HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Why is our church where it is?

There is, of course, no definitive answer to this question as no record of its foundation exists but it is possible to look at circumstances that could have influenced our medieval ancestors in making their decision. By about AD700 East Anglia was nominally Christianised with the Anglo-SaxoN aristocracy being the major conduit for the ‘new religion’ and not unreasonably there would be a desire from them to demonstrate their belief. Also as Christian influence grew there was a call from the wider population to have their own places for worship and consequently there was a surge in church building in the following centuries. The recent discovery at Great Ryburgh of a Christian cemetery dated to around AD750 shows that there were followers of the religion in this area quite early on. The site of our church is at the highest point in the settled area of the village and the wish to place the building prominently, declaring its status in what would have been much more open surroundings, is understandable.

Just down the road from the church lies Manor Farm and ‘manor’ farms can have a very long history; literally the farm of the ancient manor which could go back to Saxon times. So how suitable it would be for the church to be right next to the Lord of the Manor’s farm with power and influence being gained by both from their proximity to each other at a time when society was becoming increasingly hierarchical.

Across the road from the church there is a spring which from earliest times would have played an important part in peoples’ lives as a natural and vital focal point in the landscape. Furthermore it is likely to have carried a spiritual aura because of its mystery and life enhancing qualities. There was a path that led from this site to a Bronze Age barrow on the top of the hill to the south.

The nascent Christian church did turn its attention to eradicating pagan sites, sometimes adopting them as their own.

Did this happen here? Was this spring important enough to have a marker or ‘shrine’ to highlight its spiritual standing? Maybe, maybe not, but the early Christian priests would have found such a close supply of fresh pure water an absolute bounty for the baptismal conversion of their congregations.

One thing that can be said with certainty is that the choice of this site has stood the test of time. It is still a place of worship and continues to maintain its significance at the head of the valley in which Kettlestone lies.

Roger Townsin