St Mary
Haverhill, Suffolk
A historic building in the heart of the town with modern adaptations in a sensitive style.
St Mary's is on an ancient pilgrimage route from London to Walsingham, which has been redesignated in recent times with a pilgrim stamp available in church for those with a passport. The church building has a medieval core with Tudor and Victorian extensions.
Some of the notable artefacts include a 13th century cast iron door handle with a pair of salamanders on; carved wooden 15th century pew ends depicting St George, a pair of bears and a mermaid, amongst other things; and medieval graffiti in the stone work; an engraved brass floor monument; and a small piece of medieval stained glass hidden away in the clerestory windows. Curiously, there is no Victorian stained glass, but there is a 1960s installation depicting St Cecilia, and an ornate wooden rood screen with a puzzling story.