Walton

St Mary, Walton, Felixstowe

Walton was once the village of which Felixstowe was a fishing hamlet. But the gargantuan child has swollen and engulfed its mother, and Walton is just a western suburb of Felixstowe now. Indeed, it is almost an inner-city; the 19th century terraces of Walton High Street are just a few hundred yards from Hamilton Square in the middle of Felixstowe. However, Walton has one remarkable fact about it that should not go unnoticed by anyone interested in the history of Suffolk Christianity; it was probably the Dumnoc where the Burgundian St Felix came ashore in 631. He had come to convert the heathen English, and was the first Bishop of East Anglia. His mission was established in Walton Castle; Walton, therefore, was the site of East Anglia's first cathedral.

Walton's modern livelihood comes from Felixstowe Docks, of course, and as such it is a 20th century prosperity. In earlier years, this was a poor old place, like so much of the coast, and St Mary was completely derelict by the mid-19th century. The tower had fallen like those at Alderton and Bawdsey across the Deben, and St Mary was given a going over even more thorough than that of the two Trimley churches further along the High Street.

Barnes at his best - well, comparitively speaking. (Photo by Alan Thurkettle).

What we see here, then, is virtually all Frederick Barnes' rebuilding of 1857-67, and the work seems to have been carried through in two stages, the first replacing tower and aisle, the second chancel and west end of nave. There are remains of the medieval building, but none you'd get terribly excited about.

Barnes was also at work on the dreadful new St Andrew, Melton, at this time. Integrating remains of the former church seems to have kept him on track a bit more here.

The inside is similarly wholly Victorianised, as you'd expect. The font and brass on the wall are about the only survivors, and much more interesting in any case is the excellent 20th century glass.

This evangelical community has kitted out its happy, friendly building for modern worship ,with carpets and guitars. As you can imagine, I rather admired it for this. In truth, Walton is well served for evangelical Anglican churches, having Felixstowe St Andrew just half a mile away, and the new flagship of Cavendish Community Church on the new estate.

Walton Castle, where St Felix established his see, was built by the Romans as a great coastal fortress, like the one over the Norfolk border at Burgh. If you'd like to see it, though, you'd better bring some waterproofs, since it now lies half a mile off Old Felixstowe, under the grey North Sea.

St Mary, Walton, is located on Walton High Street. From the centre of Felixstowe, go past the police station and Solar superstore, and straight across at the lights. You reach St Mary on your right after about 500 metres.

You can read more about St Felix and Walton at Sam Newton's Wuffings website.

Please note that the photograph on this entry is by Alan Thurkettle, and retains his copyright.