St Mary's Church, Barton Bendish

2013-06-26

A tiny thatched church with Medieval paintings and Norman carving

The church of St Mary’s is idyllic and it has a wonderfully still, white simplicity.

Rising from a tall-grassed churchyard, it has aged walls, the colour of pale honey, under a mellow thatched roof.

This 14th-century church has a complicated history: the tower fell in 1710 and the fine west door – described by Pevsner as one of the finest Norman doorways in England – was taken from a neighbouring church, now demolished.

The rustic interior has wonderful pews, one with a date of 1637. Look for the carved communion table from 1633, together with a strange 14th-century painting thought to be of St Catherine.