| |
|
| |
|
 |
|
Way back in the 1990s, I
came across St Peter almost by accident,
rearing its head up on its mound at a
fairly vicious bend in the Beccles to
Blythburgh road. Thereafter, I often
passed its stately landmark tower, but it
wasn't until the late summer of 2008 that
I finally came back here. It was open, as
I fully expected - they pretty much all
are around here. Back in 1998, it had
been more of a surprise to me, not then
knowing the variations in welcome and
suspicion across the county. On
an earlier entry for this church I
observed that, despite
difficulties of access, this church, God
bless it, was open. In all honesty there
is not a great deal to see here, beyond
admiring the exterior. This, I suppose,
makes its being open all the more
admirable, since it actually gives access
for prayer rather than for tourists.
All of which remains true today,
although, as I also observed at the time,
everything is pleasant enough; neat and
trim, and well cared-for. One thing that
is of more than mild interest is the
piscina in the sanctuary, set low-down in
the wall after the Victorian restoration
raised the floor level. It has a credence
shelf at the back, and another little
alcove that Mortlock thought might be for
towels. The George III coat of arms
includes familiar words, but credits them
as a text from the book of Samuel
intended to support royal leadership of
the church, which is unusual and
interesting.
|
| This is an interesting
church for the student of Victorian
stained glass, since it not only contains
good glass by William Warrington, it is
also the only church in Suffolk to
contain work by his son James. But mostly, here is an
ancient building being used in a lively
manner by its local people, and I liked
it for that. I
am afraid that my return visit was in
something of a hurry. Brampton parish has
its own railway station on the Ipswich to
Lowestoft line, and at the end of a long
day I was heading home, wanting to catch
the next train which left in barely
twenty minutes. Trains only go every two
hours, so I did not want to miss it. But
the station is a good two miles from this
church, so it was with regret that I was
only briefly able to enjoy the pleasing
mid-Victorian ambience of the the
interior, a well-kept and obviously
much-loved rustic atmosphere that hasn't
changed much in almost 150 years. I must
go back soon.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Simon Knott, November 2008
Amazon commission helps cover the running costs of this
site.
|
|
|