which involves anointing and comforting the dying), personifications of trades and occupations (such as the huntsman with his falcon) and the Deadly Sins.

A unique ancient staircase in the tower

This very rare wooden stair with its massive treads most likely dates to the 15th/16th centuries. 

A memorial to Dorothy Wordsworth’s cousin

In the chancel, there is an oval stone tablet to the memory of Anna Cookson, daughter of William Cookson, one-time rector of the parish, and the cousin of Dorothy and William Wordsworth. Dorothy lived with the Cooksons at Forncett from December 1788 until February 1794, and William stayed at least once.

Stained glass windows

There are four stained glass windows, all from the nineteenth century, with dedications. The south chancel window depicting St Peter and St Paul is by FW Oliphant and dates from 1854. The other windows have clear glass which allows natural light and sunlight to stream through bathing the interior with an ethereal beauty where a real sense of peace can be found.

In the tower, there is a striking small lancet stained glass window. This is usually hidden from view by a curtain needed to reduce drafts from the tower but can be viewed by appointment.

The ring of six bells

There is a ring of six bells of five different dates, the earliest being 1602 and the latest 1980.