St Mary
Nettlestead, Suffolk
This church doesn’t give away its secrets easily, but with a bit of detective work there is so much to discover!
The situation of this church is one of its attractive features, overlooking pretty and undulating countryside. It stands on quite high ground. The churchyard is trim and attractive and is entered through a simple wooden lychgate with wooden welcome signs made by a local craftsman. The churchyard affords views over the gorgeous Suffolk countryside.
It is an unusually complete example of an early 13th century medieval church, consisting of nave, chance, south porch and west tower. It is constructed mainly of flint rubble walling with freestone dressings and massive buttressing. On both of the nave buttresses east of the porch are medieval mass dials carved into the stonework which were used to fix the times of the service before the days of clocks. On the south side of the sanctuary is a great rarity: the piscine that formerly served the altar. It retains its original credence shelf. Another feature in the church is the tower door that is fitted unusually in the south wall.