Church of St Mary the Virgin, Little Hormead

2013-06-26

A 1,000-year-old haven of tranquility

Some churches have an atmosphere disproportionate to their size, and so it is with St Mary’s, a tiny church in a churchyard encircled by trees, frothy with white blossom in spring.

A grand Norman chancel arch links the 11th-century nave to the 13th-century chancel. This is a rare and precious survival with wonderful craftsmanship in wood and ironwork.

Amongst the wealth of interest here are an exquisitely carved 14th-century font and an unusual set of Charles II Royal Arms dating from 1660.

There are also two Norman doorways – the original door of one of these, made with wood and ironwork over 1,000 years old, stands preserved inside the church.

Ancient timbers survive in the roofs and support a later bellturret, containing two bells which may well have rung out over this beautiful area of agricultural north-east Hertfordshire for at least 600 years.