‘ALL SAINTS’, situated at the east end of Westlegate Street, is a small
structure, with a square tower, and three bells. The font is very
ancient, and curiously carved with figures of the Twelve Apostles, St.
Michael and the Dragon, &c. The living is a rectory, in the gift of Mrs.
Sculthorpe. Rev. Thomas Gurney, M.A., is the rector.
ST. ANDREW’S “Broad Street,” to which it gives name, is esteemed the
finest parochial church in the city, excepting that of St. Peter’s
Mancroft. The tower, which has ten bells and a clock, was rebuilt in
1478, and the nave and chancel in 1506. The interior is neatly pewed,
contains a good organ erected in 1808, and several handsome monuments.
At the end of the north aisle is a sumptuous monument, with recumbent
effigies of Sir John Suckling and his lady. To the altar belongs a
handsome and costly set of plate, of which two noble flagons, weighing
nearly 60 ounces each, were given by L. Goodwin, Esq., in 1704. The
church of St. Christopher, which stood in this vicinity, was burnt down
in the reign of Henry VIII., and its parish united with St. Andrew’s.
The parishioners are the patrons. Rev. J. Brown is the incumbent.
ST. AUGUSTINE’S, situated in St. Augustine’s Street, is an unpresuming
edifice with a square tower, containing a clock and three bells. The
tower and porch were partly rebuilt of red brick in 1726. The living is
a rectory in the gift of the dean and chapter. Rev. M. J. Rackham is the
incumbent.
ST. BENEDICT’S, Upper Westwick Street, is a small structure, with a
tower, round at the base and octangular above. The patronage is in the
gift of the parishioners. Rev. W. Goodwin, incumbent.
ST. CLEMENT’S, Colegate Street, is one of the most ancient churches in
the city. The venerable structure consists of a nave and chancel, and
has a square tower, in which are three bells. It was thoroughly repaired
in 1845, at a cost of £430. In the churchyard is the “Leper’s Tomb,”
which, tradition says, was raised over the remains of a leper, who, being
permitted burial here, bequeathed his lands to the church: but Blomfield
discredits this legend, and conjectures that the leper died in the lazar
house, without St. Augustine’s gate, which entitled him to burial here,
that building being in one of the detached parts of this parish. The
living is a rectory in the gift of Caius College, Cambridge. Rev. R.
Rigg is the rector.
ST. EDMUND’S, in Fishgate Street, a small structure, founded about the
time of William the Conqueror, has a tower and one bell. Among the
relics formerly preserved here, was a piece of the shirt of St. Edward
the King and Martyr, kept in a box of crystal, and visited with great
reverence. The living is a rectory in the gift of the Rev. C. Brereton.
The Rev. J. Pearson is the rector.
ST. ETHELRED’S, in King Street, is a small fabric, with a short tower and
one bell. In the burial ground was formerly an anchorage, which
continued till after the Reformation. Rev. J. Deacon is the incumbent.
ST. GEORGE’S COLEGATE, a large handsome gothic structure, rebuilt at
different periods, has a lofty tower, in which is a clock and three
bells. The interior is neatly fitted up, and there is a good organ. In
the chancel is a fine altar tomb to Robert Iannis, a great benefactor to
this church and the city; and near it a beautiful mural monument to John
Herring, Esq. The window over the communion table is beautifully adorned
with stained glass. The churches of St. Margaret at Colegate and St.
Olave, in Cherry Lane, were taken down, and their cures consolidated with
St. George’s; the former in 1349, and the latter in 1546. The dean and
chapter are patrons. Rev. A. W. Durdin, incumbent.
ST. GEORGE’S TOMBLAND consists of a nave, chancel, and side aisles, has a
handsome square tower, which contains five bells, and was erected by the
parishioners in 1445. In the interior are several spacious galleries,
and many monumental inscriptions. Rev. K. Trimmer is the incumbent.
ST. GILES’ was founded in the reign of William the Conqueror, by Elwyn
the priest, who gave it to the monks of Norwich, and the patronage is
consequently vested in the dean and chapter. It was wholly rebuilt in
the reign of Richard II., and is now one of the handsomest churches in
the city. The tower (120 feet high) contains a clock and eight bells,
and is surrounded by a cupola and battlement. The chancel has been
demolished since the year 1581, when the dean and chapter, to quit
themselves of the expense of repairing it, gave all the materials to the
parish, for “a stock to be put out for the encouragement of poor trades.”
There are many curious old brasses, and several neat mural monuments.
Rev. R. Sedgwick is the incumbent.
ST. GREGORY’S, Pottergate Street, is a lofty gothic structure, consisting
of nave, side aisles, and chancel, the latter built in 1395; since which,
the whole pile has received many reparations. In the tower are a clock
and six bells; the font is very large, having an octagonal top, and on
its eight sides the four evangelists, and figures emblematic of the four
quarters of the globe. In the nave is a fine brass reading-desk, in the
shape of an eagle with expanded wings. Among the monuments is one to Sir
Francis Bacon, a Judge of the Court of King’s Bench, in the time of
Charles II. Here are also some ancient brass inscriptions. Rev. W. R.
Sharpe is the incumbent.
ST. HELEN’S, Bishopgate Street, belonged to the monks who demolished it,
and consolidated the cure with the church of St. Giles’ Hospital, now
called the Great Hospital. The whole of this hospital church, which
serves also as the parish church of St. Helen, and is partly converted
into lodgings for the almspeople, is still standing. It has a square
tower at the south-west corner, with one bell; the choir is turned into
lodgings for the almswomen, and part of the nave and aisles is divided
into apartments for the men. The church is neatly fitted up with open
seats, and opposite the altar stands a modern seat of gothic carved work.
Rev. W. F. Patteson is the incumbent.
ST. JAMES’, Cowgate, includes within its parish the hamlet of Pockthorpe,
and part of Mousehold Heath. It is a small structure, with a tower,
rebuilt in 1743, and contains three bells. It was re-pewed in 1842.
This was a well-endowed rectory till 1201, when it was appropriated to
the cathedral priory, and is now a peculiar of the dean and chapter.
ST. JOHN’S MADDERMARKET is an ancient but handsome church, consisting of
nave, side aisles, and a fine tower, in which are six bells. It is
dedicated to the Holy Trinity and St. John the Baptist, and was founded
before the survey made in Edward the Confessor’s time. The lead was
removed, and the roof covered with slate in 1835. It contains many
ancient sepulchral inscriptions, with a few brasses and several neat
mural tablets. Lady Margaret, Duchess of Norfolk (second wife of the
duke, who was beheaded in Elizabeth’s reign), died at the Duke’s Palace,
in this parish, in 1563, and was interred with great pomp on the north
side of the choir, where a mural monument was raised to her memory in
1791. The living is a rectory in the gift of New College, Oxford. The
Rev. J. Perowne is the rector.
ST. JOHN’S SEPULCHRE, a commodious structure, at the south end of Ber
Street, dedicated to St. John the Baptist and the Holy Sepulchre,
consists of nave, chancel, and transepts, with a lofty tower, in which
are five bells and a clock. Rev. Thomas Calvert is the incumbent.
ST. JOHN’S TIMBERHILL, an ancient pile, dedicated to St. John the
Baptist, and situated at the north end of Ber Street, was founded soon
after the priory, to which it was appropriated. It consists of nave,
chancel, and side aisles, with chapels at the east end, and has a small
wooden steeple, with one bell. It had formerly a tower, which fell down
in 1784, and was never rebuilt. The Rev. S. Titlow is the incumbent.
ST. JULIAN’S, situated in King Street, a small ancient fabric, with a
round tower; was founded before the conquest. On the south side may be
seen the ancient entrance, in the Saxon style, but now disused. In the
churchyard was an anchorage, demolished at the dissolution of religious
houses.
ST. LAWRENCE, Upper Westwick Street, is a handsome gothic fabric, with a
fine tower, 112 feet high, containing a clock and six bells. The windows
are large and beautifully foliated, and were formerly decorated with
stained glass, all of which was destroyed by the Puritans in 1643. Over
an arched door, on the western side, are two ancient carvings, one of
which represents the cruel martyrdom of St. Lawrence. The original
church was founded in the Confessor’s reign, on the site of a quay for
landing fish, but was taken down in 1460, and the present one completed
about twelve years after. Rev. P. U. Browne is the incumbent.
ST. MARGARET’S, Westwick Street, consists of nave, chancel, and side
aisle, and has a square tower, in which were five bells till 1830, when
four of them were sold to assist in defraying the expense of covering the
structure with blue slate. The living is a rectory in the gift of the
Bishop of Norwich. The Rev. J. W. Cobb is the rector.
ST. MARTIN’S AT OAK, in Oak Street, consists of nave, chancel, south
aisle, and a square tower, with three bells. It derived the latter part
of its name from a large oak, formerly standing in the churchyard, with
the image of St. Mary in it. This was much visited in superstitious
times, and several legacies were given towards repairing and painting it.
The oak now standing on the site was planted about 50 years ago. An
alabaster tomb, with effigies, remember Jeremiah Ravens and his wife.
Rev. C. J. Blake is the incumbent.
ST. MARTIN’S AT PALACE, situated opposite the entrance to the palace, is
a venerable structure, consisting of nave, chancel, and side aisles, with
a tower and five bells. In early times a boys’ singing school was kept
here; and in 1500 John Blomfield gave a robe of worsted linen, lined with
blue silk, for the boy bishop. Rev. A. Braddell, incumbent.
ST. MARY’S, Southgate Street, consists of nave, transepts, and chancel,
with an ancient round tower, with six bells. The body of the church was
built in 1477. It contains six antique stalls, and several neat
monuments. Rev. C. Morse, incumbent. St. Mary’s in the Marsh. The Rev.
J. C. Matchett, incumbent.
ST. MICHAEL’S, Coslany Street, usually called St. Miles’, is a commodious
and handsome structure, with a lofty embattled tower, containing a clock
and eight musical bells. The interior of the church is handsomely
decorated, and two of the windows contain some ancient painted glass, but
the heads of the figures were taken off to gratify the Puritans in the
reign of Cromwell. The altar-piece represents the ascension, and the
four evangelists; and the floor in front is paved with black and white
marble, brought from the domestic chapel of the Earl of Yarmouth, at
Oxnead. On the south side is a chapel of beautiful workmanship, erected
of flints and freestone, and considered one of the finest specimens of
flint-work in the county. The church contains a very old font, several
mural monuments, and some ancient brasses. The living is a rectory in
the gift of Caius College, Cambridge. Rev. R. Rigg is the rector.
ST. MICHAEL’S AT PLEA, situated on the north side of Queen Street, is so
named from the Archdeacon of Norwich holding in it his Pleas or Courts.
It is built in the form of a cross, and has a square embattled tower,
with two bells. There are eight ancient paintings near the pulpit, well
worthy of inspection. The living is a rectory in the gift of Sir T. B.
Leonard and J. Morse, Esq. Rev. Charles Morse is the rector.
ST. MICHAEL AT THORN, in ancient deeds, called St. Michael’s super
Montem, has still a large thorn tree growing in the graveyard. It is a
small structure, with a tower, built in 1436, in which are three bells.
Rev. C. T. Rust is the incumbent.
ST. PAUL’S, in St. Paul’s Street, is an ancient fabric, with a small
tower, the upper part of which was octangular, but was rebuilt in 1819 of
white brick, with a stone coping. It contains a handsome screen and
sounding board, and was renewed in 1841. The living is a rectory in the
gift of the dean and chapter. Rev. B. Cook is the rector.
ST. PETER HUNGATE, on Elm Hill, one of the oldest churches in the city;
was anciently called Hungate, or Houndsgate, from the hounds formerly
kept there for the use of the bishop. The old church was demolished in
1458, when the present one was commenced and finished in 1460. It is a
cruciform structure, of black flint, with a square tower and two bells.
Over the communion table is a handsome window of ancient stained glass.
Among the plate belonging to the altar is a curious old cup and cover.
The living is a rectory in the gift of the lord chancellor. Rev. S.
Titlow is the rector.
ST. PETER’S MANCROFT stands in an elevated situation, near the upper side
of the Market-place, and is a handsome cruciform structure of freestone,
begun in 1430, and finished in 1455. It stands on the site of a former
structure, and is considered the finest parish church in the city,
measuring 212 feet in length and 70 feet in breadth, having a noble tower
98 feet high, containing an excellent peal of twelve bells, with a clock
and chimes. The bells were exchanged for the old peal of ten in 1775, at
the cost of more than £800, raised by public subscription. The interior
has an elegant appearance; the clustered pillars supporting the roof,
with the arches surmounting them, are lofty and slender, and the windows
are large and handsome. The organ, a fine-toned instrument, was erected
in 1707. The decorations of the altar are elegant, and the plate
massive, especially a superb standing cup and cover. The altar piece
represents the delivery of Peter from Prison, and the east window is
decorated with stained glass. In the vestry are several ancient books,
among which is a beautiful manuscript bible, written on vellum, in 1340,
and a more ancient manuscript of the Epistles of St. Paul, with a comment
finely illuminated. Here are several fine old paintings, and a piece of
tapestry, dated 1574. Over the door hangs an old carving, in alabaster,
of nine female saints, among which is St. Margaret holding down a dragon.
The capacious old font is surmounted with a lofty covering of costly
tabernacle work, and near the north door are two carved stalls. Rev. C.
Turner, incumbent.
ST. PETER PER MOUNTERGATE, in King Street; so called from a gate
anciently placed near the churchyard; was erected in 1486, and has a fine
square, embattled tower, with a clock and five bells. In the chancel are
24 stalls, which belonged to a college of secular priests, that stood at
the north-east corner of the churchyard. A tomb, dated 1623, on the
south side of the altar, with recumbent effigies, remembers R. Berney,
Esq., and his wife. In the nave is interred Thomas Codd, who was mayor
in Kett’s Rebellion, and was a great benefactor to the city. The heads
of his will are read annually on the Sunday before St. Thomas’ Day. Rev.
G. Day is the incumbent.
ST. PETER’S, Southgate Street, is an ancient fabric, consisting of nave,
chancel, side chapel, and a square tower, in which are three bells. The
living is a rectory in the gift of the Bishop of Norwich. Rev. J. Deacon
is the rector.
ST. SAVIOUR’S, Magdalen Street, a small fabric, dedicated to the
transfiguration of our Saviour; has a square embattled tower, with a
clock and bell. It contains several neat mural monuments. In Bishop
Oxford’s time it was appropriated to the almoner of the cathedral
convent. Rev. S. O. Attlay is the incumbent.
ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE’S, Wensum Street, consists of nave and chancel,
with a tower, in which are five bells. It contains some ancient brasses,
and several monuments and effigies of the Pettus’ family, upon one of
which is a recumbent figure, in complete armour, of Sir J. Pettus, the
first of the family who was knighted. The church is of great antiquity,
and was held by the bishops before the removal of the see to Norwich. A
new gallery was erected in 1835, and the body was re-pewed in 1838. Rev.
C. Holloway, rector.
ST. STEPHEN’S, situated in Rampant Horse Street, is a commodious gothic
structure, consisting of nave, chancel, side aisles, and two side
chapels, with a square tower at the west end. The nave is divided from
the aisles by fluted columns, with pointed arches, and the east window is
richly beautified with stained glass. It is neatly pewed, and the altar
is remarkably handsome. There are several old brasses and many mural
tablets. In the vestry is a manuscript description of the church,
written by Benjamin Mackerell, author of a history of Lynn; also a
curious old alabaster carving. The living is a rectory in the gift of
the dean and chapter. Rev. S. O. Attlay is the rector.
ST. SWITHIN, Westwick Street, is a neat structure, with a square tower
and three bells. During the cleansing of the church in 1834, an ancient
portrait of Edward the Confessor was found nailed under one of the seats,
where it is supposed to have been placed for security during the civil
wars. The altar-piece is a painting of Moses and Aaron. On the font are
carved emblems of the Trinity, Eucharist, and the Passion, with the arms
of East Anglia. Here are also three stalls. The living is a rectory in
the gift of the Bishop of Norwich. Rev. C. Day is the rector.
LAKENHAM CHURCH, dedicated to St. John the Baptist and All Saints, upon
an acclivity above the river Yare, about a mile and a half south of the
Market-place. The benefice is a vicarage united to Trowse Newton, in the
gift of the dean and chapter, and enjoyed by the Rev. George Carter, M.A.
HEIGHAM CHURCH, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, stands on elevated ground
above the Wensum, about a mile W. by N. of the Market-place, and is a
small edifice, with nave, chancel, south aisle, and a square tower, in
which are three bells. A mural monument remembers the pious Bishop Hall.
The rectory is valued in the king’s book at £6. 13_s._ 4_d._, and in 1831
at £211. The bishop is patron, and the Rev. W. Robbins, M.A., incumbent.
ST. MARK’S CHURCH, Lakenham, is a handsome edifice, in the pointed style
of architecture, with nave, tower, and three bells. Rev. W. R. Nevill,
M.A., incumbent.
TRINITY CHAPEL, Union Place, was built by the Baptists, but was
consecrated in January, 1839.
CHRIST CHURCH, New Catton, is a neat erection in the early English style,
erected in 1841. Rev. R. Wade, B.A., incumbent.
ST. MATTHEW’S, Thorpe Hamlet, is a neat edifice, erected in 1851, and
built of rag stone. Rev. G. W. Grogan, incumbent.
The remaining hamlets will be found noticed separately.