Parish Church Of Saint Michael Including Church Yard Boundary Wall

The Parish Church of St Michael, including the churchyard boundary wall, primarily dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, with significant restoration completed in 1852. The building features a combination of flint construction, including rubble work and knapped flint, with attractive flushwork panels and lead-covered roofs. It comprises a west tower, south porch, north and south aisles, transepts, chancel, and chancel aisles. The 14th-century tower has a notable four-light west window with late Decorated tracery and traceried bell openings. At the top of the tower is a lead-covered spirelet, likely from the early 17th century. The two-storey south porch, built in the 15th century, may have a lower storey from the 14th century and features fine flushwork flint panels, a canopied niche, and two-light windows. The south aisle is faced in knapped flint with flushwork-panelled battlements, while the 15th-century transepts and chancel chapels consist of two bays.

Inside, there is an early 14th-century arcade with six bays, featuring alternating circular and octagonal pillars. The early 17th-century pulpit is adorned with panels carved in perspective. The early 15th-century font displays the Crucifixion, symbols of the Evangelists, and Instruments of the Passion around the bowl, along with four shields on the shaft, including one of John of Gaunt. The base of the rood screen, constructed around 1507, showcases sixteen painted figures in panels. The reredos, assembled in 1833 by John Adey Repton, incorporates parts of the screen and misericords. A gallery under the tower is supported by timber posts, with arched braces to the beams and traceried spandrels. The church contains various brasses and monuments, including those to Bishop Jegon (died 1617) and Clement Francis (died 1792), the latter crafted by Thomas Ivory of Norwich. There is also a memorial to Humphry Repton and his family against the south wall of the chancel. The churchyard is enclosed by a coped red brick boundary wall, featuring a four-centred arched opening leading to the Old Vicarage.