email: simon@suffolkchurches.co.uk

 

All Saints, Sudbury

  This is the least well known of Sudbury's three ancient town centre churches, but its setting is as dramatic as the other two, and arguably more attractive. It sits in the south of the town towards the Stour, surrounded on three sides by ancient cottages. In one of these lived John and Esther Flowers, who were instrumental in the 19th century Catholic revival in Sudbury that led to the building of Our Lady and St John.
On the north side, part of the graveyard survives, albeit selectively cleared. The large mausoleum in the middle is that to the Gainsborough family, merchants of this town, whose most famous member was the artist, Thomas. His statue stands on Market Hill, outside St Peter; but he himself is buried in London.

Above: the chancel, still in relationship with the medieval street pattern.

Right: The great tower, Sudbury's finest. There was once a north porch - and a south one - but both are gone.

  

 
  This is a handsome exterior, and alone of Sudbury's churches had a spire, which came down in the early 19th century. It was completely rebuilt in the 15th century, and the tower has similarities with that of St Gregory. Seen from the meadows to the west of the town, All Saints is the grander.

There was once a porch on either side, but both have gone. Beside the south door, there is a very handsome holy water stoup.

I arrived just as a churchwarden was clearing some boxes, but I did notice that a keyholder was listed. He was very welcoming, as was the church; home made banners lined the pillars of the arcades, which I always like. Above, the arches are decorated with shields and paterae, and the clerestory lights a fine 15th century roof.

  

The selectively cleared north side. The large tomb in the middle distance is that of the Gainsborough family.

  
 

Above: A pretty holy water stoup, a relic of this building's Catholic days, outside the south door.

Right: Banners on the south arcade contribute to the sense of a lively faith community. Note the carvings in the arches.

  

 
  The woodwork stands out as being worthy of particular attention. First, the fine pre-Reformation pulpit, which survived in such good condition by virtue of being boarded over for many centuries (although be aware that the IHS symbol is a later addition by that great Victorian craftsman Henry Ringham). Across the nave from it is a stunning lectern in the form of a standing angel; it is one of the most magnificent pieces of its kind in the county.

The 1490 wineglass pulpit, restored by Ringham.

  

The superb 1920s lectern. It's the parish war memorial.
 
     
 

Reserved for bell ringers.

   The bench set is of excellent quality; and, notice the bell carvings on the most westerly row, suggesting that they were to be reserved for the bellringers. It would be a very unusual bellringer today who attended services as well.

There are a couple of more ancient survivals. Firstly, the screen into the south aisle chapel is original, and partitioned off the 15th century Felton chantry.

Secondly, dating from 1622, there is a very unusual mural in the vestry, to the north of the chancel. It was done when this was the north aisle chapel, and shows the family tree of Edens.

Each conjunction is depicted by heraldic shields, with roundels for names beneath. Mortlock thought that the writing had faded, but I don't think they were ever filled in. Look closely, and you'll see the marks made by the compass point of the 17th century mason who did the work.

Outside, you'll find one of these compasses depicted among other masonic tools on a grave stone, to the north of the tower.

Looking up, note the superb woodwoses at three corners of the tower. A fourth, awaiting repair, lies in a stonemason's workshop in London.

Much destruction occured in this church in the 1660s. It had been (like so many) used for purposes other than worship during the Puritan Commonwealth, and continued in use as a prison after the Restoration. That so much has survived is remarkable, under the circumstances.

This is a fascinating urban church, quite different from nearby St Gregory in that it has been, and still seems to be, the church of the common people.

  
 

Above and right: images of the amazing Eden family tree. It is hidden by a curtain north of the chancel, so don't miss it.

All Saints, Sudbury, is located just to the south west of the Market Hill. Go up either Gainsborough Street or Angel Street to reach it. I found it open, but there is a keyholder listed.