Church of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a mediaeval parish church located beside the Stowmarket Road in Great Blakenham. It comprises a nave, chancel, west tower, and south porch, with a vestry and organ chamber added in 1877 alongside other alterations to the building. The church is constructed of flint rubble walls, with the chancel and upper stage of the tower being plastered. The roofs are plaintiled, with a flat tower roof featuring parapets.

The nave’s walling is largely Norman, incorporating sections of coursed flint rubble. Two plain round-arched doorways of 11th or early 12th century form are present on the north and south sides of the nave, though they are not opposite one another, with the northern doorway potentially being older. A similar south chancel doorway features early graffiti on its jambs, and adjacent is a Norman lancet window. Other windows date to approximately 1200. The east window consists of three pointed lancets, with a central light re-introduced in 1877 to replace a 14th-century window. Small pointed lancets are also found on the chancel and nave side walls.

The two-stage tower was added in the mid 14th century, featuring two-light traceried belfry openings and a similar window on the west side. Several scratch dials are visible on the south walls of the nave and chancel. The nave roof, of either 14th or 15th century origin, is a coupled-rafter type with double collars – the lower collars, with soulaces against the tower being part of an earlier structure. The cornice was added or renewed during the 19th century. A similar roof structure exists in the chancel. A staircase and doorway of approximately 1500 are set into the south wall, leading to a roodloft.

The south porch, also dating to around 1500, is open, timber-framed, and stands on a high plinth. The doorway has a four-centred head incorporating rose-carved spandrels, surmounted by a carved image of St. Mary within a buttressed niche. Side windows in two bays of four lights feature fragmentary traceried heads. The roof has moulded, arch-braced principals. The moulded inner south door may be of this period, however the cinquefoiled framing at the head suggests 14th-century work. A three-light window near the south door is of approximately 1500.

A 15th-century octagonal limestone font features carved emblems of the passion on the bowl and traceried buttresses with sunk panels between on the stem. A fine 17th-century pulpit with arcaded panels and a sounding-board with acorn drop finials is also present. The tower contains a tomb chest belonging to Richard Swift (died 1645), featuring a carved achievement, which was moved from the north chancel wall, likely during the 1877 alterations. A marble slab dated 1663 is set into the tower floor.