Church Of St Mary Magdalene

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is a mediaeval church located in Lt. Welnetham. It comprises a nave, chancel, west tower, and south porch. The walls are primarily flint rubble, with remnants of early render, lacing courses of plain tile to the tower, limestone quoins, and dressings. The roofs are covered in plain tiles.

The earlier chancel was refenestrated in the mid-14th century, featuring two-light hood-moulded windows on its sides and a three-light east window with flowing tracery. A simple piscina, possibly Norman, is present with a chamfered round arch and a small arched recess, possibly a 13th-century aumbry. A 13th-century leper squint is incorporated into the south wall. The tower, also from the 13th century, includes a mid-14th century two-light west window, two-light belfry openings with boarded shutters, and a rebuilt early 16th-century parapet constructed of crenellated red brickwork.

The nave underwent significant alterations in the early 16th century, evidenced by the addition of large four-light hood-moulded windows, blocked north and south doorways, and a tower arch. A fine nave hammer-beam roof is a prominent feature, with each hammer beam figure-carved and restored in 1842. The roof also includes principal rafters arch-braced up to collar, two intermediate trusses over each window, arched directly to the collar, with carved heads in the wall-post alongside each brace. Lion-head carved timber corbels support each truss.

The early 16th-century porch is constructed of unusually thick red bricks with a crow-stepped gable, a hood-moulded arched doorway, a niche above, two-light arched side windows, and a coupled rafter roof. The chancel roof, rebuilt in the early 16th century, has principal rafters with arch-bracing to collars, butt purlins, and a crenellated cornice, reflecting similar craftsmanship to the nave roof. A restored 15th-century screen stands partially complete, extending up to the middle rail, and featuring pilasters and tracery. A set of twenty fine 15th-century poppy-head pews, some restored or replaced to a high standard, likely around 1882, are present, along with traditional poppy-heads, traceried ends, and carved buttresses. Later 19th-century traceried poppy-head choir stalls are also included. A 15th-century octagonal limestone font displays traceried details and sunk quatrefoils to the bowl.

In the south nave wall, two 14th-century image pedestals and a shaft (probably reset) with a 12th-century cushion capital are visible. Four black marble slabs are embedded in the chancel floor, commemorating Edward and Rachel Agas (died 1680 and 1677 respectively), their son Anthony Agas (died 1721), William and Susan Bauley (died 1705 and 1718 respectively), and Katherine, Thomas, and Elizabeth Briton (died 1720, 1741, and 1734 respectively).