Swilland and Crowfield - two unusual Church buildings
With a spare couple of hours on our hands, we decided to visit a couple of the many Suffolk churches that I find so intriguing. As many churches were open for private devotion and visitors, we took a chance on these two - unlucky! - both were closed. However, not to waste this opportunity I took some exterior shots and have added a little of their history, and will re-visit when able to explore the interiors.
First was Swilland`s Church of St Mary which was founded in 1678 and is recorded to have had a graveyard. In fact records for church burials are recorded back as far as 1679.
The extraordinary appearance of this building is due entirely to its large tower with a lantern spire, this was designed by an Ipswich architect by the name of John Corder, and is was set on top of the surviving lower part of the Tudor brick W. tower.
It could probably be a folly or a dovecote as easily as a church belfry, Yet it is certainly remarkable, and it makes distinctive a little church that would hardly be so otherwise, except, perhaps, for its Norman south doorway inside the modern porch. On the day we visited , as I said, it was all locked and barred!
A closer view of the unusual tower.
Then on to Crowfield church of All Saints, which is unusual, not because of its tower, (it hasn't got one) but because of its construction and the fact that it was probable a Chapel of Ease for Coddenham until the start of the 20th century. One other claim to fame is that it has the only timber-framed chancel in Suffolk.
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