Melville and Co.'s Directory and Gazetteer of Norwich, Yarmouth, Dereham, Swaffham, Wymondham, Fakenham, Thetford, Attleborough, Aylsham, Diss, Reepham, Foulsham, Hingham, &c.; Ipswich, Bury St. Edmund's, Woodbridge, Lowestoft, Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth, Eye, Stowmarket, Needham Market, &c. [1856]

by F. R. Melville & Co.

PARISH CHURCHES.

‘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. 13s. 4d., 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.