Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a parish church located in Shouldham Thorpe. It dates back to the early 12th century but was entirely rebuilt in 1858. The church is constructed of carstone with ashlar quoins and features a slate roof. It consists of a nave and chancel. The Norman west door was relocated from the north side after the west tower collapsed in 1732. This door is supported by two orders of octagonal shafts adorned with herringbone or chevron decoration, which hold scalloped cushion capitals and incised square imposts. Above the door is a multiple arch with a zig-zag pattern, and there is a two-light west window in the Decorated style. The church has a double bell-cote at the apex and two south nave windows from 1858, while the chancel features two lancet windows from the 13th century and a three-light east window.

On the interior, the nave roof is supported by collars and arched braces connected to wall posts on corbels, with collar spandrels featuring open-work trefoils. The chancel roof has barrel braces, and the lancets in the south wall of the chancel have stilted rere-arches. A 15th-century octagonal font with tracery panels decorates the interior. There is a wall monument in the nave dedicated to Jane, Anne, and John Stouarde from 1602, made of stone and painted plaster. This monument features a central panel with three kneeling figures flanked by Tuscan engaged columns, above an inscription tablet, with a moulded cornice below a strapwork overthrow that contains a painted coat of arms. Additionally, there is a wall tablet in the chancel commemorating Thomas Buttes from 1600, made of grey marble with an inscription plate at the bottom, a coat of arms at the top right, and an incised alabaster plaque depicting the deceased kneeling before a reading table in a Flemish manner.