2016
TG0719 : Memorial brass, St Mary's church, Sparham
taken 8 years ago, near to Sparham, Norfolk, England
Memorial brass, St Mary's church, Sparham
Brass to William Mustarder, Rector circa 1493.
St Mary's church, Sparham
Grade I listed
The church dates from the early 14th century, and consists of a west tower, nave with north and south aisles and clerestory, chancel, and south porch.
It is built of flint with ashlar and brick dressings, with a slate, lead and pantile roof.
The tower dates from the 15th century, is nearly 90 feet high, and has a battlemented parapet with crocketted pinnacles and small gargoyles. There are three bells.
The nave has four-bay arcades with octagonal piers, one pier survives from the 14th century. The western bays are wider, probably because they were built from the east towards an already existing, possibly separate tower. The aisles date from the 15th century. The south porch was built slightly later, as is seen by a mass dial on the inner door.
The clerestory is perpendicular and probably replaces an old one from the early 14th century. There is a window in the eastern Gable over the chancel arch.
The chancel is probably the oldest part of the church, it was altered at the time of a rebuild in the 15th century.
The church was restored at the end of the 19th century, and in the 20th century work was done on the aisle roofs. In the 1980s it was necessary to reinforce the second column of the south arcade.
There is a 15th century arch braced roof with carved stone corbels and carved Angels.
One of the features of the church are the remains of the rood screen which features painted panels from the 15th century. They depict cadavers in a dance of death. There are inscriptions from chapter 10 of the book of Job.
There are several memorial brasses in the church, some missing, and the usual Ledger slabs.
Some of the benches have carved ends and poppy heads.
The font is 19th-century, and replaces an older one.
There is a small single manual organ by Holdich and two relatively modern stained glass windows.
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