Church Of St Katharine

Church of St. Katharine

A parish church comprising a Saxon west tower and nave with a rebuilt chancel that retains some 14th-century detail, a 15th-century south porch, and 19th-century north vestry and south organ chamber. The building is constructed of flint rubble with some clunch and occasional Roman bricks and tiles. The chancel, nave, organ chamber and south porch have red plain tiled gabled roofs with stone parapet verges and stone cross finials to the gables, though the finial to the nave is now a stump. The 19th-century tower spire is covered with fish scale slates, and the structure is topped with a weathercock.

The chancel's east window comprises three cusped lights with tracery over, set beneath a label with foliate stops. A buttress stands between the chancel and organ chamber. The 19th-century organ chamber has a circular window to its gable, and two windows to the south wall: to the east a trefoiled two-light window with label, and to the west a chamfered and moulded two-light rectangular window, with a smaller similar window also to the south wall. A 19th-century nailed plank and muntin door with a two-centred arched surround and label is set between the south wall windows.

The nave's south wall features a Saxon round-headed window to the west and, above the 15th-century south doorway, a moulded two-centred arch under a square head with sunk traceried spandrels and moulded label. A painted inscription above this doorway reads "Reverence My Sanctuary". The south wall also contains a 14th-century east window of two trefoiled ogee lights with tracery under a segmental pointed head with label. The gabled south porch has a restored 15th-century two-centred arch with moulded jambs, traceried internal and external spandrels and moulded label. A niche above the porch, dating to circa 1894, contains a statue of St. Katharine.

The north wall of the nave has two two-light windows: that to the west is 15th-century with cinquefoil lights under a segmental pointed head, and that to the east is 14th-century with trefoiled ogee lights with tracery under a segmental pointed head. The 19th-century plastered north vestry has tile coping to the gable, an east two-centred arched door in timber surround, and a north two-light rectangular timber window in chamfered surround.

The five-stage west tower has flint quoins, as do those of the nave. The tower is topped with 19th-century stone-capped crenellations. The 19th-century west window comprises three ogee lights with reticulated tracery over in a two-centred arch, with head stops to the label. The third stage, on the north, south and west faces, has two original round-headed windows without dressings on each face. All faces of the fourth stage have original windows of two round-headed lights with flint rubble between them. All faces of the fifth stage contain two original round-headed windows. The north face of this stage also has a 19th-century round-headed window, brick dressed and fitted with sounding louvres.

Interior

The chancel has a seven-cant roof ceiled with circa 1914 bosses and angels to moulded wall plates. 19th-century stalls retain early 16th-century poppy heads on two bench ends. A bench comprises 17th-century fluted rails and twisted legs. A round-headed piscina is set in the floor, and the north wall contains a recess with pilasters and pointed head. The 19th-century reredos is a copy of a previous reredos discovered hidden in the east wall during restorations. A moulded and chamfered arch to the south wall opens into the 19th-century organ chamber.

The organ and organ case, said to date to circa 1700 by Renatus Harris, originally made for Jesus College, Cambridge, was installed at Little Bardfield after an offer of payment of £55 in 1865-66. The case is of oak with a carved and pierced frieze and rails to the middle part, moulded cornice, and side wings on semi-circular brackets enriched with cherub heads. A 17th-century inlaid panelled oak chest is also present. The south wall's western window contains old re-set stained glass. A design of St. Katharine in stained glass was derived from a small plaque of Limoges enamel discovered in the churchyard during circa 1856 restorations.

A 15th-century rebuilt two-centred chancel arch with moulded capitals and chamfered jambs opens to the nave. Low panelling and double gates close the chancel. A crenellated and moulded rood beam surmounts the entrance, topped with 19th and 20th-century figures of Christ crucified and the two canopies.

The nave roof is of early 14th-century date with tall cross quadrate four-armed crown post construction, moulded wall plates, moulded wall posts on semi-octagonal stone corbels, and arched braces to moulded tie beams. A square pulpit stands in the nave with a late 19th-century sounding board over it. A squint to the south-west wall has a carved panel with achievement of arms above it. Pews are panelled. A tiled and plastered recess to the west of the pulpit is believed to be the remains of an Easter Sepulchre, possibly the remains of stairs to the rood loft. Some small areas of painting remain on the walls. A carved wood monument to the 1914-1918 War stands on the south-west wall. A 15th-century tower arch, two-centred with two moulded orders, separates the nave from the tower. An octagonal font with sunk quatrefoiled panels and moulded base is set in the tower.

Two bells survive: one dating to circa 1624 by William Laud, and another of 14th or 15th-century date, probably by John Bird, inscribed "Sum Rosa Pulsata Mundi Katerina Vocata". The bell frame is old and constructed for four bells. The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England has recorded this building.